"Taiwan today is an exciting place to be in business," said Benjamin P.L. Feng (MBA 1975), managing director of All Asia Partners, a venture capital firm headquartered in Taipei. At HBS this fall to attend his 25th Reunion, Feng took time out to share his enthusiasm for the success of Taiwan's high-tech-driven economy and his role as president of the Harvard Business School Club of Taiwan.

"If you have a good idea, there is venture money available," he continued. "You don't have to come from a rich family or have an extensive background in industry to succeed in Taiwan. You just need to have a good idea and be willing to work to make it happen." Over the last century, Taiwan's economy was built on the success of its small and medium-sized trading companies. "Competition has always been fierce here, with people setting up shop across the street from their chief business rivals," Feng explained. "Our recent success in high-tech manufacturing on a worldwide basis is a natural outgrowth of that entrepreneurial spirit. If you can survive on the local level in Taiwan, you have a very good chance of making it in the global marketplace."

Feng has been drawing on that entrepreneurial spirit in his leadership role at the ten-year-old Taiwan club. With just over half of the one hundred or so HBS graduates in Taiwan signed up as members, Feng is working to attract new members and to raise Harvard Business School's profile in the local business community. "The scope of our activities is limited by the small number of HBS graduates in Taiwan. We don't yet have meetings on a regular basis," he said, "but we do have meaningful meetings." Past events have featured speakers from Taiwan's hotel, venture capital, and technology industries, as well as members of the HBS faculty.

In addition, the club has sponsored gatherings designed to encourage more students from Taiwan to apply to the School. "We had a forum featuring a number of graduates who talked about life at HBS, the case method, and the value of an HBS degree," Feng noted. "The Admissions Office has been very helpful in supplying us with recruiting materials." Last year the club also sponsored a visit from members of the Harvard Krokodiloes singing group, who traveled to Taiwan to raise money for the victims of the region's devastating earthquake.

Born in Taiwan, Feng came to the United States with his parents at the age of 12. He earned a degree in engineering from MIT but decided to pursue a career in business because it offered more diversity than engineering. After graduating from HBS, he worked at Citibank for thirteen years and then returned to Taiwan in 1988. "Taiwan is my home," said Feng. "My parents have remained in the States, but I always wanted to come back."

Feng says his work with the HBS Club of Taiwan is a way for him to give something back to Harvard while sharing his enthusiasm about his home country. "We try to make people feel good about being part of the Business School community and about living and working in Taiwan." Feng encouraged HBS visitors to the area to get in touch. "We will make you feel welcome," he promised.

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