Jack Ma

I have spent a bit of time over the past few days reading more about Jack Ma, the prolific CEO of Alibaba, one of the world’s largest and…

Jack MaI have spent a bit of time over the past few days reading more about Jack Ma, the prolific CEO of Alibaba, one of the world’s largest and…


I have spent a bit of time over the past few days reading more about Jack Ma, the prolific CEO of Alibaba, one of the world’s largest and most influential companies.

He has been named Asia’s richest man and is well known for his brilliant ability to lead the technology powerhouse that is Alibaba. As of February 2018, he is one of China’s richest men with a net worth of US$40.4 billion, as well as one of the wealthiest people in the world.

Reading his biography/wiki is super interesting.

Ma was born on 10 September 1964 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. He began studying English at a young age by conversing with English-speakers at Hangzhou international hotel. He would ride 70 miles on his bicycle to give tourists tours of the area to practice his English for nine years. He became pen pals with one of those foreigners, who nicknamed him “Jack” because he found it hard to pronounce his Chinese name.[7]

Later in his youth, Ma struggled attending college. The Chinese entrance exams are held only once a year and it took Ma four years to pass. After that, Ma attended Hangzhou Teacher’s Institute (currently known as Hangzhou Normal University) and graduated in 1988 with a B.A. in English.[8][9] While at school, Ma was head of the student council.[10] After graduation, he became a lecturer of English and International Trade at Hangzhou Dianzi University. He later enrolled at Beijing-based Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business and graduated in 2006.[11]

Jack Ma applied for 30 different jobs and got rejected by all. “I went for a job with the police; they said, ‘you’re no good,’” Ma told interviewer Charlie Rose. “I even went to KFC when it came to my city. Twenty-four people went for the job. Twenty-three were accepted. I was the only guy…”.[12] In addition he applied 10 times for Harvard and got rejected.[13]

Check out the rest of his biography and let me know what you think.

I think this video from 1999 is very interesting and does a good job demonstrating Jack Ma’s fiery spirit. I really enjoy reading about inspirational people’s experience and upbringing.


Originally published at gonen.blog.

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Exported from Medium on February 17, 2018.