From Server to CEO: The Inspiring Journey of Yang Li Juan at Haidilao

Yang Li Juan, a 47-year-old executive of Haidilao, the leading Chinese hotpot restaurant brand, is widely acclaimed as the 'best server in China' after rising from humble beginnings to become a global hotpot empire CEO. Starting as a simple server in a small Sichuan province restaurant after dropping out of school, Yang's career took a dramatic turn when the company's founder, Zhang Yong, helped her family during a financial crisis by paying off 800 yuan (approximately 3,700 baht). This moment became a pivotal point where she decided to dedicate her entire working life to Haidilao. Her career rapidly grew alongside the brand's expansion, becoming a restaurant manager at 19 and leading international expansion. By 2022, as CEO, she restructured the company by closing over 300 unprofitable branches and dramatically turned the business around, achieving a net profit of 4.495 billion yuan (about 22 billion baht) - a 174.6% increase from the previous year. Yang's story has become an inspiration online, symbolizing leadership, gratitude, and unwavering commitment regardless of one's background.