Jean Liu, also known by her Chinese name “Liu Qing,” was born in Beijing, China, in 1978. She is the current president of DiDi, the leading Chinese mobile transportation and mobility platform. Liu is credited with displacing Uber from China’s market and consolidating DiDi as the country’s dominant ride-hailing company, a milestone that showcases her strategic skill and determination.
Born and raised in a family deeply connected to the tech world—her father, Liu Chuanzhi, is the founder of Lenovo—Jean chose to build her own path. She specialized in computer science, worked at the global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs, and later joined DiDi.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Peking University and a Master’s degree in the same field from Harvard University. She was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Commercial Science from New York University. Her father’s legacy as Lenovo’s founder positioned her within a culture of innovation, yet Jean pursued an independent trajectory.
Goldman Sachs
Before her rise at DiDi, Jean Liu spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious investment banks. She went through a rigorous process—over ten interviews—to join the firm and later recalled that receiving the job offer was “the happiest day of her life.”
During twelve years at Goldman Sachs, Liu climbed the corporate ladder and ultimately became Managing Director. By 2015, the offer from the Chinese ride-hailing startup DiDi was compelling enough for her to change industries entirely, setting the stage for a transformative chapter in her career.
Jean Liu, a leader at DiDi
Liu entered DiDi in a key position as Chief Operating Officer. Drawing on her corporate experience, she forged alliances with the government, strengthened human resources, and developed the company’s brand identity. Within a year, she was promoted to President—a role that would define her career.
In a highly publicized rivalry with Uber founder Travis Kalanick, Liu led DiDi to dominate the Chinese market. Uber ultimately acquired a 20% stake in DiDi but withdrew from operations in China, effectively conceding victory to Liu’s company.
In 2016, she oversaw DiDi’s largest funding round—nearly 700 million dollars—and secured a landmark investment from Apple, which became the company’s biggest backer. Apple’s involvement signaled international confidence in Liu’s leadership and vision for technological innovation.
“The race to develop autonomous driving, smart transportation, ride-sharing, and bike-sharing technologies is just beginning,” Liu stated, adding that “we actively invest in technology, teams, and products to drive sustainable growth.”
Today, DiDi serves more than 500 million users across 400 Chinese cities, holding a market share between 85% and 90%. Under Liu’s leadership, the company expanded with new divisions such as “DiDi Premiere” and “DiDi Foods.”
Absolute leadership
Jean Liu not only transformed DiDi’s scale, operations, and profitability but also reshaped its internal culture. Of its more than 9,000 employees, 40% are women, many in technical roles. Nearly half of DiDi’s workforce are engineers or related professionals.
Since Liu became president, DiDi has facilitated around 25 million rides per day, reached a valuation above 56 billion U.S. dollars, and registered more than 14 million drivers.
“I was fortunate to have strong, inspiring mentors, and it’s vital that all women receive that kind of support,” Liu reflected. She now strives to provide the same encouragement to others at DiDi, where gender inclusion remains a defining element of her management.
The “battle” with Uber marked a turning point in her career and redefined the mobility industry in China. Jean Liu emerged as one of the most influential figures in the country’s tech and transportation sectors, demonstrating that strategic vision and inclusivity can coexist at the highest levels of business leadership.
