The Waters Between Us: Himal Fiction Fest 2025

Glen Loveland bridges East and West through his work as a global HR strategist, memoirist, and cross-cultural navigator. His journey began in the corridors of American politics as press secretary to U.S. Representative Tom Udall, but took a decisive turn in 2007 when he ventured to China—a move that would reshape his understanding of both cultures. Over more than a decade in China, Glen ascended to senior HR leadership positions at multinational giants including Pearson Education and The Walt Disney Company, before making history as the first foreign executive to spearhead expatriate recruitment at China Global Television Network (CGTN), the state broadcaster. His unique position offered him unprecedented insights into China's media landscape and the complexities of cross-cultural integration in Chinese institutions. These experiences crystallized into his memoir, Beijing Bound: A Foreigner Discovers China, a work that captures both the absurdities and revelations of living through China's extraordinary transformation. Written with humor and honesty, the book offers readers an intimate window into the contradictions and discoveries that define the expatriate experience in contemporary China. Now based at Arizona State University's prestigious Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glen channels his bicultural expertise into mentoring the next generation of global leaders. He specializes in international student development, leadership cultivation, and the intricate dynamics of global talent mobility—drawing from his own transformative journey between two worlds. Glen's voice resonates across cultures, offering perspectives that can only come from someone who has lived, worked, and thrived in both American and Chinese professional environments.