Zhang Yongqi's related stories

March 20, 2009, "Hello, China! Hello, tomorrow! " -At the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the International Education Summit and IELTS test in 2009, a middle-aged man with a kind smile steadily stepped onto the platform. In that short distance of more than ten steps, his heart was full of unspeakable emotions, and his mind flashed like a movie that had been played for more than ten years. He had mixed feelings when he got the trophy. For this heavy career in his hand, his life, family and almost everything are integrated into it. For a moment, he still shared with more than 200 guests present with a modest smile: "Today also happens to be 20 years since I graduated from college. Becoming attached to IELTS is like getting married. I went through all the processes from falling in love to getting married. This is our fate, and I love this profession very much! "

His speech made people feel cordial, true and natural. After listening to the guests present, the corners of the mouth rose slightly unconsciously. This is his charm, which will naturally affect people around him. He is the winner of the "IELTS 20 Years and 20 People" Special Contribution Award-Mr. Zhang Yongqi, President of Universal World Education Technology Group.

1997, when Zhang Yongqi and four or five colleagues crowded into a rented office of less than 20 square meters and started his IELTS training, he never imagined that ten years later, he would be on the historical stage of "IELTS 20 Years and 20 People", becoming the focus of public attention and one of the important figures who changed history. He never imagined that the former mixed troops, in more than ten years,

Then, what makes an IELTS layman not only make the IELTS market the first in China and promote it abroad, but also set up a powerful education and training group to go public at a high speed?

The first draft brings huge market potential for IELTS training.

Before engaging in IELTS training, Zhang Yongqi worked in Zhuhai Labor Bureau for seven years, and then worked as Beijing manager in Honeywell Agency. Speaking of IELTS, Zhang Yongqi said frankly with a smile that he knew nothing about IELTS before the exam, and he never thought about running an IELTS school.

During the period of 1994, the IELTS test entered China, and the participants were only sporadic candidates studying abroad and immigrating. At that time, there were no more than dozens of candidates throughout the year. 1997, Zhang Yongqi and his wife Zhang Xiaodong (currently the chairman of Universal World Education Technology Group) had to join the IELTS test team in order to obtain the qualification of Canadian skilled immigrants.

During the period of 1997, IELTS was still a little known thing, so all aspects of information showed a shortage or even blank. In order to pass the IELTS test, the couple naturally became ants in hot bricks. Fortunately, Zhang Yongqi never gave up, and the search for information spread from Beijing to the whole country. After asking around, Zhang Yongqi finally found a precious document from Shenzhen.

He passed the IELTS test. Going abroad and emigrating may be the most perfect ending of the story. However, when looking at those valuable review materials, Zhang Yongqi really couldn't bear to put them on the shelf. At this moment, a sudden idea came into his mind: "I am a lucky man, so I passed the IELTS test." But there are still many people who, like me before, can't find any materials to review. I was thinking about binding these materials into a book and selling them to others to help those who want to take the IELTS test. "

Zhang Yongqi couldn't help feeling excited at the thought of helping many people because of this incident. When more than 300 pages of information were finally revised into a book, he began to sell it at the entrance of the embassy. Although buyers are pouring in, compared with the salary in Zhang Yongqi before, the money of several brochures is still far from each other. However, with his persistent personality, Zhang Yongqi's "hawking" in front of the embassy lasted for a whole winter. The winter in Beijing is extremely cold, and the taste of "outdoor work" can be imagined. The smallness of this "cause" is self-evident. Any reason is enough to make people give up such a "selling" thing.

"IELTS may affect people's lives, but it has not attracted enough attention from businessmen." This is a question that Zhang Yongqi has been thinking about all winter. As the threshold of immigration, if you fail in the exam, then the dreams and efforts of immigrants for many years will be wasted. Zhang Yongqi always keeps thinking when he comes home every day. Since some people need information, can these IELTS candidates have a deeper understanding in other ways? Naturally, Zhang Yongqi thought of talking to the teacher in detail, which would save them time. Therefore, the idea of establishing IELTS training established the initial outline in Zhang Yongqi's mind.

After making up their minds, one day on 1997, Zhang Yongqi founded the IELTS training school and started their IELTS training. At the beginning of their business, they have to do training and spend a lot of time on student promotion. Whenever students come to consult, they will spend at least 10 minutes explaining what IELTS is and what IELTS test is for.

"When I saw that students learned about IELTS through us and then signed up for study, I was a little hot inside. I didn't expect what would happen in the future. I think I am very interested in doing it, and I like doing it. Very meaningful! "

At this time, at the front desk of Global IELTS, you can often see many students dragging suitcases, all of whom are students from all over the country who have heard the news. Looking at these students from all over the country, Zhang Yongqi didn't care about and appreciate the "beautiful scenery" in front of him. His mind still didn't stop, and suddenly he thought, "If I promote IELTS all over the country, it will be more convenient for everyone. It is convenient and saves money. "

With the rapid increase of affiliated schools and the expansion of direct schools, expansion through franchise chain has officially become a business model for Zhang Yongqi to establish global IELTS.

When unintentional things become hobbies, when you see the market prospect of your hobbies, everything is no longer the same.

In 2003, an SARS epidemic created the rise of the global IELTS brand. After the establishment of Global IELTS School, President Zhang Yongqi and his wife, Ms. Zhang Xiaodong, often regard the company as their home. It is common to discuss market development and business details with company colleagues late at night. They devoted themselves to the school, but just as the school began to get on the right track, the terrible SARS swept through most of China in 2003, which also brought a fatal blow to the education and training industry.

At that time, Global IELTS School was located in Fiona Fang Building, Baishiqiao, only half a stop away from People's Hospital, the birthplace of SARS in China. When SARS hit, almost overnight, the number of students in IELTS global schools dropped sharply, and even most staff members were afraid to come to work.

According to the normal situation, summer vacation is the peak season for enrollment, and the school has already received a lot of advance payment before this. "This shows that students are in need in essence, but they are forced by the threat of SARS to life. As long as the threat is lifted, they will definitely be willing to continue learning. "

Yes, the key is how to eliminate this threat. Sars cannot be solved by individuals. Zhang Yongqi dragged two suitcases of money, while wearing a mask to refund the money to the students, while thinking about this problem.

It was then that Zhang Yongqi noticed the function of online education.

"One day, the headmaster came to me and said excitedly,' We can open up online course training so that students can study online with famous teachers at home without coming to school.' Liu, director of the network department, was deeply impressed by the pioneering work of the president during SARS.

As promised, the president immediately set about it personally with his colleagues in the network department. While paving the way for publicity on the Internet, please ask the teacher to record the courseware, and then the network staff began to edit the pictures, and colleagues from other departments helped to double-check the edited courseware.

In less than a month, four or five colleagues magically developed the courseware and went online. At that time, many training institutions as good as Global IELTS eventually closed down because of their inability to support them. However, Global IELTS survived the most difficult time.

After SARS, the whole city of Beijing began to become very dull, as if it had just experienced a storm. Because the service industry was greatly affected by SARS, the government began to rent-free and encouraged businesses to continue investing. However, after SARS, many enterprises stopped.

"Hearing the government's preferential policies, the principal immediately applied for renting four teaching areas to minimize our input costs." As one of the elders, the headmaster of Beijing School recalled. "Then we distributed many advertisements all over Beijing. These photos were taken in military uniforms when we defeated SARS. We are all very happy and excited in the photo! "

Perhaps it is the smiling face in the advertisement, which makes people really feel that SARS has left us. Perhaps people felt the tenacious vitality of a training institution in SARS. Maybe ... In a word, after another large-scale action in Zhang Yongqi, the Global IELTS School instantly caught fire in Beijing and even in China. An old frontiersman loses his horse—a blessing in disguise.

The Perfect Supplement of Teaching Quality: Detail Marketing

Zhang Yongqi's insistence on IELTS is also reflected in his concentration on IELTS training. Global IELTS School has always paid attention to the development and training of teachers, and has created a group of global teachers who enjoy a high reputation in the field of English training. In addition, Zhang Yongqi is famous for being meticulous-from the curriculum arrangement to the service system, he pays attention to every detail from the perspective and needs of an English learner, so that the image and products of Global IELTS can be widely spread among students.

Therefore, there are many media reports that the success of Global IELTS also depends on Zhang Yongqi and Zhang Xiaodong's attention to details and service to students.

