Alibaba

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An engrossing insider’s account reveals how a teacher built one of the world’s most valuable companies, reshaping the global economy. In just over a decade, Jack Ma, who began as an English teacher, founded Alibaba, an e-commerce empire vital to hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers. The company’s $25 billion IPO in 2014 marked the largest global IPO ever. As a modern-day Rockefeller, Jack is sought after by CEOs and Presidents worldwide, symbolizing China’s booming private sector and access to a vast middle-class market. Duncan Clark, who first met Jack in 1999 at Alibaba's inception, provides a compelling narrative based on exclusive interviews and his experience as an early advisor, along with two decades chronicling the Internet's impact in China. The account explores how Jack overcame humble beginnings and early setbacks to achieve remarkable success, outsmarting rivals from both China and Silicon Valley. It raises questions about Alibaba's ability to maintain its 80% market share, its ambitions in finance and entertainment, and the Chinese government’s perspective on its rise. As Alibaba considers further expansion, including into the U.S., Clark illuminates the story of an unlikely corporate titan against the backdrop of China's significant economic and social transformations.