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The Tao of Alibaba

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From long-time Alibaba executive and former special assistant to Jack Ma, this is the first book to articulate how Alibaba's unique culture and "taichi" management principles are providing a business and economic development model for the rest of the world.

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The Tao of Alibaba book
Hachette Book Group
Public Affairs

MEET BRIAN

                

Brian A. Wong

An entrepreneur and investor, with over 20 years of management experience in e-commerce and digital media.

As the Alibaba Group's 52nd employee, Brian served as Vice President of Global Initiatives, where he led the creation and management of international programs for governments, entrepreneurs and universities to demonstrate how e-commerce can promote inclusive development in emerging markets. During his 16-year tenure with the firm, Brian served as the Special Assistant to the Chairman for international affairs and Executive Director of the Alibaba Global Leadership Academy (AGLA), and led Alibaba.com's global sales and marketing operations.

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Speaking & EVENTS

                

Brian is available for keynote and other speaking engagements. Advisory services and team workshops can also be booked with Brian.

ALL EVENTS & INFO
Speaker

GIFT

(GIFT) Global Leaders Programme

Brian A, Wong, founder of RADll and author of "The Tao of Alibaba" presented on the Alibaba Group culture and the success of creating business based on demand.

Event Details
Speaker

Economist Intelligence Corporate Network

EICN HK Roundtable Series: Tech Cold War, the New Frontier for Global Influence

The roundtable discussion explored how technology is being leveraged as a strategic asset, particularly in the context of the U.S.-China tech rivalry. This has led to the fragmentation of the global technology ecosystem, which is affecting businesses worldwide.

Event Details
Keynote Speaker

AACSB

Conference Welcome & Keynote I: Core Principles for Leading in an Unpredictable Future

Join us for a welcome message from AACSB leadership followed by the opening keynote session. Brian A. Wong, author of "The Tao of Alibaba," offers a compelling look into the dynamic mindset that propelled Alibaba to global prominence, reshaping not just commerce but also assumptions about the role business can play in doing good for society.

Event Details

The Tao of Alibaba

                

The Tao of Alibaba book

The Tao of Alibaba is the first book of its kind, providing a management guide to entrepreneurs, business executives, and even policy makers. It offers an inside view into not just how the company's leadership team created the world's largest e-commerce business, but also how it pioneered a new economic development paradigm by creating an innovative digital economy for China and beyond.

This book reveals the "Tao" of Alibaba—the company’s “secret sauce”—a consciously cultivated ethos and spirit that distinguishes it from its Western counterparts. This Alibaba way has enabled the organization to weather tough times and persist toward a common mission. It is a blueprint of the company’s management philosophy, crystalized into the most important elements that have driven its success.

This window into Alibaba's soul provides useful lessons for public and private sector leaders seeking new models for inclusive and equitable economic transformation.

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The book shows leaders how they can steer their organization toward maximizing performance while at the same time having a real impact onthe world around them.
Arianna Huffington
Founder and CEO, Thrive Global
Brian Wong has masterfully laid out the blueprint for how Alibaba built a mission-driven organization that truly empowers its employees.
Esther Wojcicki
Leading American educator, author, and fabled “godmother of Silicon Valley”
An insider’s account of one of the world’s most important companies and a rare opportunity to see not only what makes Alibaba tick, but also how it helped change China.
Peter Cappelli
George W. Taylor Professor of Management, the Wharton School, and co-author of Fortune Makers
This should be required reading for business school! The Tao of Alibaba bridges east and west and provides a fresh alternative to western frameworks for leadership and company building.
Connie Chan
General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
[Wong’s] insights… are invaluable to anyone interested in starting and scaling a tech business.
Geoffrey Garrett
Dean, Robert R. Dockson Dean’s Chair in Business Administration and professor of management and organization, USC Marshall School of Business
This book will teach entrepreneurs how to build a global business better than any MBA course ever could.
Dr. Parag Khanna
International bestselling author of The Future is Asian
Brian Wong has done an absolutely brilliant job of drawing out the special genius of Jack Ma and The Tao of Alibaba… an absolute must-read!
Kishore Mahbubani
Founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS, and author of Has China Won?
This book is a must-read for anyone looking for invaluable management insights on how to future-proof your company for the digital age.
R “Ray” Wang
Chairman of Constellation Research, Inc., and bestselling author of Disrupting Digital Business and Everyone Wants to Rule the World
A well-organized, well-written account of how Alibaba grew from a tiny startup to a corporate giant.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
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MEDIA

                

Bylines and Media Mentions

Brian is actively involved in a number of technology startups and high-level training initiatives aimed at sharing his experiences and passion for everything digital with like-minded people around the world.

ALL MEDIA
Mar 28, 2024
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Media
REUTERS

With Cainiao buyback, Alibaba takes aim at rivals' overseas advance

Investing in Cainiao's global infrastructure and leveraging that might be one way to reel in rivals, said Brian Wong, a former Alibaba employee and author of "The Tao of Alibaba".
Jan 3, 2024
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Media
CNBC

Alibaba was once a Wall Street darling. After plunging 75% over three years, what’s next?

“Personnel-wise there are people that are leaving the company, they may feel the company is so big and bureaucratic, that is a reality,” said Brian Wong, former Alibaba Group vice president and author of “The Tao of Alibaba,” published in November 2022.
Sep 13, 2023
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Media
Forbes

As Alibaba’s Stock Slides, Employee No. 52 Still Believes In Its “Tao”

Brian Wong, a long-time Alibaba insider and the author of “The Tao of Alibaba,” a study of its culture, told Forbes this week he expects the switch will ultimately work out.
Sep 13, 2023
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Media
Nikkei Asia

Jack Ma still Alibaba's 'biggest boss' as Daniel Zhang leaves cloud unit

The surprise resignation of Daniel Zhang as head of Alibaba's key cloud unit has thrown a spotlight on the continuing influence of Jack Ma over the company he helped found and led for over two decades.

projects

                

Ventures and Inititatives

Brian is actively involved in a number of technology startups and high-level training initiatives aimed at sharing his experiences and passion for everything digital with like-minded people around the world.

ALL PROJECTS
2017 - present

RADII Media

RADII (rā’dē-ī’) is an independent platform of artists, writers and creators dedicated to sharing vibrant stories from the rarely explored sides of Chinese youth culture.

RADII Media
2018 - present

Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI)

The AGI mission is to share the positive impact of the new business paradigm in promoting inclusive development and to inspire and empower entrepreneurs, youth and women.

Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI)