Bao Ge | April 20, 2026 |
On the evening of April 2, 2026, Personal Connect hosted a highly successful business networking event at our offices in Chegongmiao, Futian, Shenzhen, in cooperation with Giannoccaro Design and Creative Agency Ltd.
The event brought together more than 50 entrepreneurs, founders, and professionals from across Shenzhen’s international business community for an evening focused on branding, business value, and intellectual property in China.
Brand Power at the Center of the Discussion
The highlight of the evening was the keynote session titled “Brand Power: The Hidden Asset Behind Successful Businesses,” delivered by Jochen Michael Thomas, CEO of Giannoccaro Design and Creative Agency.
Drawing from over three decades of entrepreneurial experience across South Africa, Europe, and China, Jochen shared practical insights into how strong brands are built and why they play such a critical role in business success. His talk explored how brand strength directly impacts pricing power, client perception, and long term enterprise value, offering attendees a clear and commercially grounded perspective on branding.
International Perspective with Damon Frank Giannoccaro
While Damon Frank Giannoccaro, Founder and Creative Director of the agency, was unable to attend in person due to business commitments in South Africa, he joined the event via video conference and delivered a valuable contribution to the discussion.
With nearly 30 years of experience in marketing and branding, Damon shared insights from working with international brands and highlighted the importance of consistency, positioning, and cross cultural understanding when building brand value in global markets.
Practical Legal Insights on IP Protection in China
Following the branding session, Michael Shen, legal partner and intellectual property specialist, delivered a focused talk on the legal aspects of protecting brands in China.
Michael provided practical guidance on trademark protection, common risks faced by companies operating in China, and the importance of establishing a strong intellectual property strategy early on. His session gave attendees a clear understanding of how to safeguard their brands in a complex and highly competitive market.
A Strong Turnout and Valuable Networking
With over 50 attendees, the event created an excellent environment for meaningful conversations and new connections. Following the talks, guests had the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and build relationships with other professionals from a wide range of industries.
The combination of high level insights and an open, informal setting made the evening both informative and engaging.
Building a Stronger Business Community
At Personal Connect, we believe that creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and connection is essential for supporting the growth of Shenzhen’s international business community.
Events like this reflect our ongoing commitment to not only providing professional services, but also building a platform where entrepreneurs and professionals can come together, learn from industry experts, and expand their networks.
We would like to thank Giannoccaro Design and Creative Agency Ltd, Jochen Michael Thomas, Damon Frank Giannoccaro, and Michael Shen for their valuable contributions, as well as everyone who attended and made the evening such a success.
We look forward to hosting more events in the future and continuing to bring together the business community in Shenzhen.
April 20, 2026