Ma Yun once boasted that his most capable female deputy "has the unique warmth and insight of women". In the male-dominated Internet industry, do female CEOs really win by virtue of female characteristics?
They were friendly and gentle before, but they went through cancer, divorce, emergency orders and so on. Through one dark moment after another. What supports all this is the sense of power behind it.
"rotten, too rotten, rotten to the extreme!"
At Alipay's annual meeting, Ma Yun denounced Alipay's user experience in public. Shao Xiaofeng, the CEO of the audience, cried directly.
This is 20 10, the sixth year of Alipay. Ma Yun immediately handed over the position of Alipay CEO to Peng Lei, then CPO (Chief Talent Officer). Peng Lei looked puzzled: But I don't understand finance! Ma Yun said that no one has done what we did anyway. There are no experts in this world, and no one can tell me. I know this thing very well. I believe you can.
Peng Lei, 197 1, a native of Wanzhou, Chongqing. After graduating from Zhejiang Gongshang University, I became a university teacher. 1997, I married my brother Sun Tongyu (one of the eighteen arhats of Alibaba, the founder of Taobao).
Because Sun Tongyu and Ma Yun were together at that time and wanted to travel to Beijing, Peng Lei was persuaded to join. Two years later, Ma Yun returned to Hangzhou, ready to start a second business and "do a big thing". The husband and wife didn't hesitate much and came back together. After that, I started a bitter entrepreneurial career, earning only 500 yuan a month (I can get tens of thousands when I am in Beijing).
Peng Lei, working number 007, was in charge of finance, customer service and HR at the beginning of Alibaba. As Ali grew up, she achieved CPO all the way. Ma Yun's unconstrained corporate culture expectations are implemented one by one, and he puts forward grounded values such as "extraordinary people, doing extraordinary things with a normal heart" and "mind and brain strength".
Although Ali has been through many battles, when 20 10 Ma Yun proposed to let her take over Alipay, he had no business experience and was a layman.
At that time, Alipay had accumulated a large number of users by virtue of its monopoly on Taobao traffic. Because of its leading position, even if it is difficult to use, users can only endure it. Moreover, at that time, Alipay's kpi pursued transaction volume, and everyone was busy expanding payment channels. Even if we sometimes hear complaints from users, the product manager may not be able to raise the priority of those requirements.
How hard was Alipay 10 years ago? At the time of settlement, users need to select the issuing bank, jump to the online banking page of each bank, and then operate according to the requirements of each bank. The bank's own page is still 10 years ago, so you can imagine how sour it is.
So Peng Lei began to think: What is the value that Alipay can bring to users? How should this be reflected in kpi? Finally, set two goals: payment success rate and security. This seems normal today, but in that era, Ali, who was the only one and respected trading volume, was almost anti-human.
In the process of cooperation with banks, Peng Lei found that banks have the function of withholding water, electricity and coal. Why not launch it on Alipay? This can really solve the pain points of users, but it is also very difficult. The system of power companies and gas companies in various places is backward and it is difficult to connect. Hard work but no money.
Peng Lei's proposal was opposed by many people. Peng Lei constantly challenges the limits of the team by lowering the priority of money-making projects and doing these time-consuming and unattractive projects. She even doubted herself for a time.
At that time, she learned to persevere in all opposition. It was then that she felt the loneliness of the CEO.
"They can't fall, because there is no one behind them. They can't fall down because there are too many people behind them. "
20 18, when Peng Lei stepped down as the chairman of Ant Financial, Ma Yun said in an internal letter:
However, without keen insight, they just do the dirty work that others don't want to do one by one; It only carries out those things that are recognized by high standards; It's only when everyone is against it that you can hear your inner voice.
A woman's keenness, without the tenacity behind it, will also be the flower of yesterday when she suddenly realizes.
1997 When Peng Lei and others followed Ma Yun northward, one day, Yahoo went to Beijing for a press conference, and Ma Yun received them as employees of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. He had a good talk with one of them, and a few years later tricked him into giving up Yahoo's high-paying job and becoming the first CTO of Alibaba.
His name is Wu Jiong, and his wife is Sun Jie, the current CEO of Ctrip.
Unlike Peng Lei's casual and straightforward personality, Sun Jie, who appears in front of the public, always wears a meticulous hairstyle, exquisite makeup, elegant suit, and speaks with a soft tone of Wu Nong. She really can afford the word "gentleness".
Sun Jie arrives at the office at about 7 o'clock every day. The bosses of all her businesses have to report to her at breakfast. Then there was a meeting for half an hour, which lasted until 7 pm. Then take all the documents you want to read home. After sleeping with the children at 9 o'clock, the market opened in the United States and overseas meetings began.
Wu Jiong said she was energetic and a superman. Sleep only 4-5 hours a day.
