Customer Quote by Jack Ma
“Customers first, employees second, and shareholders third,”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Alibaba Annual Shareholder Meeting, 2018
A hierarchy of stakeholder priority that places customers first, then employees, then shareholders, emphasizing a customer‑centric business model.
In simple terms: Customers first, employees second, shareholders third.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize customer value above all.
Themes
business ethics
leadership
stakeholder theory
Mood
pragmatic
strategic
inspirational
Type
business
leadership
When to use this quote
- product development
- HR policies
- investment decisions
- marketing strategy
- customer service
Key Concepts
economics
organizational behavior
strategic management
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure employees feel valued while focusing on customers?
- What metrics best reflect true stakeholder success?
A Different Perspective
Balancing all three groups can be challenging in practice.
