Layoffs and the Motivation Behind Alibaba’s Breakup

Welcome back to "Impulso," the podcast by Momentum Works where we explore the latest trends, breakthroughs, and stories from the worlds of business and technology. In this exciting second episode, we explore Meituan’s expansion into Hong Kong with KeeTa, Grab’s co-founder stepping down and what it means for the tech giant, Alibaba’s most dramatic restructuring in over 2 decades, and everyone’s favourite beverage: bubble tea. We begin with the context of Meituan; a company that has pivoted its direction too many times to count before landing where it is today. Though it has worn many masks, Meituan hasn’t really ventured out of China since its founding in 2010, so its debut in Hong Kong has been top of mind this last week as the company enters the pond previously dominated by well-established Foodpanda and Deliveroo. Our attention then turns to the recent announcement of Grab’s cofounder, Tan Hooi Ling, stepping down from her role as COO. We discuss what this means for the company’s future, and what tangible impact this change will have internally. This brings us to the wider question of founders and the companies they start; when it is time to say goodbye, what do we say goodbye to with them? Another founder who has been in the news lately, is that of the biggest ecommerce company in the world; Alibaba’s Jack Ma. Since his return to China, the company has announced its largest restructuring in over two decades - the split of the singular Alibaba into six independent companies, each focused on a sector or subsidiary of the former whole business, with its own CEO, board of directors, vision for the future, and IPO plans. There is so much to talk about with regards to the motivations behind this change, the context in which it occurred, and the speed at which its being carried out, that we barely scratched the surface. For more on this, stay tuned for our first in depth episode coming to you next Wednesday at 8am (GMT+8) for more. Before we say goodbye, we would be remiss to not mention Momentum Academy (Momentum Works’ corporate academy arm) and their new immersive bubble tea program. The bubble tea market in Southeast Asia is almost a USD$4 billion one, and Momentum Academy is taking you behind the shaker of a bubble tea store, and into its strategy. "Impulso" offers an engaging blend of insightful analysis and thought-provoking discussions to keep our listeners informed and inspired. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a business professional, or simply curious about the latest developments, this episode will leave you craving more knowledge and understanding in the dynamic realm of business and technology.   For more information, here are the reports and articles we mentioned in the episode:   Meituan’s launch in Hong Kong: https://thelowdown.momentum.asia/meituan-officially-launches-in-hong-kong-will-they-overtake-foodpanda-and-deliveroo/)    Alibaba’s restructuring - key lessons for organisations: https://thelowdown.momentum.asia/what-key-lessons-can-organisations-learn-from-alibabas-restructuring/   Alibaba’s restructuring - the reasons behind the shift: https://thelowdown.momentum.asia/alibaba-ceo-talks-about-reasons-behind-its-biggest-restructuring-in-history/   Meituan case study on finding business clarity: https://momentum.asia/product/meituan_finding_business_clarity/   Bubble tea report: https://momentum.asia/product/bubble-tea-in-southeast-asia/