Arianna Huffington Has Alibaba Founder Jack Ma to Thank for Launching Thrive Global: Here’s What Happened
There’s no doubt that it’s hard to let go of what you care for in pursuit of another passion. However, when is the risk worth taking? It’s actually hard to know because arguably, no one can tell. It is harder if there is money involved – in short, investments. It’s never easy to leap (read: venturing into a business), but what if an ultra-successful magnate already advised you to take the chance?
Jack Ma’s Advice
This was essentially the gist of how Thrive Global came about. When Arianna Huffington – yup, as in the former editor-in-chief of the news outlet The Huffington Post – was invited at a 2015 conference conducted by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma’s Alibaba, she was still running the website, which was something she had been doing so for 10 years.
A year before that event, the media personality had also published a book called Thrive, her 14th and was about stress.
At the event, she didn’t realize that she was about to receive one of the greatest suggestions from none other than the then Alibaba founder and chief executive, who is known for his inspiring rags-to-riches story. Jack shared that if it were him, he would leave The Huffington Post to focus on stress and wellbeing, or what Arianna talked about in her book and her speech at the conference.
Stress and Wellbeing
The businessman further underlined how prevalent stress and burnout in the workplace is but the craziest Jack had said was perhaps his outright expression of financial support if Arianna will heed his suggestion. For sure, there are a lot of credits into a piece of advice given by such a successful and wealthy persona, and indeed, she listened knowing that the man got her back.
However, as a sound human being that she is, Arianna hesitated at first, seeing what she just heard as crazily unbelievable. Plus, she loves The Huffington Post, which she described as her third child, so how could she possibly leave it? The author noticed how effective contents about sleep and stress are on the website, judging by the number of readers, who presumably can relate to the topics.
Thanks to these types of articles – even more than politics – traffic on the website suddenly swell which means the world craves content like this. And so in 2016, Arianna stepped down from her post in the media outlet to launch Thrive Global, a company that deals with employees’ wellbeing. As promised, Jack is an investor together with Joseph Tsai, Alibaba cofounder.
Retirement
According to reports, Lerer Hippeau also backed the venture up. In 2011, The Huffington Post was sold to AOL for $315 million. Huffington got the green light from Verizon, which owns AOL, to launch Thrive under their company. Since then, the consultancy had since worked with some of the biggest companies like JPMorgan and Accenture.
Meanwhile, Jack recently shocked the world when he announced his retirement starting Sept. 9, or the day when he turned 55. He became an inspiration because of his success story despite not being born rich. His claim to fame story involved failing university entrance exams and being rejected in throngs of jobs.
More in Business
-
WWE Signs $1.4 Billion Broadcasting Contract for SmackDown
In an explosive turn of events, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has just unleashed some earth-shattering news for its legions of fans....
November 9, 2023 -
Navigating the Mortgage Maze as Interest Rates Take a Historic Leap
The U.S. housing market is nothing short of a dynamic entity. It evolves, reacts, and sometimes, just like the current real-estate...
November 3, 2023 -
Celebrity Couples Where the Woman Has a Higher Net Worth
In a world where gender roles and financial dynamics constantly shift, it’s not unusual to find celebrity couples where the woman...
October 27, 2023 -
Why the Gender Pay Gap Could Be Worsening
Picture this: Two college students, Alex and Charlie. Both are bright, have the same interests, and are ready to embrace the...
October 19, 2023 -
JC Penney’s Remarkable $1 Billion Revival Plan
In a remarkable turnaround, JC Penney unveiled a bold $1 billion revival plan, breathing new life into a brand that faced...
October 12, 2023 -
Shattering the American Dream: Mortgage Rates, Inflation & Cost of Living
You know that feeling when you are dreaming of something you have wanted for so long, only to watch it vanish...
October 6, 2023 -
Navigating the Workplace Dynamics With Generation Z
With the entry of Generation Z (born from 1997 onwards) into the workforce, a fresh breeze has swept through office spaces....
September 22, 2023 -
Why Businesses No Longer Offer Perks and Freebies
Have you noticed a shift in how companies are doling out customer perks and rewards? It’s not just your imagination—there’s a...
September 15, 2023 -
Paying Off Your Debt Through a Home Equity Loan | Is It a Good Idea?
Debt can be overwhelming, and finding ways to pay it off can be difficult. One solution that many homeowners consider is...
September 7, 2023
You must be logged in to post a comment Login