Life Under Lockdown and Partial Reopening – Stories from Shanghai

On May 4, 2022, two Seattle area expats living in Shanghai—former Starbucks executive Jessica Gleeson and supply chain expert Cameron Johnson—shared rare, insider perspectives on the lockdown in the city with the WSCRC audience. They discussed what life was like living and working under the lockdown, its impacts to supply chains and trade, and their outlook for when things might eventually return to “normal.”

Now that the city is gradually reopening, how are living conditions in Shanghai and how close is daily life back to “normal”? We’ve invited back Jessica and Cameron to give us another insider update.

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SPEAKERS

Cameron Johnson, Partner, Tidalwave Solutions; Head of APAC Strategy, FAO Global; Adjunct Professor, NYU Shanghai

 Based in Shanghai, Cameron Johnson is a China market and industry expert with more than 20 years of in-country experience consulting on supply chains, manufacturing, and technology. His current and past clients include multi-national corporations in carbon fiber composites, automotive, software firms, personal protective equipment, and various high technology sectors.

Cameron is frequently sought out as an expert on U.S.-China trade and supply chain issues, and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, and various other news outlets. He also contributed articles to Caixin, China Business Review, and China US Focus. His latest work (book chapter), “Impacts of Digitalization on Traceability,” published by Wiley, reviews the digitalization impact on carbon fiber supply chains in Asia. His work helping U.S. and other overseas buyers source personal protective equipment early in the COVID-19 pandemic has been featured on the PBS series Frontline.

Cameron previously served as the Asia general manager for a multinational carbon fiber company, and held management roles at Microsoft China.

Cameron is a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai). He has been a multi-year delegate as part of the AmCham Shanghai’s “Door Knock” to Washington DC, and served as the Co-Chair of the Future Leaders Committee from 2016 to 2018, and Vice Chair of the Manufacturers Business Council from 2019 to 2021. He is also an advisor to the National IDC Technology Innovation Alliance.

Jessica Gleeson, CEO, BrighterBeauty; Founder, Experiential Retail

Jessica Gleeson is an experienced international executive with a passion for building and scaling brands.

A 20-year veteran of Starbucks, Jessica held a variety of leadership roles as the company grew from 50 stores in the US to 55 countries globally. This included Starbucks’ original market entry into China and initial expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

Driven by her fascination with the rapidly changing retail landscape, Jessica relocated to China and helped grow three iconic brands – Starbucks, The Walt Disney Company and Claire’s Accessories. She served as International COO for Zambero and Pacific Springboard.

Founder of Experiential Retail, a global consulting firm that helps purpose-driven brands scale with integrity. Jessica serves in advisory roles for Atiom, Planet O, Urban Tuk-Tuk, Cindy Reid Global Golf and WhiteSpace. Jessica serves on the boards GloCoach and Flave. Jessica has served as the VP of The Asia New Retail Council, Shanghai Chapter, on the Asia-Pacific Employer Advisory Board for The University of Washington, Foster School of Business and as the Leaping Bunny Ambassador for China.

Jessica works actively to advocate for placing women on executive boards, because the data shows it is just good business.

MODERATOR

Nor Coquillard, Executive Director of the Washington State China Relations Council

Nor Coquillard served as a business executive in Asia running the operations of Cargill, Incorporated in Korea, Japan and China from the mid 1980’s until 2010. During that time, he held numerous positions in business associations including serving as the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai for several years.

Nor served as the Chairman and President of Enactus China, the China operations of the U.S.-based non-profit. From 2011 to 2017, he also served as the of Chairman of IMA China, an organization that hosts forums for the China-based CEOs of multinational corporations.

Nor is on the International Advisory Council of the global consulting firm, APCO and is a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.