The English teacher who revolutionized Wall Street – La Voz de Galicia

The English teacher who revolutionized Wall Street – La Voz de Galicia

The Wall Street brokers are rubbing their hands these days thanks to him. Jack Ma has led his company to make history on the trading floor in New York with an IPO of making history. It has raised 21,800 million (17,000 million) with its market debut. Unheard of.

However, Alibaba’s surprised by its origins for his spectacular debut. Few investors have imagined spectacular success 15 years ago, when Jack Ma founded the company. This English teacher barely knew to send an email when you created which later became the largest e-commerce giant China. Together with his wife and 17 friends gathered $ 60,000 (47,000 euros) in their austere apartment in the city of Hangzhou, a hundred kilometers from Shanghai.

What is the secret of success ? Jack Ma has no technical training, as have his school, he was not was good with numbers. In fact suspended twice selectivity.

The real skill of Ma was learn English perfectly. At ten he realized he would need to speak several languages ​​travel the world. So aim to get used to the little knowledge of English I learned at school with foreign tourists. In return, he offered aa them guidance, which allowed him to meet social and cultural aspects of other countries than other children his age were completely unaware.

Your English proficient allowed work as a teacher at a local university until 1995, again driven by its enterprising spirit, he founded his own school of translation and traveled to the United States. He had his first contact with the Internet, then practically limited government affairs, and realized that only circulated information about China and that this was the future. After several failures with different companies related to Internet, came the idea that has catapulted him to success: using the Web to connect people. “Everyone knows the story of Ali Baba, and knows he is a man trying to help the rest. We do the same, “usually explains.

Philanthropic Work

The company thrived in the heat of rapid growth Chinese economic and reached its peak when acquired by Yahoo billion 40% stake. Now Jack Ma is the maximum individual shareholder in the company but has only 8% of its shares. Last year he resigned as CEO of Alibaba Group claiming that “one is no longer young for the internet business.” But still the president of the company and even now dedicated to philanthropic work, does not hide his expansionist zeal. In their world tour for investors proclaimed: “We will conquer USA and Europe, without neglecting Asia. “