Rebecca A. Fannin is the author of Silicon Dragon (McGraw-Hill, 2008) and Startup
Asia (Wiley, 2011), and a contributor to Forbes, where she writes a widely
read weekly column. Since 1992, she has been reporting on innovation,
technology and emerging economies. A former international editor at Red
Herring, International Business, and the Asian Venture Capital
Journal in Hong Kong, Fannin also has written for Inc., Worth,
Fast Company, AdAge, Chief Executive, The Deal, The
Huffington Post, and Harvard Business Review. Her news and events
group formed in 2010, Silicon Dragon Ventures, www.silicondragonventures.com,
publishes e-newsletters and research for venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and
investors, and develops sponsored conferences in tech hotspots in Asia, Europe
and the U.S.
Hometown: Lancaster, Ohio.
Education: BSJ, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
Languages: English, Spanish, a little Mandarin.
First job in journalism: copy editor, Dayton Journal Herald.
Countries reported from: China, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia,
Thailand, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, U.S., U.K.
Year you joined the OPC: 2003.
What drew you to business reporting? The opportunity to make a difference by profiling
business leaders and innovators in places not frequently covered.
What’s the most important thing entrepreneurs need
to know about doing business in Asia? You need to have an on-the-ground presence, understand the local culture
and adapt your business for the market.
Don’t go it alone.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur
yourself? Interviewing the first
wave of Internet entrepreneurs in China and India and hearing the obstacles
they had to overcome to break through. Their courage, passion and success
encouraged me to go out on my own.
Major challenge as a journalist: Never enough time!
Best journalism advice received: Tell the story in an engaging way with details that
make it come alive.
Worst experience as a journalist: Having multiple editors on one feature article
(thing of the past?) isn’t a great experience.
When traveling, you like to … explore neighborhoods off the beaten track to get a
feel of the lifestyle.
Hardest story: Nabbing an interview way back in 2006 with Alibaba leader Jack Ma in his
hometown of Hangzhou, and getting him to speak candidly about his influences.
The interview came through the day before I was scheduled to leave Shanghai for
the U.S. and I had to scurry to make plans to get to Hangzhou and back in time
for my flight.
Journalism heroes: James Fallows for his reporting about China issues
and lifestyle from China.
Advice for journalists who want to work overseas: Make sure you are an independent-minded self-starter
who likes to pioneer.
Dream job: I have it for the most part — media entrepreneur with my own news and
events brand. It would be great to work within a major business publishing
company to leverage resources and scale up the Silicon Dragon brand more
quickly.
Favorite quote: Jack Ma, Alibaba: “When I am myself, I am happy and have a good result.”
Place you’re most eager to visit: Israel because it’s one of the world’s leading tech
innovation hotspots. I’m set to go this year.
Most over-the-top assignment: Interviewing 12 CEOs of China’s major outsourcing
companies within one week, from Beijing to Shanghai to Hangzhou, and writing on
tight deadline an overview article about China’s rise in this sector to compete
with India.
Most common mistake I’ve seen: Name misspellings (it’s so simple but still trips up
many).
Country you most want to return to: China (though I’ve been to Mainland China more than
50 times). To stay current with China’s fast pace of developments, particularly
in tech innovation and entrepreneurship, you have to be there regularly.
Twitter handles: @rfannin @silicondragon
Want
to add to the OPC’s collection of Q&As with members? Please contact
patricia@opcofamerica.org.