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Pioneers: Huawei Stories
Founded in 1987 by a former engineer in China's People's Liberation Army (Ren Zhengfei), Huawei Technologies is today the world's largest telecoms equipment manufacturer and second behind Apple in smartphones. Its emergence into a multinational with over 175,000 employees all around the world is nothing short of extraordinary. This book gets to the heart of the pioneers within Huawei - the individuals who blazed a trail through unexplored and undeveloped territories, that enabled Huawei to expand globally in such impressive terms. Their personal stories tell us about the extraordinary commitment, determination, and ability required for companies to establish new ground in some of the most difficult parts of the world. This unconventional form of heroism remains a central part of Huawei's culture and makes it stand out in today's business world.
- GenresBusiness
288 pages, Paperback
Published November 16, 2017
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27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 20, 2018
Not a book I would pick up by choice for leisure reading, but it gave some interesting insight to the company's beginnings during its ventures into international expansion. The contents are divided into short stories of various Huawei employees' accounts, mostly on the African continent, where each individual recalls how their sacrifices of family, friends and home were all in the name of worthwhile contributions to the company's success.
However, the book's attention on earning fame and glory while braving elements such as civil war, malaria and culture-shock carried an element of brainwashing readers targeted at the company to follow in their footsteps. I also felt they did not paint very flattering pictures of developing countries, especially African countries which seemed to be rife with riots, shootouts, disease and poverty. Perhaps I took it a tad too personally as there was a rather distasteful joke made in light of a robbery incident in a country which I call home.
Otherwise, I did enjoy the balance of different occupational perspectives of a chef, a tower climber, a client service professional and project managers which helped to keep the book from a stale read. There are also a few minor spelling errors which should be corrected if future reprints are to made, hence the rating given.
However, the book's attention on earning fame and glory while braving elements such as civil war, malaria and culture-shock carried an element of brainwashing readers targeted at the company to follow in their footsteps. I also felt they did not paint very flattering pictures of developing countries, especially African countries which seemed to be rife with riots, shootouts, disease and poverty. Perhaps I took it a tad too personally as there was a rather distasteful joke made in light of a robbery incident in a country which I call home.
Otherwise, I did enjoy the balance of different occupational perspectives of a chef, a tower climber, a client service professional and project managers which helped to keep the book from a stale read. There are also a few minor spelling errors which should be corrected if future reprints are to made, hence the rating given.
September 1, 2018
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3074406.html
It opens with an introductory paean of praise for Huawei’s wonderful corporate culture, but then settles down into a series of first-person accounts by young Chinese people working in different cultures.
The growth of China is possibly the most important global economic trend right now, and I really did find it interesting to get this insight into some of the people who are making it happen. About half of the accounts are set in Africa, where those of us who have paid attention have noted the huge growth in Chinese investment over the last twenty years or so. Several stories emphasise the importance of access to Chinese food for company morale (one contributor was the chef of the Huawei office in Cöte d’Ivoire). There is a memorably grim account of being stuck in Iceland (apart from anything else, Icelandic hairdresses were unable to cope with Chinese hair). The most spectacular chapter tells how a Huawei base station was set up in Medog County, Tibet, where there were no roads and every single piece of equipment had to be carried in by porters - I guess the landscape is too extreme for four-footed transport.
It is slightly propagandistic, but it is a fascinating insight into an important part of what’s going on in our world today.
It opens with an introductory paean of praise for Huawei’s wonderful corporate culture, but then settles down into a series of first-person accounts by young Chinese people working in different cultures.
The growth of China is possibly the most important global economic trend right now, and I really did find it interesting to get this insight into some of the people who are making it happen. About half of the accounts are set in Africa, where those of us who have paid attention have noted the huge growth in Chinese investment over the last twenty years or so. Several stories emphasise the importance of access to Chinese food for company morale (one contributor was the chef of the Huawei office in Cöte d’Ivoire). There is a memorably grim account of being stuck in Iceland (apart from anything else, Icelandic hairdresses were unable to cope with Chinese hair). The most spectacular chapter tells how a Huawei base station was set up in Medog County, Tibet, where there were no roads and every single piece of equipment had to be carried in by porters - I guess the landscape is too extreme for four-footed transport.
It is slightly propagandistic, but it is a fascinating insight into an important part of what’s going on in our world today.
August 16, 2019
Managed to read the book halfway as I had to return it.
It definitely showcased the hardships Hua Wei's employees went through while working in the company and I give them a large amount of respect for their courage, perseverance and their loyalty to the company. It definitely makes you question how resilient you are as compared to them.
It definitely showcased the hardships Hua Wei's employees went through while working in the company and I give them a large amount of respect for their courage, perseverance and their loyalty to the company. It definitely makes you question how resilient you are as compared to them.
April 3, 2019
Picked it up at my Mazabuka host’s place. Read in one sitting.
December 7, 2021
Was very surprised by this book. As the old saying warns you shouldn't judge them by their covers. Longer review hopefully coming soon.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews