Early Life
Jet Jie Li was born Li Lianjie in Beijing, China, on April 26, 1963. He is the youngest of five children. When he was eight years old, he began learning Wushu, a form of martial arts. He trained at the Beijing Shichahai Sports School and won multiple national championships with the Beijing Wushu Team between 1974 and 1979. He retired from the sport in 1979.
Rise to Success
Li's entrepreneurial journey began in the business world, with his early professional life including a department manager position at Jiangsu Baisheng Electronic Co., Ltd, from January 1999 to February 2008. He then became the general manager of Nanjing Baisheng Oppo Communication Equipment Co., Ltd., from February 2008 to February 2013. Prior to founding J&T Express, Li spent over 15 years with OPPO, where he oversaw global expansion. During his time at OPPO, he identified an opportunity in the logistics sector, which led to the founding of J&T Express in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August 2015 with Tony Chen.
Key Business Strategies
J&T Express's success is attributed to several strategic moves. The company adopted a "periphery to center" strategy, beginning operations in tier-2 and tier-3 cities before expanding to major metropolitan areas. J&T Express also employed a low-cost strategy to compete with established delivery companies, focusing on rapid expansion and market share capture. The company's regional sponsor model, which involves partnering with local entities and offering equity interests, helped minimize capital expenditures and accelerate growth.
Philanthropy
While this profile focuses on Jet Li the entrepreneur, it's worth noting his background as a philanthropist. Jet Li is known for his involvement in philanthropy. In 2007, he founded the One Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on disaster relief, environmental protection, medical treatment, education, and poverty alleviation. The foundation's motto is “1 person + 1 dollar/yuan + 1 month = 1 big family.” In 2010, he was recognized as the first Good Will Ambassador of the International Red Cross.