Corporate governance (CG) is a journey, not a destination. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) China Corporate Governance Program started its journey in ten cities of China in 2009 and sowed 'seeds' on the ground. Today, some of those seeds are germinating, blossoming, and bearing fruit. This smart lesson describes what steps we took, including selecting partners, mapping the journey, choosing partners for maximum impact, localizing training, and following up afterward.