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The Tao of Alibaba: Inside the Chinese Digital Giant That Is Changing the World
From a long-time Alibaba executive and former special assistant to Jack Ma, this is the first book to articulate how Alibaba's unique culture and “tai chi” management principles are providing a business and economic development model for the rest of the world.
If you took the economic might of Amazon, and added the penetration of Facebook, the ubiquity of Google, and the cultural significance of YouTube, you might have something starting to resemble Alibaba. Commonly mischaracterized as a kind of Chinese eBay for businesses, Alibaba and its interlinked network of products and services have exploded into global markets, disrupting conventional businesses and creating previously unimaginable opportunities for millions of small businesses worldwide.
This book reveals the Tao of Alibaba—the company’s “secret sauce”—a consciously cultivated ethos and spirit that has enabled Alibaba to weather tough times (including its recent setbacks with the Chinese government) 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, and it provides a road map for how to incorporate these principles into any organization’s operations.
Wong distills his nearly two decades of experience inside the company to show readers how to align their organization’s capabilities with performance-maximizing tools in order to achieve success. But most importantly, the Tao of Alibaba teaches the pursuit of greater purpose and meaning, steering entrepreneurs to view their ventures as a vehicle for having profound and lasting impacts on their communities. Ultimately, the lessons shared in The Tao of Alibaba will serve as timeless tools for any entrepreneur seeking to configure their organization toward purpose and impact.
If you took the economic might of Amazon, and added the penetration of Facebook, the ubiquity of Google, and the cultural significance of YouTube, you might have something starting to resemble Alibaba. Commonly mischaracterized as a kind of Chinese eBay for businesses, Alibaba and its interlinked network of products and services have exploded into global markets, disrupting conventional businesses and creating previously unimaginable opportunities for millions of small businesses worldwide.
This book reveals the Tao of Alibaba—the company’s “secret sauce”—a consciously cultivated ethos and spirit that has enabled Alibaba to weather tough times (including its recent setbacks with the Chinese government) 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, and it provides a road map for how to incorporate these principles into any organization’s operations.
Wong distills his nearly two decades of experience inside the company to show readers how to align their organization’s capabilities with performance-maximizing tools in order to achieve success. But most importantly, the Tao of Alibaba teaches the pursuit of greater purpose and meaning, steering entrepreneurs to view their ventures as a vehicle for having profound and lasting impacts on their communities. Ultimately, the lessons shared in The Tao of Alibaba will serve as timeless tools for any entrepreneur seeking to configure their organization toward purpose and impact.
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Audiobook
Published November 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 28, 2022
One of the great aspects of this book is that it takes what most people view as a massive billion dollar machine and breaks it down to the smaller / earlier start-up stages of business that got Alibaba to where it is now. It helps to remind entrepreneurs and smaller business leaders that a mountain isn't made overnight -- and certainly not without plenty of setbacks along the way -- thereby giving readers the confidence and tools to forge through the challenges they may be facing in their own businesses. Well done, Brian Wong.
November 30, 2022
In the book “The Tao of Alibaba”, Brian Wong has elaborated vividly on the inner workings of Alibaba, a great company that has helped reshape the daily lives of billions of people both in and outside of China over the past two decades or so. This is also the period that China has experienced breath-taking fast economic growth and with it gained ever-growing influence on the world stage. To me, this is not a coincidence. “The Tao of Alibaba” not only reflects the novel business practice of a great company like Alibaba but also sheds light on how China has evolved in the meantime.
In my own experience, the best way for foreigners to gain deep understanding of American life is to work at American companies. Likewise, Brian Wong, grown up and educated in the US, travelled to China and worked at Alibaba for many years since the company’s early stage. The natural combination of the time (the past two decades or so), the place (country and company) and the person (Brian Wong) allows the author to be in the best position in the Tao of War in introducing the Tao of Alibaba to the audiences outside of China.
No other times has been more critical than right now to establish a proper and healthy understanding of the Tao of Alibaba and beyond.
In my own experience, the best way for foreigners to gain deep understanding of American life is to work at American companies. Likewise, Brian Wong, grown up and educated in the US, travelled to China and worked at Alibaba for many years since the company’s early stage. The natural combination of the time (the past two decades or so), the place (country and company) and the person (Brian Wong) allows the author to be in the best position in the Tao of War in introducing the Tao of Alibaba to the audiences outside of China.
No other times has been more critical than right now to establish a proper and healthy understanding of the Tao of Alibaba and beyond.
