Chairman Li Yongshui and Yongning'er Group Company

"The benevolent find joy in mountains, the wise in water."
Ancient and modern sages, some benevolent, some wise,
Although among the many, those possessing both "wisdom" and "benevolence" are rare indeed;
Establishing aspirations first, then acting wisely and benevolently, is the cornerstone of achieving success.

--Li Yongshui
 

Entering Chairman Li Yongshui's office, a plaque inscribed with "Act Wisely and Benevolently" catches the eye. Looking out through the glass window, rows of beautiful modern buildings and a constant flow of vehicles and logistics within the factory area create a vibrant and spectacular scene—this is the headquarters of Yongning'er Group. Established in 1990, Hangzhou Yongning'er Company, under the leadership of Chairman Li Yongshui, has grown from a small workshop-style factory to a modern group company with two major production and R&D bases in Xiaoshan and Anji, 32 branches (subsidiaries), over 2300 employees, and annual sales approaching 3 billion RMB. An industrial chain related to chemical fiber raw materials, chemical fiber weaving, home textile fabrics, and medical dressings has been established, showing great development potential and unique competitive advantages. Reviewing the history of Yongning'er's growth, we can't help but admire the creator, founder, and leader of Yongning'er—Chairman Li Yongshui.     

Aspirations. Chairman Li Yongshui is a legendary figure. He lost his father at a young age, and he and his siblings depended on their mother. In those days of extreme material scarcity, he, unwilling to accept the status quo, set his sights on achieving great things from a young age. While his peers were doing odd jobs, farming, playing cards, or drifting aimlessly, he was already a well-known building and decoration "team leader" in the surrounding villages. When the spring breeze of reform and opening up swept across the Qiantang River, after experiencing the initial hardships of life, he had grown into an ambitious young man. He resolutely decided to change careers, starting a business with 15,000 yuan in capital and 6 employees, founding Xiaoshan Nanyang Network Silk Factory. This is the predecessor of today's Yongning'er Company. From the initial 15,000 yuan to the current annual sales of billions, these two vastly different numbers bring more than just amazement!

Wisdom. Chairman Li Yongshui often says, "When two people walk together, there is always a teacher among them; only through continuous learning can one become wise." Decades of experience in the industry have made him an expert, yet his dedication to learning remains unwavering. He leads by example, constantly learning from his peers, competitors, and international practices. With remarkable perseverance and a persistent pursuit of knowledge, after obtaining dual master's degrees in business administration from Zhejiang University and Fudan University, he spent another three years studying diligently to obtain a Doctor of Business Administration degree from City University of Hong Kong (in collaboration with Fudan University). In his spare time, in addition to attending industry management high-level forums for exchange and learning, he often visits universities to discuss and verify important matters concerning the company's development strategy, such as enterprise management, macroeconomic operation, industry development trends, and international market dynamics, with experts and scholars. He often advises senior executives to always "look at China from outside the Yangtze River Delta, look at the world from outside China, and gain a deep understanding of industry development trends and laws. Only by standing at the highest point in the industry can we maintain our footing in fierce competition." Long-term academic accumulation has further enhanced his already extraordinary intellect, radiating the wisdom, perseverance, and courage of Zhejiang businessmen. When faced with major decisions such as adjustments to the company's main industries, he always has a long-term vision, using his unique perspective and approach to make swift decisions, implement them quickly, and achieve rapid results. Repeated successes have proven his decisions to be wise, scientific, and correct. However, these successful decisions are not accidental but the inevitable result of his ability to combine theory and practice, a long-term accumulation, a true "wisdom."

      "Training is a company's welfare, learning is an employee's effort" is one of the fundamental methods advocated by Chairman Li Yongshui to improve the overall quality of employees to achieve "wisdom." Under his advocacy, the company has gradually established a learning-oriented enterprise system, and on-the-job training and learning have become a common practice, leading to significant company growth. Li Yongshui's personal journey, from starting a business to achieving success, from a "small boss" to an ambitious "entrepreneur," and from an entrepreneur to a strategist who skillfully manages the growth and development of the enterprise, is a classic case of how knowledge changes destiny, knowledge changes the future, and knowledge achieves success. This case has become a great source of spiritual wealth for all Yongning'er people! It constantly inspires Yongning'er people to forge ahead on the journey of pursuing personal value and realizing a common vision!

Benevolence. Benevolence means loving people, loving family, establishing people, and achieving success—the highest state of being human. As an entrepreneur with a strong sense of social responsibility, Chairman Li Yongshui regards talent as the company's greatest asset. He says, "The greatest waste is the waste of talent." On the one hand, the company should provide material support for various talents introduced to the company and those cultivated internally, and on the other hand, it should provide opportunities, space, and platforms for talents to display their talents and abilities. People who have interacted with him often say that he is particularly kind to university students. "Let each person in Yongning'er fully utilize the platform provided by the company to realize their greatest value and achieve greater glory and dreams. This is the company's continuous pursuit and goal." This is his most concise explanation of "enterprise humanism." His "benevolence" is not only reflected in his love, care for employees, and cultivation of talent, but also in his frugal lifestyle and his deep care for social charity.

He believes that enterprises should try their best to utilize the resources provided by society, seize the day, seek growth and development, solve employment problems, pay taxes to the state, provide material wealth to society, and contribute more to society. This continuous cycle is essentially the process of continuously reflecting the social value of the enterprise.

            Set aspirations to start a business, act wisely to build a career, practice benevolence to achieve great success, and walk your own path! This is Chairman Li Yongshui's scientific outlook on life and career development.

July 4, 2011, Chairman Li Yongshui's speech at the opening ceremony of the first DBA program jointly run by Fudan University and City University of Hong Kong.