Porter Erisman

Porter Erisman is an American entrepreneur, author, filmmaker, and business consultant, known worldwide for having served as vice president of Alibaba Group and as the right-hand man to its founder, Jack Ma, during the formative years of the Chinese e-commerce giant. His career offers a unique perspective on the rise of the internet in China and the epic battle between the local company and Western tech titans.

Erisman, who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, joined https://www.google.com/search?q=Alibaba.com in April 2000, when the company was just getting started in Jack Ma’s small apartment in Hangzhou. During his eight years at the company (2000–2008), Erisman led international operations, global marketing, and corporate affairs. His work was instrumental in transforming Alibaba from a fledgling startup into a corporation that now dominates global e-commerce, surpassing competitors such as eBay in China.

After leaving Alibaba, Erisman chronicled his experience in the acclaimed documentary *Crocodile in the Yangtze: The Alibaba Story* (2012), which he directed and produced. The film chronicles the Chinese company’s battle against the American giant eBay and the rise of Jack Ma. This multi-award-winning documentary, along with his bestseller *Alibaba’s World: How a Remarkable Chinese Company is Changing the Face of Global Business*, has established him as an authority on growth strategies in emerging markets and Chinese business culture.

Porter Erisman is currently a sought-after motivational speaker and international consultant who draws on the lessons of the “Chinese Model” of e-commerce to advise companies around the world. His talks focus on innovation, leadership, and the opportunities offered by e-commerce in developing markets, promoting the idea that the next big tech giant could emerge from emerging economies such as those in Latin America.