CAREERS: Q&A with ... Shantel Wong

<p>Name: Shantel Wong </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Number of years in marketing: 12 </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Job title: Senior director, marketing, McDonald's China and Hong </p><p>Kong </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What is your greatest achievement? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Helping to re-establish the McDonald's brand in China in 2000. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>It resulted in an exciting growth trend and tremendous opportunities for </p><p>the business. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What would be your dream brand to work on and why? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>I'm on it. It's definitely McDonald's - it keeps me young, positive and </p><p>dynamic always. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What would you do if you weren't in marketing? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Travelling and writing novels. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What was your big break? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Quitting the stable civil service and joining the exciting advertising </p><p>and marketing world 12 years ago. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>It really unleashed my creative energy and allowed me to challenge my </p><p>own limits. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Who is your mentor and how did this person influence you? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Sun Tzu. His Art of War spells out the art of developing business </p><p>strategies in a marketplace as well as delivering leadership at </p><p>different levels within an organisation. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>His philosophy is stimulating and revealing at all times. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Is there a secret to your success? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Always feel happy but never satisfied. Always be passionate but not </p><p>blinded by subjectivity. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>How do you handle difficult people? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Demonstrate respect, professionalism and fairness. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Help them understand that treating others well means treating themselves </p><p>well and showing them how. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What advice would you give to your successor? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Don't just make it happen ... you gotta make it work! </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Teamwork is the key - not just bright individuals - if things are to </p><p>work well. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Being visionary, passionate, speaking what you truly mean and listening </p><p>with an open attitude are fundamental to building great teams. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>What are you currently reading that will help you in your job? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The end of marketing as you know it written by Sergio Zyman, the former </p><p>chief marketing officer of Coca-Cola. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Who is the business person you most admire and why? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Jack Welch, CEO of General Electric. He dares to challenge the status </p><p>quo, create change and innovation to achieve better results. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He cares about people, involves people and empowers people to bring out </p><p>their best. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>