Meet the Leader: Jack Ma
Jack Ma comes from humble beginnings. He is widely known today for co-founding Alibaba, his charisma, and for being one of the richest men in the world.
With Alibaba’s stock price currently on the rise and Ma apparently reported missing, I thought I’d share a few learnings from a discussion with Jack Ma.
Let’s get out our time machines and set the date for September 2018 and the destination for Tianjin, China.
It’s 2018 now. It’s early autumn. My first trip to China. I’m here because I was selected alongside 50 Global Shapers to attend the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions. During the multi-day event, we get a big surprise. A private hour-long meet the leader discussion with Jack Ma. We are giddy, like school children. Really. It’s a sight to see. We ready our smartphones and sharpen our pencils for the session.
Even now, I still remember this session so vividly. I’ll focus on Jack’s answers to three of the most memorable questions asked that day. Note: These are my best renderings of direct quotes from the discussion.
What do you think about people who do or do not embrace the digital revolution?
Jack Ma: “If you do or you don’t like it, it will come. Digital transformation causes social transformation. 95% of sales for Alibaba are done by phone.”
If you could learn one new thing, what would it be?
Jack Ma: “I want to learn the skill of learning — it survives my lifetime.”
What can we not solve with tech?
Jack Ma: “We can not solve for heart, value, or independent thinking. Machines will always be smarter, but we (humans) will always be wiser. Why? We have IQ, EQ, and LQ (love intelligence, or intelligence of the heart).”
What stands out to me about Jack Ma’s answers is how human he is. These are direct, genuine, and to the point. They also carry meaning and truth. This short discussion has had a lasting impact on me all these years later.
Which quote resonates with you most? Or, is there another stand out Jack Ma moment that you love? Share it with me in the comments.
Until January 29, the Global Shapers Community — Boston hub is accepting applications to join our community. Application here.
