In China, almost everybody knows about Mr. Li Ka-shing, who built a fast-growing business and an excellent reputation through his determination and his ability to become one of Hong Kong’s most famous entrepreneurs within a few decades. However, appreciate more his outlook on life. He once said, “We are all climbing the same mountain; that is to say, we are faced with the same environment. In a hundred or a thousand years, it will be the same mountain or environment, but the people will be different. If we bear in mind that life is only a short journey, we will want to spend a little more time and do a little more, hoping to sow good seeds in this world.” Mr. Li’s philosophy is his greatest capital for successful business ventures.

1. The biography of Li Ka-shing

    Seventy years ago in Chaozhou, Guangdong, Mr. Li was born into a well-educated family which instilled in him early on a respect for education and a wish to gain more knowledge. In 1940, when he was 12 years old, his father Mr. Li Yunjing decided to move the whole family to Hong Kong. Though by doing so they could avoid the wartime turbulence in the mainland, the senior Mr. Li, in poor health, found it difficult to settle in a new place and passed away in 1943. This meant that when Mr Li Ka-shing was only 15, he had to shoulder the responsibility of supporting his mother and younger siblings. He first worked for a firm manufacturing watchstrap, then became a salesman of plastic products. Because of his hard work, he was soon promoted to manager and, later, general manager. In 1950, with his own savings, he set up a plastics factory named “Cheung Kong” on Hong Kong Island, thus beginning his illustrious career in the business world. In 1957, accurately foreseeing a growth in demand, he established Cheung Kong Industrial Company Limited, specializing in plastic flowers and toys. In the following year, he made his first venture into the real estate business and, by the age of 30, had made a name for himself in Hong Kong as a successful businessman. Today, Mr. Li controls four publicly listed companies, namely, Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited, Hutchison Whampoa Limited, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited, and Hongkong  Electric Holdings Limited, with a combined market capitalization of approximately HK$450 billion. Based in Hong Kong, the Group has major investments and operations in over 24 countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and France. Businesses encompass such diverse areas as property development and investment holdings, estate management and real estate agency, securities investment, hotels, container terminals, retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, infrastructure projects and materials, transportation and energy.

2. the qualifications of  Li Ka-shing

    Mr. Li is truly one of the foremost leaders in the world of business. There are some qualifications and achievement make him a successful leader. First, he is a hard working man, his constant striving to better himself, his grasp of opportunities, and his clear understanding of the latest situation. Second, Mr. Li's career in business started at the grass-roots level. He first worked in a watch company and, two years later, moved to a hardware and plastic products manufacturer as a salesman, becoming its general manager after two years. In 1950, at the age of 22, he set up his own business, Cheung Kong Plastics Company. Within a short period of seven years, Mr. Li rose to become the owner of a manufacturing company. Apart from his endurance and innovative spirit, his intelligence and wisdom had played an important role in his success. Even though he could not continue his formal education, he had never given up his quest for new knowledge. He managed to find time for self-study. He said, 'Although I was a humble person at that time, I had confidence in myself. I knew I could do things better than other people because I had not given up my studies'. Today, at over 70 years of age, Mr. Li has not put away his books. He continues to learn new things every day. He has a broad range of interests, reading books on, for example, information technology, economics, philosophy and history. He feels he must allow some time for studying before going to bed, and has often fallen asleep with his books. I am sure our graduates here have shared this experience. Mr. Li made time in his busy schedule to continue learning, to gain more knowledge and wisdom. Third, Mr. Li is a fine example for anyone with great aspiration, and has given heart to anyone persevering in the long journey to realize his vision. Fourth, Mr. Li has a huge public-spirited character. To young people aspiring to great heights, Mr. Li is an excellent role model.

3. the challenges of Li Ka-shing overcame

    In 1997, Asian financial crisis happened. Though bruised by the Asian financial crisis, Li's companies have avoided critical wounds. As he tells it, "We were always prepared for the worst." Having diversified into infrastructure and utilities overseas, Li argues that his total portfolio of businesses "will yield stable income no matter how bad the economy gets" in Hong Kong.

    In Li’s empire, most securities analysts are just as high on its growth prospects. Cheung Kong, Li's flagship property developer, owns half of Hutchison Whampoa, a conglomerate that runs all those port operations, mobile-phone services around the world, toll roads and bridges in mainland China, and much more. Goldman Sachs terms Hutchison "Li's juggernaut" for creating value and "the most liquid company in Hong Kong" (with an estimated $5 billion in cash). Li is also known for his conservative accounting: Hutchison has a debt-to-equity ratio of only 30%.

Clearly, Li has taken a personal hit. Since the middle of 1997 the stocks of his companies have fallen about 20%. "Like other Asians, the value of my assets has dropped," says he, "but the most important thing is to have a quality company and a good business." Li, in fact, has invested $167 million of his own money in shares of Cheung Kong since October 1997 and now owns about 35% of it. His estimated personal net worth totals at least $6 billion. "I never calculate my wealth deliberately, but you can say that all my investments have been extremely conservative," Li explains. "I do not have any personal debt. That's why I sleep so well."

