New Gibb on the Block

April 14, 2016

KAOHSIUNG- For IB103 student Elan Gibb, Chinese is more than a means of communication- it’s the centerpiece of his success and career objectives.

Elan Gibb, IB103 student, prepares himself for the future of business in Taiwan 

Photo:  Elan Gibb

The 27-year-old student from Oregon arrived in Taiwan upon completing a Degree in Finance from the University of Oregon. While Mr. Gibb’s decision to travel to Taiwan is based on the recommendation of a personal friend, his decision to stay on the island is rooted in his quest to pursue a long-term career in sales.

Mr. Gibb believes there is opportunity to be found at the business nexus of Taiwan and his home country of the United States.  In offering his perspective on the business milieu of Taiwan, Gibb noted, “I want to see this country have successful and healthy industries.” Gibb also added his hopes of strengthening Taiwan-U.S. business relations in the future.

Elan’s aspirations are not without their challenges, however. Mr. Gibb noted that there is much room for improvement in the field of post-graduate integration in the workplace and global talent recruitment among Taiwanese firms. Much of the business environment in Taiwan remains stultified by restrictions imposed by its civil code legal structure. Additionally, the work environment in Taiwan presents cultural obstacles for ambitious expatriates.

However, as native English-speaker, Mr. Gibb is confronting his barriers through his efforts to master the Chinese language.  In 2014, he enrolled at NSYSU based on the prestigious reputation of the university and the free language program offered to expatriate students. Since his enrollment, Mr. Gibb has earned the praise of his mentors for his tenacious persistence in his Chinese skillset.

Beyond his career goals, the IBMBA student is driven by an obsession to turn frustrations into opportunities. When Elan is confronted by fast-paced Chinese dialogue, he uses his experiences as a source of motivation to strive towards understanding his environment.

In offering advice to prospective students, Elan suggested the imperative of dedication. While there are certain advantages to finding language partners, the primary method to his success is to “get obsessed with learning.” When explaining his classroom work ethic, Elan noted, “I’ll look at the person next to me and put in twice as much effort as they do.” The term “good enough” is seemingly absent from Elan Gibb’s vocabulary.

Mr. Gibb assuredly professed Taiwan as his favorite country. He intends on building upon his successes in the IBMBA program and Chinese studies toward the betterment of the Taiwanese business environment.

Illustration of Elan Gibb’s workstation, inundated with Chinese literature

By Paul Squires