Dezan Shira & Associates: 30 Years in the Making

In 2022, Dezan Shira & Associates is marking 30 years since our founding by producing a short monthly video that tells our story from the very beginning in China. Today, Dezan Shira & Associates is a MNC advisory firm with offices throughout Asia.
Every month, we feature one of Dezan Shira's Equity Partners, together with various on the ground regional staff, partners and guests, as they recall and discuss the firm's history-to-present-day story, and on-the-ground issues that the firm faced in its overall development, from a small start-up, to becoming a major player in today's thriving and rapidly developing Asia.
Watch the series to learn SME tips about doing business in Asia and expanding into new markets on a tight budget, including the challenges to overcome, how to define which opportunities make sense, and what it takes to succeed.
Hosted by Gary Shaben, Director of Group Marketing, for Asia Briefing Ltd. and Dezan Shira & Associates.
Contact: gary.shaben@dezshira.com
Chapter 10
Innovation of a Practice: Our Journey from Traditional Firm to a Rising Leader in Asia Technology Services
In this episode, we speak with Adam Livermore, Partner and Head of Technology at Dezan Shira & Associates, as he explains how the firm has developed thanks to technology integration and the key opportunities that are emerging for technology services. We are also joined by Thomas Zhang, Partner and Group Director of IT Services at Dezan Shira & Associates, who takes us through the major reasons behind China’s enormous success in the global economy and in the digital space, as well as some important tips for foreign investors who are interested in investing in the Asian market.
Chapter 9
Market Entry Across ASEAN’s Top Countries: A Strategy for High Growth and Rapid Expansion
In this episode, we speak with Alberto Vettoretti, Managing Partner of Dezan Shira & Associates, as he walks us through the company’s foray into the ASEAN market and what propelled Dezan Shira to pursue an ASEAN expansion. We are also rejoined by Marco Forester, Head of ASEAN Business Advisory, who takes us threw the key differences between the countries in the ASEAN, important sectors within these countries, and what opportunities lie for investors in the region.
Chapter 8
Landing and Establishing in Dubai - Gateway to Asia’s Booming Middle East Region.
In part one of this interview, Chris Devonshire-Ellis explains the Dubai and the Middle East strategy, including the nature of market entry, investment, and the firm’s approach to the market given recent trade developments. Chris also announces the launch of Asia Briefing’s latest and much-anticipated publication title, middleeastbriefing.com.
Part two features Maria Kotova, Director for the Middle East Region and the firm’s new office in Dubai. Maria delves into the United Arab Emirates’ ease of doing business, and the practical side of market entry and business set up, based on her own recent experiences. Maria also touches on key sectors, and trade and investment relationships in the region, throughout the MEA and Asia’s rapidly growing and highly investment-connected regions.
Chapter 7
Introducing the Giant of South East Asia: Dezan Shira’s market entry into Indonesia.
In this 4 part video interview, we speak with Alberto Vettoretti, Managing Partner, to understand the drivers and approach surrounding the firm’s entry into the Indonesia market, and the market’s strategic importance to the firm and its’ ASEAN objectives. We also hear from three of Dezan Shira’s ASEAN business experts regarding Indonesia’s opportunities and “Giant” market characteristics for international investors, as a single market that is geographically well positioned next to Singapore, and in proximity of Australia and the rest of South-East Asia.
Chapter 6
How Singapore became Dezan Shira’s Gateway into ASEAN
How Singapore became Dezan Shira’s Gateway into ASEAN In part one of this interview, Christopher Devonshire-Ellis describes the goals and strategy surrounding the firm’s entry into the Singapore market, and its winning approach for covering the diverse ASEAN region. In part two, David Stepat explains the immense opportunity for international investors in Singapore today, as both a single market and as a gateway to the rest of Southeast Asia.
Chapter 5
Why Dezan Shira Expanded Into Vietnam Early On
Chris Devonshire-Ellis explains how and why Vietnam was chosen by the firm for its next market to enter more than a decade ago. Alberto Vettoretti explains the opportunity drivers behind the firm and its clients expansion into Vietnam, and Filippo Bortoletti, discusses tips on doing business in Vietnam, its positive economic outlook and some specific opportunities for foreign investors in the market.
Chapter 4
Moves into India
How Dezan Shira & Associates made the transition from being a China practice to set up in India in 2009, the management decisions taken to support that, the India evaluation processes, and an overview of the India market today. Of interest to any executive looking to relocate part of their business to India.
Chapter 3
Staff Recruitment & Talent Retention
Dezan Shira's Chairman and Managing Partner each discuss developing a positive corporate and workplace culture, fostering loyalty and staff retention, tips for attracting and developing employees, together with an overview of today's market opportunities in China.
Chapter 2
How Dezan Shira Got Its Name and Developing An Asian Work Culture
Asian work practices are different than those in the West and more stylized. We discuss how to prepare Western executives for handling and motivating Asia and Asian-based staff and the opportunities across the region.
Chapter 1
How and Why Dezan Shira Began In 1992 and the First Principles Of Success
In the first chapter of this series, Chairman Chris Devonshire-Ellis, speaks about the firms' founding in China in 1992, developing a marketing strategy, attracting clients, as well as starting a business overseas. A fascinating glimpse into China in the early 1990's.
Looking for More?
Stay tuned for our continuing chapters throughout 2022, with new episodes being recorded each month from January through December 2022.