4. Li Ka-shing’ s leadership style

    Li Ka-shing is the world's most successful Chinese entrepreneur. As a most successful leader, there are lots of success experiences about his leadership. But I think apart from other leadership style, the transformation style is most important.  On the different stage of his company’s growing, his innovation is widespread.  He always change the old way although it seems health and success. Nothing can stop him from innovation and change the old rules.

    Mr. Li entered business as a teenager, selling plastic goods, until at twenty-two, he started his own plastics company, Cheung Kong, specializing in plastic flowers. He entered the real estate market in the 1960s, and, by 1979, only the colonial government owned more real estate in Hong Kong than Mr. Li. What makes Li distinctive, though, is that he has plowed returns from Hong Kong real estate into international businesses. Those long-term investments, started around a decade ago, are reaching the payback stage. As he puts it, "The coming three to four years are very important for Hutchison because many projects outside Hong Kong are nearly mature." He means they are reaching a critical mass, not a stately mature growth rate. Big as Hutchison is in Hong Kong, already about 30% of its profits come from elsewhere. Most of the company's growth in the next few years will come from offshore activities. He eventually built a conglomerate encompassing Canada, Britain, parts of the US, and South America, extending into media, hotels, shipping, oil, and grocery stores. Under his continuous innovation and expansion of his business, the empire had become one of the ten richest people in the world.

    Having weathered the Asian financial storm, Li does not intend to sit back and relax. Instead he’s sharply transforming his focus on his global businesses. Says he: "My change at Hutchison will not be reduced."

5. The lessons learned from Li Ka-shing: Become A Change Leader

(1)   Successful leaders are emotionally and intellectually oriented to the future-not wedded to the past. They have a hunger to take responsibility, to innovate, and to initiate. They are not content with merely taking care of what’s already there. They want to move forward to create something new. Li Ka-shing is he embrace change. He might be disappointed, but he never gives up. He maintains his innovation without stop. He faces the challenges bravely and overcome it.   He wish to have work that is different from what he is currently doing, he did make a change, a great change. Mr Li's career in business started at the grass-roots level. He first worked in a watch company and, two years later, moved to a hardware and plastic products manufacturer as a salesman, becoming its general manager after two years. In 1950, at the age of 22, he set up his own business, Cheung Kong Plastics Company. Within a short period of seven years, Mr Li rose to become the owner of a manufacturing company. Apart from his endurance, intelligence and wisdom, his innovative spirit had played an important role in his success.

(2)   Learning never stops. Even though Mr. Li could not continue his formal education, he had never given up his quest for new knowledge. He managed to find time for self-study. He said, 'Although I was a humble person at that time, I had confidence in myself. I knew I could do things better than other people because I had not given up my studi es'. Today, at over 70 years of age, Mr Li has not put away his books. He continues to learn new things every day. He has a broad range of interests, reading books on, for example, information technology, economics, philosophy and history. He feels he must allow some time for studying before going to bed, and has often fallen asleep with his books. I am sure our graduates here have shared this experience. Mr. Li made time in his busy schedule to continue learning, to gain more knowledge and wisdom.

(3)   A good leader is unselfish generosity. Mr. Li controls a business enterprise with investments all over the world, but it is his unselfish generosity which inspires our admiration. He said, 'My life will be more meaningful if I can plant some seeds which will be fruitful for my fellow human beings'. He not only holds this belief but also puts it in action. He said 'My success in business enabled me to have more resources at my command. I can do more for society and our people'.  He is particularly supportive of education and medical services, giving generously to these causes. His total donations to these two areas so far have exceeded HK$2.8 billion. Countless organizations have received donations from Mr Li.

      Mr Li's success in business and personal integrity have made him a well known Chinese in Hong Kong, the Mainland, and indeed all over the world. He has been the recipient of a number of honorary degrees from local and overseas universities, was praised as a model Chinese and was chosen as Entrepreneur of the Millennium. He is regarded as one of the most influential leaders in contemporary society.

李嘉诚 统领长江实业、和黄集团、香港电灯、长江基建等集团公司，全球华人首富，全世界华人最成功的企业家。十四岁投身商界，22岁正式创业，半个世纪的奋斗始终以"超越"为主题：从超越平凡起跑；为超越对手努力；达到巅峰，超越巅峰；实现自我，超越自我，于是世人称之为"超人"。李嘉诚不仅是创业精英、商界巨头，而且在其创业发展路上，并购多家公司。可以说，李创业之路就是一条并购之路，其创业和壮大与兼并和收购其它公司企业分不开。李嘉诚的并购之路同其人生经历、创业经历一样倍受世人关注。
艰辛与成功的创业经历