I used to think that she was naturally energetic and didn't get enough sleep. Later, I turned over her information and found that it was not.
Sun Jie was born in Shanghai. Since junior high school, she has been attending boarding school and began to live independently. "Get up at six o'clock every morning to run, recite English words on an empty stomach, and then have breakfast."
After graduating from high school, unlike many Shanghai students who choose local universities, she went to Beijing and was admitted to Peking University Law School. Later, because of the opportunity, I went to study in the United States. In order to cope with the high tuition, she had to work 40 hours a week. Even so, I have achieved excellent results. After graduation, I joined KPMG, one of the four major accounting firms, which is still a high-intensity job.
Are you naturally energetic? No, I just choose to carry it down at every moment when I can't persist. How long will it take? For decades.
If there is only gentleness and there is no hard work behind it, it will give people a feeling of "more good people and less professional ability". This is tantamount to a hidden explosive in the workplace, and it will step on thunder at any time.
After leaving Alibaba, Wu Jiong started to be an investor. His most regretful investment is that he missed the venture of former Ali colleague Cheng Wei and Wang Gang. Because Didi was still making a taxi at that time, and he thought the ceiling of the taxi was limited.
However, a few years later, a woman gave up her status as an investment bank executive and wanted to join. This is Liu Qing.
Born in a famous family, the daughter of Lenovo founder Liu Chuanzhi, the first half of her life was smooth sailing. Graduated from a prestigious school and worked as an executive at Goldman Sachs.
After joining Didi, the business trip was reduced from first class to economy class, and the accommodation was reduced from Four Seasons Hotel to Hanting, but she quickly adapted.
After Liu Qing joined Didi, it quickly led the merger of Didi and Didi. Later, I personally got the investment from Apple. This was a key game for Didi, which was deeply involved in the competition between domestic and foreign giants at that time.
The career is striding forward, but the darkest moments in life follow.
In 20 15, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
On about 20 17, Liu Qing got divorced.
In 20 18, Didi had a series of murders. In particular, the Yueqing girl case in August exposed many problems in the safety of the drip ride. Didi has been fiercely accountable by the public and the official media.
At that time, Liu Qing was afraid and timid.
what can I do?
How to solve your worries? Only hard resistance.
When Bosten visited Wu Jiong, he asked him: Have you ever considered making your wife a full-time wife? Wu Jiong said that when we first came out from Yahoo, we were financially free. I asked her, and she said she must go to work. After I was rejected once or twice, I realized that Sun Jie was ambitious in his career.
When China Business News interviewed Sun Jie and asked her to leave the last sentence, she said: Be ambitious and go all out. Liu Qing also has her own pursuit, otherwise she won't choose Didi when she is in a high position.
Unlike them, Peng Lei often said in interviews that she had no ambition. She is more about doing the work in front of her. Alibaba's flower names generally represent their own expectations, such as Ma Yun's "Breeze" and Zhang Yong's "Happy Son". Peng Lei's expectation is "Lin Daiyu".
She once posted "Record my 20 10" on Alibaba.com, writing down her soft heart:
However, this "Lin Daiyu" is decisive at a critical time.
Peng Lei succeeded Shao Xiaofeng as CEO of Alipay on 20 10. In order to coordinate with the adjustment of strategic objectives, half of the old employees need to change jobs or resign. These are all former comrades in arms. Although it was difficult, Peng Lei took a big sip of wine and sent them away with a burst of tears. We have integrated a team that is more suitable for Alipay.
A kind heart and a sharp knife. According to Peng Lei's own words. It hurts. It will definitely hurt. Just try to figure out what the bottom line is, and then don't hesitate.
In the workplace, if there is only gentleness, many things will slow down.
Like a blunt knife. If I keep cutting, my hand hurts.
They can't fall down because there is no one behind them. They can't fall down because everyone is behind them.
Of course, the CEO is lonely, but isn't it always the case in the growing workplace?
We have the same anxiety and practice independently.
There are some truths in life that are different in the workplace.
For example, a woman's keenness, gentleness and softness will eventually wither and be buried without tenacious promotion, decisive decision-making and difficult resistance.
Without beauty, you don't need strength.
References:
1. Peng Leichuan. Unity Press, 2020.
2. Peng Lei. Lakeside University. Peng Lei: How does CEO fight loneliness? 20 19. 1
China News Network. Ma Yun talks about Peng Lei: Alibaba's soul mate and family member handed down from generation to generation. 18960.8886868866 17
4. Bositang-Wu Jiong.2017.6
5. China Operator-Sun Jie.2018.7
6. Fashion Bazaar. Sun Jie, CEO of Ctrip.com: There is no shortcut to high-energy life.
7. Liu Qing | In addition to life and death, life is a scratch.