Porter Erisman is a former Vice-President at Alibaba Group (2000-08), China’s internet giant. He witnessed it grow from humble beginnings into the world’s largest e-commerce company. Erisman first arrived in China in 1994 and, after a year studying Chinese, he fell into a six-month stint as host of China Through... Read more
Porter Erisman is a former Vice-President at Alibaba Group (2000-08), China’s internet giant. He witnessed it grow from humble beginnings into the world’s largest e-commerce company.
Erisman first arrived in China in 1994 and, after a year studying Chinese, he fell into a six-month stint as host of China Through Foreigners’ Eyes, a travel programme on China Central Television.
After studying for an MBA in the United States from 1996-98, Erisman returned to China and worked at Ogilvy & Mather in Beijing, overseeing an internet marketing group as China’s internet began to take off. Lured by the excitement of joining an internet startup, he joined Alibaba.com in 2000, just as the company moved out of a small apartment.
From 2000-08, Erisman worked as a Vice-President at Alibaba.com and Alibaba Group, at various times leading the company’s international website operations, international marketing and corporate affairs. In 2002, he took a year off from Alibaba to travel around the world, during which time he spent two months riding a bicycle across China retracing the southern route of the Long March.
Erisman’s book, Alibaba’s World is an inside account of how Jack Ma, a schoolteacher with no business training, built Alibaba into the world’s largest e-commerce company with more sales than eBay and Amazon combined. Alibaba’s World was selected by Publisher’s Weekly as one of the Top Ten business book releases in 2015.
Erisman wrote, directed and produced “Crocodile in the Yangtze”, an independent documentary memoir film of the nearly 10 years spent at China’s Alibaba.com. The film presents a rare behind-the-scenes look at China’s Internet revolution and was awarded “Best Documentary” at the San Francisco United Film Festival.
Erisman received a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Additional studies include courses at the Beijing Language University, the New York Film Academy, and the Culinary Institute of America.
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You can book Porter Erisman through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Porter's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Porter Erisman's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Porter tailored to your event.
Porter Erisman speaks on Big Data, Business & Management, Digital, Entrepreneurial, Future & Technology. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Porter to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Porter Erisman for events worldwide, subject to Porter's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Porter Erisman is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Porter can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Porter Erisman on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Porter can offer.
Porter Erisman delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Porter Erisman's areas of expertise include Big Data, Business & Management, Digital, Entrepreneurial, Future & Technology. To get a clear sense of Porter's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Porter Erisman can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Big Data, Business & Management, Digital, Entrepreneurial, Future & Technology is relevant. Details of Porter's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Porter Erisman is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Porter Erisman, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Porter's current availability for your dates.