Jack Ma

Jack Ma began his career as an English lecturer at Hangzhou Dianzi University before becoming known as the co-founder of Alibaba Group, a leading technology company. One of his early notable achievements was securing significant investment for Alibaba from companies such as Goldman Sachs and SoftBank, totaling $25 million in venture seed capital. Ma's leadership saw the development of several successful online platforms under Alibaba, including Taobao Marketplace, Alipay, and Alibaba Cloud Computing. While he stepped down as CEO of Alibaba in 2013, he continued as executive chairman until 2018. Notably, under his influence, Alibaba committed to integrating environmental concerns into its business model, dedicating 0.3% of annual revenue to environmental projects since 2010.

Following his departure from Alibaba, Ma turned his attention towards philanthropy and education. The Jack Ma Foundation, which he founded, focuses on improving education, the environment, and public health. Despite retreating largely from public life and moving to Tokyo, Japan in 2022, Ma continued to make significant contributions to society. From May 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024, he served as an invited professor at Tokyo College, focusing on sustainable agriculture and food production. His success and influence earned him recognition globally, featuring on Time's list of the world's most influential people and making significant public appearances, including speaking at the World Economic Forum.

In addition to his contributions to education and the environment, Ma has also made appearances in the entertainment industry. He appeared in the short film "Gong Shou Dao" and the documentary "Crocodile in the Yangtze." Ma's public speaking abilities have been demonstrated through various interviews and public talks, discussing Alibaba's strategies and his personal experiences with business and education. Despite his success and influence, he has been open about having no background in computer technology or coding, showing his ability to overcome challenges and succeed in unfamiliar territories.