November 30, 2022
The best book for getting amazing insights into Alibaba! Brian understands both the East and the West. He views are from both inside and outside of Alibaba. This combination makes his observations incredibly valuable for understanding the digital giant’s secret to success. A must read for all business school students, and anyone who is interested in entrepreneurship, e-commerce, fintech, super app and corporate management in general!
November 23, 2022
Insightful insider’s view of what made Alibaba so successful.
January 7, 2023
Bravo to Brian on this page-flipping book! As I was reading the book, it was as if I was reliving the personal and professional journeys Brian took during most of his life and career. The book is full of soul-seaching adventures, internal dialogues, and dialectical reasonings, trying to make sense of the two realities (poor vs. rich; large vs. small), the two cultures (East vs. West), the two goals (profit-seeking vs. social welfare), i.e. the yin and yang. What he found in Alibaba is the marriage of these two opposing poles. This is the 'tao' of Alibaba, grounded by co-existence, convergence, interconnectedness, and synergy. Although this book is supposed to be read by entrepreneurs who are interested in emulating the success of Alibaba, as a layman, I find the business models, concepts, frameworks, and principles introduced in the book as those basing Alibaba's success are relatable and applicable to life more generally, e.g. the importance of having the 3H, "heart, head and hand", in business (as it is in life). Lastly, the content is very well-structured, easy to follow, with captivating personalized stories that make the book so enjoyable to read.
March 30, 2023
An Inspiring Journey Through the Tao of Alibaba
I recently had the pleasure of reading "The Tao of Alibaba," and I must say, it was an absolutely inspiring and transformative experience.
This book offers a unique and fresh perspective on the integration of business and sustainability in the pursuit of a better world for all.
The author skillfully narrates the formation of the Alibaba behemoth, where vision, perseverance, and the hard work of a team with a shared mission managed to transform e-commerce through a win-win strategy focused on supporting small businesses, rather than taking the easier path of catering to large accounts. They chose the more challenging route, and ultimately succeeded.
The author masterfully weaves a tapestry of global mission and vision, capturing the essence of sustainable economics and the significant opportunity that corporations have in shaping the world's future. As a reader, I was captivated by the concept of responsible capitalism and how it can serve as a positive force for global development.
Moreover, The Tao of Alibaba shows the power of a mission and vision and conscious capitalism to inspire innovation and drive progress. Through vivid examples and real-life cases of Alibaba's path, the author demonstrates that adopting responsible, lean practices does not impede growth, but promotes a more resilient and adaptive business model.
In conclusion, "The Tao of Alibaba" is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of business, sustainability, and global development. It is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the potential for capitalism to be a force for good in the world. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking to be inspired and motivated to create a better world for all.
Isabel Fidalgo Carvalho
I recently had the pleasure of reading "The Tao of Alibaba," and I must say, it was an absolutely inspiring and transformative experience.
This book offers a unique and fresh perspective on the integration of business and sustainability in the pursuit of a better world for all.
The author skillfully narrates the formation of the Alibaba behemoth, where vision, perseverance, and the hard work of a team with a shared mission managed to transform e-commerce through a win-win strategy focused on supporting small businesses, rather than taking the easier path of catering to large accounts. They chose the more challenging route, and ultimately succeeded.
The author masterfully weaves a tapestry of global mission and vision, capturing the essence of sustainable economics and the significant opportunity that corporations have in shaping the world's future. As a reader, I was captivated by the concept of responsible capitalism and how it can serve as a positive force for global development.
Moreover, The Tao of Alibaba shows the power of a mission and vision and conscious capitalism to inspire innovation and drive progress. Through vivid examples and real-life cases of Alibaba's path, the author demonstrates that adopting responsible, lean practices does not impede growth, but promotes a more resilient and adaptive business model.
In conclusion, "The Tao of Alibaba" is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of business, sustainability, and global development. It is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the potential for capitalism to be a force for good in the world. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking to be inspired and motivated to create a better world for all.
Isabel Fidalgo Carvalho
April 20, 2023
The Tao of Alibaba offers a peek inside the window of the inner workings of Alibaba from when it started off as an office in Jack Ma’s dusty apartment in Hangzhou, China to becoming a global corporation with over 200,000 employees worldwide within a span of 20 years. The author offers a unique perspective bridging the East and West by highlighting western management principles woven into eastern philosophy. Insights into Alibaba’s leadership principles are covered in depth and brought together with lively stories and anecdotes. In fact, the title of the book was the name of the senior management leadership seminar geared for cultivating the company’s high-potential next generation leaders. One chapter in the book shows how a powerful MVV (Mission Vision and Values) can rally a high-performance team together and sustainably keep a start-up growing after the passion fades and daily life becomes a grind.
