From China to the World: How Chinese Companies Are Scaling Globally

Thursday, 28th May 2026

About The Event

Following the SGLN Fellowship’s Overseas Learning Journey to Shenzhen, Fellows came together for a fireside chat examining how Chinese companies are evolving from domestic success stories into increasingly global businesses.

The session featured Andy Lee, Managing Director of Singapore at Alibaba Cloud; Mark Dembitz, former General Manager for APAC at Lark; and Evelyn Tay, Senior Director of Communications & Public Affairs at CHAGEE, in a discussion moderated by Jing Rui Goh and Richie Loh. Drawing on experience across technology, communications, brand-building and regional expansion, the speakers shared perspectives on what it takes to grow beyond a home market: from adapting products and positioning to different consumer expectations, to building trust, local relevance and the partnerships needed to operate effectively across diverse markets.

The conversation also explored a broader lesson behind international growth: that scale is not driven by product strength alone. Successful expansion requires organisations to understand the people, cultures and ecosystems of the markets they enter, while building the internal capabilities to remain agile as they grow.

Panellists

Andy Lee

Managing Director, Singapore, Alibaba Cloud

Andy Lee is a seasoned technology leader with more than 20 years of experience across cloud computing, artificial intelligence, infrastructure and cybersecurity.

At Alibaba Cloud, he has played a key role in growing the company’s cloud and AI business in Singapore, strengthening relationships with customers and partners and supporting organisations in their digital transformation journeys. Prior to joining Alibaba Cloud, Andy led Google Cloud’s Public Sector business in Singapore, where he worked on the adoption of cloud and generative AI technologies for public good. He also spent more than 17 years with Cisco in senior leadership roles. His experience across global and Chinese technology companies brings valuable insight into how technology businesses build relevance, partnerships and scale across markets.
Mark Dembitz

Former General Manager, APAC, Lark

Mark Dembitz is a business and technology leader with extensive experience in digital transformation, enterprise technology and scaling businesses across Asia Pacific.

He spent four years at Lark, ByteDance’s workplace collaboration platform, where he led the business across APAC as General Manager. During his tenure, Lark expanded from a relatively new international offering into a business serving millions of users across the region, while building a substantial commercial presence in Southeast Asia. Mark has worked extensively with businesses across industries such as retail, F&B and technology, helping organisations use digital tools to transform the way their teams operate. His experience inside ByteDance and leading Lark’s international expansion provides a first-hand perspective on how a China-born technology product adapts and grows beyond its home market.
Evelyn Tay

Senior Director, Communications & Public Affairs, APAC, CHAGEE

Evelyn Tay is Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs, APAC at CHAGEE, where she leads the modern tea brand’s regional storytelling and media narratives, while building its public affairs strategy and relationships with governments and industry partners.

She brings more than two decades of experience across communications, public affairs and corporate strategy, having held senior regional roles with companies including foodpanda, Tesla and Uber. Before joining CHAGEE, Evelyn served as Vice President of Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability for foodpanda APAC, overseeing communications, public policy, regulatory affairs and sustainability across 11 markets. Her experience offers a valuable perspective on how consumer brands build trust, cultural relevance and strong stakeholder relationships as they expand across diverse international markets.