When and how did George start Comrise?
Comrise’s founder, George Liou, started Comrise in 1984. George was a consultant at AT&T for ten years prior to establishing Comrise. He wanted to have higher challenges, so he thought he would start his own staffing/consulting company. George stated that starting his own business motivated him to work hard because it was much more challenging.
“There was never a day that was dull, and every year’s challenge was different.” – George Liou
Why did George choose the Staffing Industry?
George saw an opportunity during the recession in the early 1990s. There was a high demand for staffing services in the market, so he founded Comrise. George believed the staffing business had more advantages when compared with the products company. He said that the products company depends on the “product’s life cycle”, which could have a higher business risk.
When starting Comrise, what kind of qualities did you look for in candidates when hiring?
When George started Comrise, he sought hard-working people who were persistent with their work. He also looked for candidates who were hungry for learning and had a strong desire to perform well. He knew that employees with an excellent work ethic would drive the company to success.
MISSION & VISION
What was George’s mission and vision for Comrise?
George wanted Comrise to be a high-quality company by helping customers around the world. His goal for Comrise was to be a successful and globalized company by connecting international talents locally and globally.
What does George see for Comrise’s future?
George knows that Comrise will continue to grow and add value to all the lives it touches. His vision is to expand his business all over the world. Today, Comrise has offices in the United States, China, and Southeast Asia. George wants Comrise to expand its growth by touching all areas in the world.
LEADERSHIP & CHALLENGES
As a leader, what advice would you give to other professionals in the staffing industry?
For non-management roles:
- After ten years, those in senior or junior roles should look for a greater challenge. Don’t stick with the easy job that you already know how to do.
- Accept the position that challenges you the most.
For leadership roles:
- Have a demand for yourself.
- Help and collaborate well with others.
ABOUT GEORGE (From Sincia Liu, Former Comrise Global President):
What is George like?
George always has a great sense of humor. Even when things are not going well, he keeps his head held high. He’s a visionary who sees well into the future, along with an eternal optimist, who believes in people and is passionate about mentoring them.
What was his leadership like during his time at Comrise?
He parlays his business know-how and provides the essential tools and canvas that allow people to express themselves and grow. He opens up the possibilities and inspires people, while giving them the latitude to figure things out for themselves. In addition, he empowers people to be solutions-focused when it comes to solving business problems. His enthusiasm and wit are contagious and arouses the desire in people to want to reach for their fullest potential.
Over the years, what are the three most important things you have learned from George?
- Seize opportunities when you have a favorable climate at the right time, along with the right people to execute.
- Be open-minded and consider all viable possibilities
- Be generous and fair to all.
- Work hard, play hard, and eat well.