According to the incomplete statistics of employees, Zhang Yongqi spent almost half a day designing posters and leaflets with his colleagues when Global IELTS was founded. Sometimes he will discuss it repeatedly with his colleagues in the marketing department for a sentence and a number, and then stare at the designer to modify it.

Although IELTS schools around the world are growing step by step, and Zhang Yongqi is troubled by Pepsi, it seems that he can't change his long-established habit.

"To be honest, changing this habit is a personal challenge for me, because doing a lot of meticulous work is my passion."

Market research, poster design, even cleaning up the hygiene of warehouses and teaching areas, every feedback from students ... Zhang Yongqi admits that he is a very meticulous person, and he can't help but pay attention to these subtle things. In addition, Zhang Yongqi's wife, Zhang Xiaodong, the chairman of the company, is also from the hotel industry, and Global IELTS School has always been adhering to the style of paying attention to details.

"The education industry is actually a service industry. Every detail determines your success or failure. If the consultation is not done well, the market will be done in vain. If the quality of the course can't keep up, the students won't come. If the students' classroom environment is not good, it will eventually have an impact on the whole teaching. " In Global IELTS School, Zhang Yongqi regards students as "God" to serve them.

It is precisely because of this service concept that Global IELTS School has brought many hidden advertising students. According to the data of Global IELTS over the years, more than 60% of students in Global IELTS School are recommended by friends and classmates, which shows the success of Global IELTS detail marketing.

The embodiment of Zhang Yongqi's personality in the school operation just confirms the words of Wang Shi, chairman of Vanke: the strength of entrepreneur's personality greatly affects the fate of the enterprise!

From private enterprises to international enterprises: in 2006, financing Softbank Saifu.

In 2006, with the global IELTS operation entering the formal stage, the system has been continuously improved and its influence in the country has been leading. At that time, there were more than 40 IELTS schools in the world, and they successfully occupied the throne of the national IELTS training market, enjoying good profits and cash flow. As a private entrepreneur, this can be regarded as a peak, but Zhang Yongqi has a longer-term view of enterprises.

"I hope that the global IELTS will always be evergreen like an evergreen tree, and I hope to make it a century-old shop, which can stand on the society for a long time and make more contributions to society!"

Soon, New Oriental Education Technology Group was successfully listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The spread of this news gave Zhang Yongqi a stronger sense of urgency. At this time, his only idea is to quickly resist competition and protect himself. At the same time, several investment companies also came to you.

In June 2006, Softbank entered, and the two sides talked for no more than four times, each time for two or three hours, which was fairly smooth. In September 2006, SoftBank Safran invested in the world with a total amount of 25 million US dollars. Global IELTS School has officially transformed into Global World Education Technology Development Group. Prior to this, Zhang Yongqi had lost sleep for more than 70 hours for this financing.

Global IELTS signed hundreds of millions of strategic investments with Softbank Asia Safran Investment Fund.

The master leads the door, and the practice depends on the individual. Zhang Yongqi introduced that although a lot of funds have been obtained after financing, the specific development strategy still depends on the enterprise's own planning.

How to make the globe add fuel to the fire for the students and let them feel the warmth of the globe at the same time? How to maximize the value, so that enterprises can walk on the road of listing smoothly? These have become his thinking problems. In order to go public, his burden is increasing day by day However, what employees see every day is still the energetic President Zhang who has a kind smile and travels between offices every day.

Plant trees for ten years and educate people for a hundred years. This old saying may have another meaning for the education industry in China today. It needs not only a smooth transition from the principal to the boss, but also a cohesive team with the responsibility of the principal, the "business mind" of the boss and the long-term vision of entrepreneurs.

Zhang Yongqi has done all these things.

He led Global World Education Technology Group to develop rapidly in the education and training industry, becoming a model of the training industry and establishing the image of a future leader. And lead the training industry to specialization, scale and internationalization. Since its establishment, the enterprise has been focusing on building its own brand quality and credibility. On the road of internationalization, the company will be more strict with itself and make unremitting efforts to provide every student with a comprehensive leading learning experience and professional and trustworthy study abroad service!

In the face of many honors such as "IELTS 20 years and 20 people", we saw his brilliance and felt the great responsibility he shouldered. He said with a smile: "Since I am married to IELTS, I will be loyal to it all my life, and I will develop it better and better no matter how hard and tired I am!"