The Mongolian Meeting

By Charlie

I had a lunch meeting on Wednesday with Ariunbat, the director of Mongolian National Television and a team of Mongolians that he likes to call his consulting group.

Before I proceed to have a little fun with Ariunbat, I should say that he and his consulting group face an impossible task. They need to rebuild Mongolian National Television so that it survives as a public broadcaster, not as the Soviet-style state broadcaster that it has been for the past 70 years.

While most Mongolian institutions have reformed in the years since Mongolia became a democracy in 1999, National Radio and Television have stayed the same. Their building is the most Soviet place in the entire country. The organization is bloated and inept. I chuckle every time I enter the building as I ask myself why I subject myself to this place.

My first contact with Ariunbat was at 10:45 PM a few months ago. Having never before met or talked with me, Ariunbat woke me up to ask my opinion about some ideas he had for restructuring National TV. “I want to have some commercial stations that make a profit and then feed that profit into the operation of our non-commercial stations.” I tried to be polite in telling him that this was a horrible idea prone to corruption and mismanagement.

I met with Ariunbat in person several times over the next few weeks. He invited me to be Program Director for National TV, a generous and outrageous offer that I declined – at least three times. We eventually agreed that I would help National TV by bringing NPR General Counsel Neal Jackson to Ulaanbaatar to help National TV and Radio with their difficult organizational and corporate challenges. NPR has graciously agreed to pay Neal’s salary and the Asia Foundation will pick up the travel costs.

So, Wednesday’s meeting was about Neal’s visit, at least that was my expectation. By now I should know that expectations are dangerous in Mongolia.

We did talk about Neal’s visit, but it was a challenge. Two of the five meeting participants whom Ariunbat called to talk about Neal Jackson had never heard of him. “So, who is Neal Jackson?” asked one of the participants.

I designed a timeline to help the Mongolians plan for this visit and they have so far managed not to keep the schedule. I’m not surprised. As I talked about the importance of planning and thinking in advance of Neal’s arrival, I noticed that I had lost the group’s attention. The two people on my left talked on their cell phones. Ariunbat and one of his advisors talked with each other. I talked with Andreu, a Mongolian lawyer who recently returned to UB from Japan.

Seven months ago, this kind of meeting would have made me nuts and I probably would have left. But now I know that this is how meetings work in Mongolia. In fact, it is how everything works: Fluid and without focus.

As the senior guy, Ariunbat brought the conversation under control. “Look, Charlie…”
Ariunbat spent time in the American west so his English is excellent and tinged with a delightful western accent. “I want to explain my team to you.”

“Okay,” I said.

“I am the Project Leader for Neal’s visit. I am in charge. Bolor is the Project Manager, but you can CC me on anything or call me any time.”

“Okay.”

“Andreu is the lawyer. He doesn’t work for National TV yet, but we are negotiating about that. He will handle all legal issues.”

“Okay.”

“You know Khisgee. She handles all internal matters and is the point person for internal discussions.”

“Got it.”

“You also know Ogie. He is the creative one.”

“Uh huh.”

By now, Ariunbat was possessed with the muse of a Mongolian management shaman. His eyes got big and he gesticulated wildly. “This is my team, man. Bolor will be the point person for everything. This is her project, but I’m in charge. Andreu will work with Khsigee on legal and internal matters. Ogie has the ideas. Communication goes through all these people to Bolor and then to me. You can CC me any time. That’s the team.”

“Got it,” I said, as I asked myself again how I got involved with this nutcase.

Ariunbat continued: “Now we need to talk about the contract that you will sign with National TV. It’s a two-month contract. You’ll come to National TV everyday…”

I interrupted him and explained that I had no interest in working for National TV and that I’m done signing contracts in Mongolia. We went back and forth on this for ten minutes. I explained that I would organize Neal’s visit and that was it.

“Okay,” said Ariunbat, “but you are with us…”

“Right,” I said, “but I am not signing a contract and I am not coming National TV every day.”

Having sealed the deal, Ariunbat excused himself. He, Andreu and Khisgee needed to negotiate the terms of Andreu’s employment with National TV. Ogie took his cell phone conversation outside. This left Bolor and me to talk about all the work that has not been done.

Bolor has an MA from Columbia University. She was sent there a few years ago on a scholarship funded by George Soros, the billionaire who has spent millions trying to help former communist countries. In the case of Bolor, Soros made a good investment. She is super bright and a delight to work with. We actually had a productive meeting about the work ahead and Bolor promised to write a draft document outlining the objectives of Neal’s visit. She promised to send it by the end of the week.

The week is finished and I haven’t seen the document.