Jean Liu

When the coronavirus first broke out in Wuhan, China, in late January, China’s biggest ride-hailing company, Didi Chuxing, sprang into action, organizing free transportation for Wuhan’s medical workers who were stranded when the city halted other modes of transportation. Under Jean Liu’s leadership, the company tried to ease the hardship drivers experienced because of the pandemic, launching a $30 million fund to provide protective supplies and financial assistance to drivers and negotiating with leasing firms and insurers on behalf of Chinese drivers who’d seen business dry up. Liu also spearheads Didi’s tech investment, including the launch of its pilot robo-taxi service in Shanghai in June and tests of its autonomous vehicles in the U.S. and China. On Liu’s watch, Didi is continuing to grow internationally. Since July 2019, the firm has entered Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, and Russia, and expanded in existing markets across Latin America, Asia, and Australia.