Some five decades after a scholarship gave him his start in business, Merle Hinrich is helping develop the next generation of Asian leaders in trade. He tells Ruth Shapiro how and why
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Merle Hinrich transformed trade in Asia with his company, Global Sources. Founded in the 1970s to publish trade magazines, it has developed into a flourishing online portal that connects manufacturers and retailers around the world. Now, after a lifetime in business, Merle is turning his attention to philanthropy, shaking up the way scholarships are run in Asia.
Ruth Shapiro: Let’s start at the beginning of your story.
Merle Hinrich: I grew up on a farm in Nebraska. I had a professor who suggested I apply for a master’s scholarship to attend Thunderbird School of Global Management, which I was fortunate enough to receive in 1964 when I was 20. Attending Thunderbird changed my life and helped me realise the importance of combining theory and practice, as many of the professors came from business.
After graduating, I took a job with the East Asia Publishing Company and moved to Tokyo, which in the mid-sixties was still recovering from the war and new businesses were being built. For a young guy from Nebraska, nothing could have been more exciting. Within a few months, I became the sales manager and moved to Hong Kong.
This story is from the July 2019 edition of Hong Kong Tatler.
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This story is from the July 2019 edition of Hong Kong Tatler.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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