1928年7月29日，李嘉诚先生诞生于广东省潮州潮安县。1940年，随父母到香港定居。1943年冬其父辞世，至此少年李嘉诚开始了学徒、工人、塑胶厂推销员的生活。 1948年，20岁的他就开始在新蒲岗担任了一家塑胶厂的业务经理、总经理。1950年，在筲箕湾创立了长江塑胶厂。1957年，在北角创立了长江工业有限公司，发展塑胶花、玩具生产等。1958年，1960年先后在北角、柴湾建造了两座工业大厦。 1972年9月31日，李嘉诚创建了长江实业有限公司，11月1日，"长实"股票在香港证券交易所、远东交易所、金银证券交易所挂牌上市，并相继在伦敦（1973年）、加拿大的温哥华（1974年6月）挂牌上市。1974年5月，与加拿大帝国商业银行联组恰东财务有限公司。

1985年5月15日，李嘉诚出任汇丰银行董事局非执行副董事长。1986年，长实集团名列香港十大财团首富，李嘉诚旗下四大公司上市值占香港上市总值13．57％。1990年4月7日，李嘉诚旗下的"和黄"与"中信"、英国大东电报局合作投资的"亚洲卫星一号"，由中国"长征3号"运载火箭，成功地送入东南亚上空的同步轨道。到1991年间，"长实"系财团已发展成为有重要国际地位和重大影响的跨国多元化企业集团，拥有1200多亿港元资产，比1986年增加两倍半。

"超人"美誉与并购经历

叱咤香江，纵横海外，李嘉诚这个神奇的名字，今天已是'成功'与'奇迹'的代名词：他统领着长江实业、和黄集团、香港电灯、长江基建等四家上市公司，业务遍及各行各业，如地产、港口货运、超级市场、基建、电讯、酒店、保险、水泥、电力、网络等等，形成一个逾万亿资产的跨国企业帝国。而李嘉诚本人也荣列世界富豪榜第10位，成为有史以来华人最杰出的企业家之一。这一切，使他赢得了'超人'的美誉。

纵观李嘉诚传奇的商旅生涯，他最为成功之处是善于审时度势、运筹帷幄。李嘉诚十四岁投身商界，22岁正式创业，半个世纪的奋斗皆以'超越'为主题：从超越平凡起跑；为超越对手努力；达到巅峰，超越巅峰；实现自我，超越自我，于是人们称之为"超人"。

而其企业发展壮大与其兼并和收购其它公司有关。1974年4月，成功收购美资永高公司，接手经营香港希尔顿大酒店和印尼巴厘岛的凯悦酒店，并相继购入虎豹别墅及其他多项地皮、物业。1978年9月5日，李嘉诚从汇丰银行承接了"黄埔"公司9000万股股票，同年，还收购了英资青洲英坭有限公司，出任该公司董事局主席。1979年7月，"长实"与中资侨光公司联组宜宾地产有限公司，取得沙田铁路维修站上盖发展权，并成立中国（香港）水泥厂（1982年投产）。是年9月25日，"长实"赢得和记黄埔公司控股权，并于10月15日出任"和黄"执行董事。1981年1月1日，李嘉诚出任"和黄"公司董事局主席。1997年与"首钢"联手收购香港东荣钢铁集团有限公司，收购北京长城饭店等七家大酒店，拥有51％的股权。1985年，购入加拿大温哥华世界博览会商业中心，斥资百亿港元，兴建规模庞大的商住住宅群。

经过不断发展壮大，李嘉诚旗下的"长实"集团及其附属公司，现已发展成为在香港以至世界具有领导地位的地产、国际集装箱货柜码头业和投资发展的举足轻重的集团公司。市值已超过2700亿港元。业务经营范围包括地产发展、金融、贸易、货柜码头、运输业、能源、电力、通讯、卫星广播、酒店业、零售业等。

1928年出生于广东潮州，父亲是小学校长。1940年为躲避日本侵略者的压迫，全家逃难到香港。两年后，父亲病逝。为了养活母亲和三个弟妹，李嘉诚被迫辍学走上社会谋生。

开始，李嘉诚为一间玩具制造公司当推销员。工作虽然繁忙，失学的李嘉诚仍用工余之暇到夜校进修，补习文化。由于勤奋好学，精明能干，不到20岁，他便升任塑料玩具厂的总经理。两年后，李嘉诚把握时机，用平时省吃俭用积蓄的7000美元创办了自己的塑胶厂，他将它命名为“长江塑胶厂”。

1958年，李嘉诚开始投资地产市场。他独到的眼光和精明的开发策略使“长江”很快成为香港的一大地产发展和投资实业公司。当“长江实业”于1972年上市时，其股票被超额认购65倍。到70年代末期，他在同辈大亨中已排众而出。

1979年，“长江”购入老牌英资商行－－“和记黄埔”，李嘉诚因而成为首位收购英资商行的华人。1984年，“长江”又购入“香港电灯公司”的控制性股权。李嘉诚先生现任“长江实业集团有限公司”董事局主席兼总经理及“和记黄埔有限公司”董事局主席。其所管理的企业，于1994年除税后赢利达28亿美元。1995年12月，长江实业集团三家上市公司的市值，总共已超过420亿美元。