51Talk is China’s leading online English education platform. In this episode, listen to James and Robyn: James Stewart, North American Marketing Manager at 51Talk, and Robyn Shulman, Senior Editor at 51Talk and a LinkedIn thought leader featured among education influencers.
This conversation originally appeared on the China Business Cast podcast. China Business Cast features experienced entrepreneurs and business professionals who explain how business gets done in China. This episode is especially helpful for listeners who want to understand how a publicly traded Chinese company operates in the U.S., how online English education is scaled, and what it takes to build relationships with students and teachers across different time zones.
Listen to the episode here or subscribe to the China Business Cast feed.
About 51Talk
51Talk is a leading online English education platform focused on making quality instruction accessible and affordable across China. Through live, one-on-one lessons with North American teachers, the platform connects millions of Chinese learners—children and adults—with qualified instructors via interactive video lessons. 51Talk’s model emphasizes convenience, individualized attention, and scalable technology to reach students in cities and rural areas alike.
About James
James Stewart is the North American Marketing Manager at 51Talk. He has a background in business development and marketing within fintech and technology companies, and previously ran business development efforts in San Francisco. Now based in New York City, James focuses on expanding 51Talk’s presence and growing the teacher and student community across the western market. His responsibilities include marketing strategy, partner outreach, and building engagement programs that connect teachers and learners.
About Robyn
Robyn Shulman serves as a Senior Editor at 51Talk. She is recognized as a LinkedIn thought leader in the education sector and has written for outlets such as Forbes and The Huffington Post. At 51Talk Robyn oversees content strategy and editorial initiatives, producing material that supports teacher development, student engagement, and brand storytelling. Her role bridges editorial content and practical guidance for teachers and prospective students.
About the Episode:
- Robyn discusses her early responsibilities at 51Talk and provides background on how she came into the role, offering practical insights into editorial priorities within an education technology company.
- James and Robyn outline their current positions at 51Talk, describe the qualities and skills necessary for those roles, and explain what meaningful contributions look like in a fast-moving online education environment.
- The hosts trace the origins of 51Talk, exploring how the company positioned itself in a market that already included established players.
- A listener question asks how 51Talk began prior to receiving outside funding, prompting a discussion of early strategy, grassroots growth, and the operational choices that helped the company scale.
- They compare 51Talk’s approach with larger competitors—how a focused, technology-driven, one-on-one lesson model allowed the company to differentiate in a crowded market.
- James shares examples of how he connects and engages with students and teachers, including initiatives that succeeded and lessons learned from efforts that did not perform as expected.
- A question from a WeChat listener asks how 51Talk recruited and grew to 8,000–10,000 teachers; the hosts describe recruitment tactics, community building, and support systems that help retain instructors.
- Robyn explains what it means to be a LinkedIn thought leader featured with Influencers, how that role amplifies professional reach in education circles, and how such visibility is typically earned through consistent content and industry engagement.
- Both James and Robyn recommend books they’ve recently read and discuss how those titles influence their work and thinking about marketing, education, and leadership.
- The episode closes with practical advice on how listeners can follow and connect with James and Robyn through 51Talk channels and professional networks.
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If you’re interested in online English teaching, EdTech growth, or how companies bridge markets between China and North America, this episode offers practical perspectives from people leading outreach, content, and marketing at one of China’s most recognized online English platforms.