"I was scrawny when I was young, but I was a terrific fighter," Ma recalls. "I was never afraid of opponents who were bigger than I."

He used to go to a local hotel every day so that he could meet people and learn English.

he never excelled at math

a captivating speaker who could make his big dreams infectious.

With a love of performance (probably inherited from his parents), Ma also helped create a quirky, fun atmosphere at the company.