Call Summary: US-China Education Cooperation and Bridge Building Opportunities

Overview

Gary Sheng and Brandon Thomas connected through Chris's introduction to explore potential collaboration on international education initiatives between the US and China. The conversation revealed strong alignment in their vision for US-China cooperation, with Brandon offering extensive networks and experience in both countries to support educational bridge-building efforts.

Key Topics Discussed

Brandon's Extensive Background in Technology and Politics

• Political Origins: "I started my career in politics... worked at The White House during the Clinton administration from 1995-2000 on the National Advance Staff, planning travel and events for the President, First Lady, and Vice President. I even flew on Air Force One on multiple occasions."
• Revolutionary Data Work: "I co-wrote the initial data strategy that revolutionized campaign politics by creating a comprehensive record for every US voter—known as the 'voter file'—which has been used by every Democratic presidential campaign since."
• Tech Entrepreneurship: Built multiple companies including Nico Networks (acquired by Washington Post), where he created the Washington Post Social Reader that reached 35 million users
• Current Focus: Now runs Pellonium (cybersecurity) and Blockview Partners (blockchain consulting), positioning himself "at the center of major technological disruptions"

Deep China Business Experience and Network

• RadioShack Connection: Started at RadioShack, which was "the first company in the US to vertically integrate with manufacturing in China back in the 70s"
• Chinese Private Equity Work: Spent three years working for a China-based private equity fund, "hunting for ideas to bring Chinese investment into US and vice versa"
• Key Partnership: Works with "George," a native Chinese who came to the US, worked at RadioShack, then returned to China as a consultant on US business practices
• Trust-Based Network: "I was the only non-Chinese involved... There was nobody but even here, when they would come here and we would do things, it would be very insulated with the folks that have managed to immigrate here"
• Network Status: The network went dormant when his main contact "was taken into a training camp" as part of political maneuvering, but Brandon maintains: "I'm always open and interested to see if, how, or when I can try again or do more there"

Gary's Unique US-China Background

• Personal History: "I'm Chinese American. My parents came to the US as my dad went to grad school at Louisiana State University right before the Tiananmen Square massacre happened. George H.W. Bush gave my parents political asylum."
• Product of History: "I'm a product of US-China relations... I wouldn't be born without Texas and without the US and without Chinese infringement"
• Career Path: Google software engineer → Online activism after Trump election → Co-founded Civics Unplugged → Ethereum foundation work → Vatican conferences → Alpha Schools consulting
• China Education Interest: "This one group in China that has been responsible for some fairly economically successful international schools... wants to build more international schools directly integrating some themes from Alpha schools"

Education Innovation and Challenges

• Alpha Schools Experience: Gary revealed significant concerns about Alpha Schools' business model: "They're spending like half a million per kid per year... They're very, very unprofitable... They're not close to on track to creating a profitable enterprise"
• China's Advantage: Brandon observed: "China doesn't have that problem [of rigid bureaucracy]. There's more focused investment and more flexibility. The constructs and systems we have here are too rigid, especially in education, to kill innovation"
• Chinese Parent Priorities: "Chinese parents just want their kids to go to America. It's quite low status to keep your kid in China unless they go to the best possible school"

Potential US School Partnerships

Brandon offered specific connections for international school partnerships:

• Georgetown Day School: "I've got a friend I know she's very active there. I think I could get a connection to them"
• University of Texas High School: "UT has a high school... UT might be interested and available to lend their brand to something like this"
• Magellan International School: In Austin, though noted Chris may have reservations about the founder
• Strategy: Focus on "high end private schools because they would have the ambition and are functional organizations relative to others that would be open"

Philosophy on US-China Relations

• Economic Cooperation Vision: Brandon: "There is so much we offer each other together than we do apart... More economic activity equals friendlier politics" (following Hank Paulson's vision)
• Need for Balance: Gary: "I actually do believe that the US needs a real counterbalance in the world. It's extremely arrogant, especially in the age of [current times]. Balance is good."
• Bridge Building Heritage: Discussion of People to People Ambassador Program as Cold War bridge-building effort, with Gary noting: "It seemed like a Cold War type response. And now we're in a different kind of cold war... we probably need new bridge building efforts"

Family and Personal Connections to China

• Brandon's Daughters: "My daughters, we somehow stumbled upon a Chinese immersion program here at a public school here in Austin. Both my daughters are pretty much fluent. We went as a family back in April to Chongqing and Beijing"
• Gary's Mission: "I do see it as part of my destiny to support bridge building between my two nations... my ethnic nation and my birth nation"

Key Quotes

• Brandon on transparency: "I'm very transparent. I don't hide things. I never could have been in the intelligence arena"
• Brandon on China's tech approach: "There are things that China does better that we Americans are wholly ignorant of... even how technology is thought about as a national security challenge"
• Gary on moral guidance: "The Catholic Church may be the most important institution to weigh in on these moral questions about technology right now... Without moral guidance, they just create gambling apps, pornography apps"
• Gary on youth connections: "Having young, talented Chinese people have real friendships with American young people feels like a really great thing for us to facilitate"
• Brandon on education innovation: "You have to be like that guy [Joe Lamont] to create a school from nothing. You can't be a kid in the garage. There's too much red tape and bureaucracy that costs too much money. China doesn't have that problem"

Action Items / Takeaways

• WeChat Connection: Gary and Brandon connected on WeChat for ongoing communication
• Alan Introduction: Gary to connect Brandon with Alan (China education partner) for potential school partnerships
• US School Outreach: Brandon to explore connections at Georgetown Day School, UT system, and other Austin schools
• Coffee Meeting: Plan to meet in person when Gary returns to Austin in a few days
• Study Abroad Programs: Explore high school semester abroad opportunities between US and China
• International School Model: Investigate how international schools could serve as bridge for study abroad programs (English-speaking but foreign environment)

Strategic Framework

The conversation revealed a powerful alignment around several key principles:

• Win-Win Cooperation: Moving beyond zero-sum thinking in US-China relations
• Education as Safe Ground: High school education as non-sensitive area for cooperation ("not sharing military secrets at high school level")
• Youth Bridge Building: Creating real friendships between American and Chinese young people as foundation for future cooperation
• Technology with Values: Need for moral/ethical framework in technology development, not just commercial success
• Long-term Thinking: Importance of thinking beyond immediate gains to generational impact