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About
Typical headshot
I lived and worked in Shanghai, China between 1994 and 2009, where I co-established a number of successful entities in the field of training and learning.
In 1996 I co-founded the Kai En English Language Training Centers. For several years, Kai En was the leading privately held language training institute in the city. I worked there until 2005 when I moved on to explore online learning and a new venture. (Four years after I left Kai En was sadly to go bankrupt.)
In 2005, I co-founded ChinesePod and a number of other brands followed – SpanishPod, FrenchPod, and ItalianPod.
I’m interested in leadership in business but also in the context of learning and education. In recent times I’ve been drawn into leadership training, coaching, and consulting.
I’m particularly interested in the question of intrisic motivation and how it relates to leadership: Finding it in yourself, and releasing it in others. I’ve been using the idea of self-direction as well as a framework that I call ‘self-directed leadership’.
My work now affords me the possibility to explore self-direction and the issue of individual initiative. I plan to write the book on these things in 2012.
………..
Media presence
I’ve done quite a bit of marketing/media/PR work in the past. Below are some of the reviews, interviews, and publications where I’ve appeared.
Ken Carroll in the New York Times. And here.
Ken Carroll in the Economist.
Ken Carroll in Slate Magazine.
Ken Carroll in the Financial Times.
Ken Carroll NPR interview.
Ken Carroll in Shanghai Insiders interview.
Ken Carroll on the Read Write Web.
Ken Carroll on NBC Nightly news with Brian Williams.
Ken Carroll in 2006 Financial Times interview.
Ken Carroll in The Guardian.
8 Responses to About
Hi Ken,
I love the work you have done with ChinesePod.
You write: “I’m particularly interested in the question of intrisic motivation and how it relates to leadership: Finding it in yourself, and releasing it in others. I’ve been using the idea of self-direction as well as two frameworks that I call ‘self-directed leadership’ and ‘self-directed change’. ” Did you already have a look at NLP? Could be appealing to your language background.
Regards,
Olaf
Hey Olaf,
Thanks for that. Are you stil learning Chinese?
I know something about NLP but not a whole lot. Perhaps I should do more research on it.
Ken
Hello Ken, I also appreciate the work you did on Chinesepod, and I hope you are doing well. Best of luck in your future endeavors.
George
dear Ken,
it is sad that you left CP. I always appreciated like so many others your outstanding expertship in language teaching!What are you doing now in the language-field?
in respect to leadership: do you know the book ” flow” of Mihail Csikszentmihail? worthwhile to read.
Walter
I lived and worked in Shanghai, China between 1994 and 2009, where I co-established a number of successful entities in the field of training and learning.
Hi Ken,
Having read your blog here , you like me are interested in coaching and leadership programmes. Having used the Chinese-Pod system it has improved my Mandarin vastly .
Being an individual who looks at solutions rather than problems , I tend to draw on the experience of others in any particular field of expertise. Having moved from the corporate financial sphere into direct management consultancy . I tend to focus when entering a particular market on corporate entities that may have due to a number of variables been put in a situation whereby they are no longer viable.
It would appear from your track record that like many of my business associates, including myself that, we are great niche finders and in turn instigators of entrepreneurial endeavor. Before I commit myself to any venture I research and look at understanding the cultural matrix that surrounds any business. What would your suggestions be to prevent the difficulties you encountered in Shanghai having achieved so much there initially?
Yours Sincerely
Mike.
Ken!
Miss you on Chinesepod. I hope you can come back soon.
Ken, I just found out about your blog today. I plan with anticipation reading your posts. Your overview is compelling and in alignment with my thoughts as well. I love Maslow’s theories which seem to be along the same line you are going. Keep in touch and look forward to reading your insights.
Rachel C. Ybarra
Thank you for the good job you did with Chinesepod. You really ARE a wonderful teacher. What a pity you left China!
I hope you’re successful in your present life.
… but how I miss your talent for explaining things!