How A Receptionist Became Richer Than Tony Elumelu

The lady in this picture with Jack Ma is Ms. Tong Judy Wenhong. Tong Wenhong began her journey at Alibaba as a receptionist 18 years ago.

Alibaba CEO, Jack Ma, recognizing her dedication, allocated 0.2% of the company’s shares to her in exchange for her services, with the promise that the shares would be worth $100 million upon Alibaba’s public listing. When the company was falling apart in its early stages, Jack Ma encouraged her to remain with the company, assuring her of significant reward when Alibaba goes public.

Ms. Tong worked round the clock, juggling between her role as a receptionist to Jack Ma’s PA to office manager. Everything was on her and worse still, the company had no money to pay for everything she was doing. And Jack Ma’s promise of going public seemed like a mere dream.

Judy Tong Wenhong – Alibaba’s ‘most inspiring partner

Despite waiting for years, Alibaba’s initial public offering (IPO) seemed elusive. Tong inquired about the IPO in 2004 and again in 2006, each time receiving the same response from Jack Ma: “soon.” However, Jack Ma’s “SOON” seemed like the 2nd coming of Jesus – always around the corner but never happening.

Finally, in September 2014, Alibaba went public on the New York Stock Exchange with a staggering valuation of $245.7 billion.

With a 0.2% share in Alibaba, Tong Wenhong was one of the major shareholders in the company and automatically moved from a Receptionist to the Vice President of Alibaba. The value of her 0.2% shares soared to over $320 million. That was how Tong Wenhong became a multimillionaire from being a receptionist.

According to Forbes Magazine, Tong Wenhong is now worth over 1 Billion USD while our own Tony Elumelu is valued at 700 Million USD. These are facts and you can research on your own.

This story raises a thought-provoking question: Can you commit to a company or project for 14 years, especially when its founder is tirelessly striving to establish it?

Can you accept a 0.2% shares in a start-up and give it your all and be PATIENT?

Do you understand that every true success story in Silicon Valley is connected to PATIENCE and not only hard work?

Here’s my advice – THINK LONG TERM.

There were people who started with Ms. Tong Wenhong but felt Jack Ma was too slow. They jumped ship and some even started their own thing. But in truth, Wealth only goes to the patient. Go and ask any Wealthy person, I don’t mean people with few thousand dollars , I mean people with good investment portfolios – they were More PATIENT than they were hard at work.

I’m a very patient person…. That’s my biggest power. I am patient with relationships, ideas, markets etc. My word is usually – NO RUSH, JUST WAIT.

This is why Transhuman Coin is still pumping despite surviving crazy dips – we are a patient team.

This is why Big Brain Naija will be successful because it has taken me 13 years to conceive and fine-tune this vision – we started as Hunt For Talents Foundation and we had members who are still part of this platform. We held Talent Hunt Events and learnt lessons. Today, we are bringing back the Vision but in a bigger way.

When you find entrepreneurs like us who are PATIENT, partner with them and go through the dark rollercoaster trails with them – you won’t regret it.

In the new year, find one entrepreneur with a track record of patience and invest your time and money with them. You will plant a seed that could change your story before the end of the decade.