Final Presentation (27 December 2014)

Assignment (Tokoh Terkaya Dunia)

Terry Gou

Kekayaan          :  US $6.8  Billion

Kedudukan        :  # 71

Capai Kekayaan :  Usaha Sendiri

Sumber             : Electronics, Self-Made

Negara Asal      :  Taiwan

Pendidikan        :  Taipei College of Maritime Technology

Status Kahwin   :  Berkahwin , Anak 3 Orang

Hon Hai Group founder Terry Gou, a self-made tycoon without academic credentials, has proved his own philosophy that continuing learning, building up abilities, and willingness to work hard and take on responsibilities will help reverse the odds and overcome adversities in life.

As the leader of the world's largest ODM/OEM electronic manufacturing conglomerate that is comprised of Hon Hai and Foxconn Technology Group, Gou has long been an example for emulation in both Taiwan and China where the traditional Chinese culture still places academic performance above almost everything.

Gou, also known as Kuo Tai-ming, was born in 1950 in northern China and grew up in northern Taiwan when his family emigrated to the island after World War II. He had no opportunity to receive a good education or tutoring as enjoyed by many of his peers.

He had to work part time to support himself through the then newly founded China Marine Junior College, which was later reorganized and upgraded to Taipei College of Maritime Technology to offer four-year courses.

Following his graduation, he joined the job market and worked as a sales representative at a shipping company. Within one year, he teamed up with friends to jointly set up Hon Hai Plastics Co. and personally operate the plastic processing machines.

He became the sole owner of the company one year later after all other shareholders pulled out following the depletion of capital. Refusing to accept defeat, Gou eventually built his small plant into a global powerhouse with annual sales of NT$3 trillion.

Gou did not choose a career in the marine service, yet his choice of Hon Hai as company name reflected his aspirations to build outstanding enterprises. "Hon," a wild swan with great ambition; and "Hai", a sea or ocean containing water from hundreds of rivers, helped explain his goal of enlisting talents from all sources.

To realize his dreams, Gou cultivated a character and value concept to tackle what are deemed as impossible by most people with a willingness to challenge his own ultimate limits.

Among his other beliefs, Gou branded success as the worse teacher of all kinds because it tends to turn a person feeble, timid and conservative in the face of challenges.

His less-than-stellar educational background constantly reminds him of redoubling his efforts and continuing to try without being restricted by his lack of academic credentials.

He takes "growing pain" as a necessity for further growth.

Gou thinks nice academic credentials from prestigious institutions are not a guarantee for success or even a decent job.

When dealt with a hand of bad cards, winning the game is still not impossible. Maintaining coolness and putting a new perspective on the situation will offer at least a 50% winning chance, he likes to say.

Gou is always hunting for talent, calling them as the brands of Hong Hai.

With more than 800,000 employees around the world, he still frequently emphasizes that "it is easy to recruit 1,000 soldiers but difficult to find a commanding general" to underline his longing for more talent.

In his eyes, talents are not those adorned with Ph.D. degrees or graduates from top-tier schools with unmatched brilliance, but those who are willing to continue making progress, building their abilities, and taking on bigger responsibilities.

Gou's own desire of building ability and making up for his lack of a higher-education prompted him to register for the limited vacancies at the executive business administration (EMBA) class offered by the prestigious National Taiwan University. He was however denied the chance because he didn't have the credentials as possessed by other candidates.

NTU did relax the rigid criteria the following year in a move to open its door to successful self-made entrepreneurs like Gou who had a proven track record in spite of receiving only junior college education.

Hon Hai's accelerated business expansion around the globe prohibited Gou from going back to school, but did not prevent him from making generous donations to universities, stopping Hong Hai from becoming a hot case study subject for MBA classes.