Reading this book has allowed me to appreciate a business paradigm that doesn’t put profits first. The author provides many examples of how companies that adopt customer value, employee development, and sustainable inclusive development practices are able to promote a more resilient and adaptive business model. The principles and management philosophies that helped Alibaba succeed was able to be successfully replicated with other start-up businesses around the world.
Highly recommended and a must-read!
Reading this book has allowed me to appreciate a business paradigm that doesn’t put profits first. The author provides many examples of how companies that adopt customer value, employee development, and sustainable inclusive development practices are able to promote a more resilient and adaptive business model. The principles and management philosophies that helped Alibaba succeed was able to be successfully replicated with other start-up businesses around the world.
Highly recommended and a must-read!
May 17, 2023
A captivating narrative-driven business book, "The Tao of Alibaba" strikes a chord with aspiring entrepreneurs who wholeheartedly believe in their startups. In this enlightening work, author Brian A. Wong draws from his own life experiences as a Chinese-American growing up in California, recounting his remarkable journey that led him to become the first American-born employee of Alibaba.
This book is an absolute gem for anyone embarking on their entrepreneurial journey or seeking an intimate perspective on the remarkable partnership between Wong and Jack Ma. From Jack Ma's humble beginnings to his enduring humility, Wong offers invaluable insights into his interactions and collaborations with the iconic entrepreneur.
"The Tao of Alibaba" weaves together a captivating personal narrative, indispensable business advice, and an inspiring tale of growth, both in the realm of business and personal development. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a must-read for all individuals looking to create their own successful ventures or seeking a profound understanding of the remarkable journey Wong shared with Jack Ma. And if you happen to fall into both categories of potential readers, then even better to read "The Tao of Alibaba" as soon as possible.
This book is an absolute gem for anyone embarking on their entrepreneurial journey or seeking an intimate perspective on the remarkable partnership between Wong and Jack Ma. From Jack Ma's humble beginnings to his enduring humility, Wong offers invaluable insights into his interactions and collaborations with the iconic entrepreneur.
"The Tao of Alibaba" weaves together a captivating personal narrative, indispensable business advice, and an inspiring tale of growth, both in the realm of business and personal development. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a must-read for all individuals looking to create their own successful ventures or seeking a profound understanding of the remarkable journey Wong shared with Jack Ma. And if you happen to fall into both categories of potential readers, then even better to read "The Tao of Alibaba" as soon as possible.
February 16, 2023
Book was a page turner. Was expecting to get some "insights" into how Jack Ma thinks, and some high-level philosophical quotes, but instead found some really good culture and organizational tips which allowed Alibaba to scale successful without losing its core culture. I found it especially meaningful, because it's coming from a day-to-day practical advice perspective. For those who want to get insight into Chinese, non-SOE, corporate managerial style and understanding their execution DNA, this is a great read!
January 17, 2023
A unique perspective into the thinking and ethos that drives one of the most impactful digital companies of our time. The author provides useful lessons and tools for any entrepreneur seeking ideas and methods to build a purpose-driven organization. Highly recommended!
June 29, 2023
A worthwhile read.
October 7, 2023
There are a few interesting tidbits sprinkled throughout the book, but overall it lacks any cohesive story or flow.
While Brian was an early employee at Alibaba, it’s also clear that he wasn’t the visionary or mastermind behind the operation. This book would have been better written by Jack Ma or Joe Tsai.
While Brian was an early employee at Alibaba, it’s also clear that he wasn’t the visionary or mastermind behind the operation. This book would have been better written by Jack Ma or Joe Tsai.
July 21, 2023
It’s as you would expect this book to go, in terms of themes and types of stories shared.
The “may-can-want” framework overlaid with customer development to form strategy statements was particularly helpful
The “may-can-want” framework overlaid with customer development to form strategy statements was particularly helpful
September 6, 2023
Die fo Jack Ma. We love a portal system for 3rd party business.
November 16, 2023
Interesting insight
June 2, 2023
Cleverly structured as a blend of Alibaba principles and personal narrative, The Tao of Alibaba marries elements of instructive business writing with inspiration.
This book was successful in presenting a view of the world (not Milton Friedman’s) that shaped Alibaba into the inclusion-powerhouse it now is, while candidly sharing the author's personal journey entering what was a lounge-room-sized start-up. For sharing not just the successes, but also the uncertainties that came with joining a start-up as well as those at key decision-points in Mr. Wong's career, the author gives hope to would-be founders, or folks scratching their heads hoping to break into entrepreneurship without a real business idea at hand. That is, hope that beyond the decisions–if they're made with the customer and ecosystem in mind–the reader can enjoy a meaningful career.
