The man helping millions of Chinese find their voice

Millions of Chinese use it to express themselves… So do Hollywood stars and global leaders.

Sina Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter, has become a global microblogging powerhouse in just a few years, but it hasn’t been easy. The man behind this juggernaut, Charles Chao, has overcome numerous challenges, such as a government crackdown, to develop a site that has attracted millions of users including footballer David Beckham and Hollywood actor Tom Cruise.

Now, Weibo rivals the popularity of Twitter and Facebook. India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the third-most followed person on Twitter behind the Pope and Barack Obama, set up a Weibo account ahead of his visit to China later in May.

Weibo gained more than 140 million users in less than two years. In contrast, it took Twitter more than double that time to gain 200 million users.

In an open and frank conversation with BBC’s Steve Tappin, Chao, chairman and chief executive office of Sina Corp, discusses his early days as a journalist, his decision to change careers, his first big business break and the many tests he has faced.

Timing is everything when it comes to rolling out new technology and staying ahead of a growing bunch of Chinese competitors, Chao says. 

“I always say keep alert [to] what’s going on. Try to learn and understand new things,” he said.

Click on the arrow above to watch Chao discuss Weibo’s phenomenal success in China, leadership philosophies, plus insights into keeping a large organisation nimble and responsive to market change.