Jack Ma grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution, facing numerous challenges. He failed the college entrance exam multiple times before finally attending Hangzhou Teacher’s Institute, where he studied English and later became an English teacher.

In 1999, Jack Ma co-founded Alibaba.com, a platform that connected Chinese manufacturers with international buyers. Despite initial challenges and the dot-com bubble burst, Alibaba persevered and grew rapidly, expanding its services to include various e-commerce platforms, online payment systems (Alipay), cloud computing services (Alibaba Cloud), and digital entertainment.

Alibaba Group went public in 2014 with one of the largest initial public offerings (IPOs) in history, raising over $25 billion. Under Jack Ma’s leadership, the company expanded globally, reaching markets in Southeast Asia, India, Europe, and the Americas. Alibaba became a global leader in e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital payments.

In 2019, Jack Ma stepped down as Alibaba’s executive chairman, focusing more on philanthropic efforts. He established the Jack Ma Foundation, which supports education, environmental conservation, and public health initiatives. One of the foundation’s notable initiatives is the African Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), which supports African entrepreneurs.

Jack Ma’s outspoken and sometimes controversial statements have garnered attention. His disappearance from public view in late 2020 and early 2021, following critical comments about China’s regulatory system, raised concerns, although he re-emerged later, stating he had been laying low due to a busy schedule.

Jack Ma is widely recognized as one of China’s most influential and inspirational entrepreneurs. His vision and determination transformed Alibaba into a global technology powerhouse, empowering businesses and consumers worldwide. Despite challenges and controversies, Ma’s impact on the digital economy and entrepreneurship is profound, making him a revered figure in the business world.