James Gong

For James Gong, success is a huge word. To be successful, one must be effective in his career and in a position of high influence. But for James, success is also about life.

“Besides being in a high-achieving position of influence, I also want to find contentment in my personal life. Or else I am not successful – I am just busy.”

Starting out

While in his second year at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, James received the Hinrich Foundation Global Trade Leader scholarship to study Business Administration at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). He graduated in 2013.

“Everything about my years in Hong Kong was exciting: the English instruction, the team projects and the overall life experience. The faculty at HKBU was very warm and receptive to outsiders. The University itself has a strong sense of community.”

James spending time with other Hinrich Foundation scholars while studying at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2011. (1st row, L-R: Hunter Liao HKBU BBA ‘13; James Gong HKBU BBA ‘13; Pason Wong HKBU BBA ‘12; 2nd row L-R: Naratevy Kek, HKBU MAIJS ‘12; Celeste Zeng HKBU BBA ‘13 & NUS MBA ‘20; Khin Myat Thin Zar Tun HKBU MAIJS ‘12; Sally Yan, HKBU BBA ‘12; Yeqing Wang, HKBU BBA ‘12;  Han Pham HKBU MAIJS ‘12) 

“I was one of the lucky people to have Hinrich Foundation award me with a full scholarship to finish my final two years at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Journalism Studies.”

Developing confidence

Right after graduation, James worked as a Business Analyst at Global Sources for more than two years. He then moved to a logistics company as an analyst for its overseas online shopping service.

In 2017, James hit a career milestone when he transferred to QFPay, a global mobile payment technology service and solutions provider, as Senior Operations Manager. QFPay partners with mobile wallet providers including Alipay, WeChat Pay, China Union Pay, among others. Servicing more than one million merchants across Asia, they executed over 500 million mobile payment transactions totaling $30 billion in value since 2014.

According to James, “the mobile payment industry is very popular in China. No one carries wallets or cash anymore. My strength is to be able to communicate with merchants and enable my organization to serve customers better and gain profits for the company.”

James joins Alibaba as Product Operations Expert in April 2020, based in Shenzhen, China. Alibaba is a Chinese multinational specializing in e-commerce, retail, internet and technology.

James joins Alibaba as Product Operations Expert in April 2020, based in Shenzhen, China. Alibaba is a Chinese multinational specializing in e-commerce, retail, internet and technology. 

In April 2020, James joined Alibaba, a Chinese multinational giant specializing in e-commerce, retail, internet and technology, as a Product Operations Expert. His job is to build operation systems and teams for projects related to accounting, taxation and finance services to Chinese suppliers.

James attributes his success to his excellent organizational and communication skills. He sees the growth of these skills as part of his exposure and learning at the Hinrich Foundation.

Valuing teamwork & gratitude

James has gained tremendous insight working in his industry and with people from all walks of life. “A good team embraces a shared value, which says that they are together and working for the company. It may not be a unit of good friends, but they need to respect each other and have enough comfort level to seek help from each other for the greater benefit of the company,” James said.

James and his group of fellow HF alumni and staff embark on the Amazing Race activity through Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam during the HFAA Global Connect in September 2019. Pictured left to right: Dory Do, HKBU MAIJS ‘16; Sam Li, HKBU BBA ‘16; Emerela Puspita, Former HF Export Consultant, Indonesia; Agnes Batallones, HF Graphic Artist; Alex Ward, HF Employer Partner Manager; Najmul Muhammad, HKPU MSEM ‘16; Alvin Zhang, James Gong’s friend; James Gong; Rotha Chhoem DLSU MBA ‘15; Team facilitator.

James also often reflects on gratitude and the reasons why he has achieved the success he has had thus far. “I owe a debt of gratitude to the Hinrich Foundation, Global Sources, my parents and my elder sister who have helped me a lot to achieve what I have achieved.”

James believes that trying harder and staying patient are ways for future Hinrich scholars to reach their goals in life and career.

Read James' full profile here.

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