Summary:
Charles Zhang, founder of Sohu.com, advises students to delay graduate school and startup plans
Real-world experience in a company is more valuable than academic achievements for entrepreneurs
Zhang's PhD from MIT had little impact on his success with Sohu.com
China's graduate jobs crisis makes practical experience even more crucial
Starting with Internet Technologies China, Zhang pioneered venture capital in mainland China
Charles Zhang Chaoyang, the visionary behind Sohu.com, one of China's earliest internet giants, has a piece of advice for college students: skip graduate school and delay startup plans. Instead, Zhang emphasizes the importance of gaining real-world experience by working for a company first.
In a revealing interview with Rupert Hoogewerf of the Hurun Research Institute, shared on ByteDance’s Douyin platform, Zhang shared insights from his own journey. Despite holding a PhD in physics from MIT, he found that his academic achievements contributed little to his entrepreneurial success. Zhang's story underscores a practical approach to entrepreneurship, where hands-on experience trumps formal education.
Zhang's career trajectory is a testament to this philosophy. After completing his studies, he joined Internet Securities, laying the groundwork for his future ventures. In 1996, he founded Internet Technologies China, pioneering the venture capital landscape in mainland China before rebranding to Sohu.com a year later.
This advice comes at a critical time as China faces a graduate jobs crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing trade war. Zhang's perspective offers a fresh take on navigating the challenges of today's economy, advocating for experience over academia in the entrepreneurial world.
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