Further, the book closes on an incredibly hopeful note: “…[M]y time with Jack cemented the belief that approaching life in pursuit of ideals is not futile”.
This book was successful in presenting a view of the world (not Milton Friedman’s) that shaped Alibaba into the inclusion-powerhouse it now is, while candidly sharing the author's personal journey entering what was a lounge-room-sized start-up. For sharing not just the successes, but also the uncertainties that came with joining a start-up as well as those at key decision-points in Mr. Wong's career, the author gives hope to would-be founders, or folks scratching their heads hoping to break into entrepreneurship without a real business idea at hand. That is, hope that beyond the decisions–if they're made with the customer and ecosystem in mind–the reader can enjoy a meaningful career.
Further, the book closes on an incredibly hopeful note: “…[M]y time with Jack cemented the belief that approaching life in pursuit of ideals is not futile”.
January 18, 2024
I recently picked up a signed copy from our office (we're the only GP of Alibaba's fund). Unfortunately, I found the book to be quite draining. I was initially excited to gain insights into Alibaba from the perspective of an early employee and learn how its values contributed to its remarkable success, but I was disappointed to discover that the content was rather basic and felt like an introductory marketing course.
The Tao of Alibaba delves into the concept of yin and yang, exploring the contrasting yet interconnected elements of corporate stability and startup energy; fusion of Eastern and Western business approaches; strategic dialect that drives constant change; and balance between work and life. One aspect of the book that I appreciated was the emphasis on prioritizing customers and the creation of global initiatives, which aim to support global entrepreneurs in their growth journey without asking for any equity, solely for the purpose of expanding the digital success story and learning from these emerging talents.
January 1, 2023
This book is full of great business thinking scattered across a lot of confusing narrative. Overall I felt that there were good takeaways from the book but it was challenging to find them and keep going.
The narrative was all over the place and this made the book feel like confusing. There were stories from the past and present that seemed so out of place until much later. Because of this you’re left with a story and no context.
While I felt there was valuable wisdom I wouldn’t recommend unless you really want to slog your way through.
The narrative was all over the place and this made the book feel like confusing. There were stories from the past and present that seemed so out of place until much later. Because of this you’re left with a story and no context.
While I felt there was valuable wisdom I wouldn’t recommend unless you really want to slog your way through.
September 8, 2024
As a business owner based in Hong Kong, with factories in China, this book doesn’t just inspire, it provides a roadmap for building a resilient, innovative business, whether you’re in e-commerce, manufacturing, or services. I highly recommend The Tao of Alibaba to any entrepreneur, especially those who are navigating the dynamic markets of China and beyond. It’s a compelling mix of philosophy, strategy, and practical advice that has truly influenced how I think about growth and leadership.
June 26, 2024
I absolutely loved reading this book. A great read about how a small Internet start up has ended up becoming such a behemoth.
The principles are timeless, and I took away a lot of golden nuggets that we can implement in our own company.
Would recommend any person interested in business to read this book!
The principles are timeless, and I took away a lot of golden nuggets that we can implement in our own company.
Would recommend any person interested in business to read this book!
March 4, 2023
The book presents a thought-provoking framework for business management and entrepreneurs on their journey to building businesses
March 4, 2023
Big ideas simply explained
October 4, 2023
Very much a business book. Learned alot about Alibaba and Jack Ma.
October 25, 2023
Insightful anecdotes and useful lessons from one of the fabled internet companies of its time!
October 26, 2023
A must read for budding entrepreneurs and corporate executives alike!
January 19, 2024
aburridisimo
January 24, 2024
tried three times and can't make it past the second chapter, such a boring writing style
September 24, 2023
FT review
https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/ti...
What the eclipse of Tencent by a liquor company says about Xi’s China - https://on.ft.com/3VxBjvP via @FT
WSJ review
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tao-...
The success of Alibaba & lessons for broader China-US business relations - Nov 2022
https://www.youtube.com/live/DHfktIIe...
ST review
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/...
https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/ti...
What the eclipse of Tencent by a liquor company says about Xi’s China - https://on.ft.com/3VxBjvP via @FT
WSJ review
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tao-...
The success of Alibaba & lessons for broader China-US business relations - Nov 2022
https://www.youtube.com/live/DHfktIIe...
ST review
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/...
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews