How Hult alum Alan Coughlan launched his own business in China

Six years ago, Alan Coughlan had just completed an undergraduate joint honors business degree at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) in his home country of Ireland. Still in his early 20s, Alan knew he wanted to further his academic study, and he craved an experience that would take him off the beaten track. What was once an totally unfamiliar environment eventually became home for Alan. Following the conventional route of applying to business schools in Dublin, America, or Australia didn’t appeal. It was Alans parents who first suggested the idea of studying in China,  as its phenomenal growth was dominating international news headlines at the time. After careful research, Alan knew Hult and its Shanghai Campus was the place for him. However, he knew that he was taking a real leap of faith. It was difficult to set his expectations of the country, as he didn’t know anybody who had traveled to China for either business or pleasure. When I got accepted, I barely knew where China was on a map and I had seen very few pictures, Alan admits. When I arrived, I was absolutely blown away. Culture shock It wasn’t just the physical differences between Ireland and China that left such an impression on Alan. He was also shocked at just how internationally diverse the other students in his year were—40 different nationalities were represented in his 80-strong class of Masters in International Business students. Alan was the only Irish student and one of the only students without the ability to fluently speak a second language, which also came as a surprise. Coming from Ireland where no-one speaks a second language, it really opened my eyes to other languages and cultures, Alan remembers. Forging his own path After completing his studies at Hult, a definitive career path had still not crystallized in Alan’s mind. He briefly considered taking a role at a management consultancy firm back in Ireland, but China had made a lasting impression. He decided to fill a skill gap in his CV and learn Chinese. Alan sees that decision as being a pivotal moment in his professional life. He moved to a city called Hangzhou about 40 minutes outside Shanghai and enrolled in a Chinese course. To fund his lessons, he taught business English on a part-time basis. Although he didn’t find his true calling as a teacher, the whole experience proved incredibly worthwhile. Talking to his pupils gave him invaluable insights into Chinese working culture, and he confesses that he learned more from his students than he taught them. It was during this period that he decided to go to a factory and see for himself what the  manufacturing process  he talked about so often in his lessons was all about. Labor of love Although somewhat unwittingly, Alan had stumbled upon something that he felt extremely passionate about. The manufacturing process, and all its complexities, became his new obsession. In true Alan style, he threw himself into the deep end. He launched a three-month pilot project, which involved designing and manufacturing 100 bicycles he then shipped back to Ireland. Being somewhat of a novice salesman, he confesses that he wasn’t in tune with all of the different sales channels—especially online ones—that were newly available at the time. So, towards the end of a visit home, he donned his best salesman outfit and went out in search of buyers in the streets of Dublin. He did find an obliging customer, but in order to seal the deal, he had to sell them at a loss. This was Alan’s second eureka moment, with him crediting this as being simultaneously his biggest failure and greatest success. He had to dissect the reasons why he had lost money, but the thrill of making the deal cemented his decision that the manufacturing industry was where he belonged. From there he went full-steam ahead into the realm of producing promotional products and merchandising, launching his own company, Lansil Global. Lansil Global helps global customers in the sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery of products made in China.   Rapid growth The success experienced by Lansil Global over the last three years is a testament to Alan’s commitment to keeping costs down while ensuring quality levels are high. Alan built his own company from the ground up. He knows that e-commerce merchants, who currently account for 90% of his business, live or die according to their online reviews. They simply cannot afford to supply end users with faulty products. Thats where Alan steps in to manage the whole process in China, ensuring that any issues are caught early, managed effectively, and ultimately resolved before the goods are shipped. His own experiences have taught him that finding reliable factories who meet deadlines can be something of a minefield, therefore his services act as life-line to both newcomers and multinational companies who simply don’t have the time to individually check the hundreds of thousands of products they sell from China every week. The solid reputation that Alan has built-up through sheer hard work, grit, and determination is now opening up the opportunity to diversify his product offerings. Last year, he started a fulfillment warehouse, which has been extremely well received, so much so, that at peak times, he had to increase his already 25-strong staff to manage the extra workload. In 2018 to date, his turnover is close to $4 million USD, with his busiest time of year coming now in Q4. He oversees the shipment of anywhere between 1,000 to 4,000 packets a day. In monetary terms, that means up to $100,0000 USD of retail cost is going through Lansil Global’s hands on a daily basis. If at first you don’t succeed†¦ Alan is keen to stress that building his company from the ground up, without any external investment or mentorship, hasn’t always been plain sailing. It has taken nearly four years to get to this point. And while he was learning, he admits he made every mistake in the manufacturing book. Despite this, he is very philosophical about it, saying that he needed to go through this process and come out the other side in order to get things right. If you speak to him today, you really get a sense of that inner confidence, but there are no traces of arrogance. Alan’s story is inspirational precisely because it is a very human one. Hult International Business School put him in the right place at the right time, with a head full of business knowledge and his naturally entrepreneurial and go-getter personality. It may not have always been easy, but there is no doubt that Alan wouldn’t change any of it for the world.1537379685208 --> Interested in finding out more about the exciting career paths of Hult alumni?  Download our latest Global Careers Report. Kickstart your career in the commercial center of Asia by studying at Hults Shanghai business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog Students at Hult Shanghai get insight into Opple’s success. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .