As the founder of Blue Heron Holdings, I strive to help people understand China and to bridge cultural gaps. This means advising companies on strategies for US- China business, coaching US and Chinese execs on team and leadership effectiveness, and promoting successful cross-cultural understanding – especially for international students and host families.
Thirty years of US-China experience makes it clear to me that the three pillars of success in US-China exchanges and transactions of any kind are alignment, relationship, and communication. My goal is to make clients successful by providing insight, advice and Mandarin/English facilitation and acting as an objective sounding board to find solutions and the best path forward.
Coaching, Workshops & Online Resources for:
- Fortune 500 Companies
- Human Resource Departments
- Entrepreneurs & Startups
- Inbound Chinese Professionals
- Outbound American Professionals
- US-China Business Managers
- Leaders of Multicultural Teams
- Chinese Exchange Students
- American Host Families
- International MBA Programs
The Meaning Behind Blue Heron
In Chinese imagery, the heron signifies “the path, or way forward.” Early in the days building this business I would stare out the window at a river in the Texas hill country, and I often saw herons standing with one foot in the water and one foot on dryer land. It dawned on me that I was doing the same: standing with one foot in China and one in the US, working with individuals and companies to bridge differences and make transitions.
My surname in Chinese (蓝) means “blue.” In earlier times, the Chinese word for blue encompassed a wide spectrum of color, from dark gray to light shades of green. “Nature’s color.” I liked the idea of not using a “one size fits all” approach. Instead, I wanted to use a wide range of options and perspectives to advise people and companies, finding the solution that makes the most sense for them. The natural fit.
I also learned that in US Native American tradition, the Blue Heron represents an ability to progress and evolve. This bird – with such spindly, long legs – brings a message of self-reliance and self-determination: not needing support or legs like tree trunks to remain stable.
All of these insights along the way have led Blue Heron to what it is today: a way forward on the path best for you.
