Huawei's boot-camp culture

Recent arrest of its CFO in Canada on US fraud allegations has opened up the company to closer scrutiny

Huawei's booth at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, last year. The company, whose founder has a strong military background, views itself as being in a war with all of its competitors, says a management consultant.
Huawei's booth at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, last year. The company, whose founder has a strong military background, views itself as being in a war with all of its competitors, says a management consultant. PHOTO: REUTERS
Ms Meng Wanzhou, the eldest daughter of Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei, was being groomed to take over the reins but her fate is in question after her arrest on fraud allegations linked to violating US sanctions against Iran.
Ms Meng Wanzhou, the eldest daughter of Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei, was being groomed to take over the reins but her fate is in question after her arrest on fraud allegations linked to violating US sanctions against Iran. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Mr Ren Zhengfei started Huawei in 1987 with a staff of three and the equivalent of US$5,000 and built it into a multibillion-dollar behemoth.
Mr Ren Zhengfei started Huawei in 1987 with a staff of three and the equivalent of US$5,000 and built it into a multibillion-dollar behemoth. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Anna Fifield
Updated
Dec 16, 2018, 05:00 AM
Published
Dec 16, 2018, 05:00 AM
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BEIJING • The founder of Huawei Technologies, a former People's Liberation Army engineer, runs the telecom titan with military discipline.

New employees at the company's headquarters in Shenzhen must undergo a two-week boot camp at Huawei University, the company's training institute, complete with sessions that are literally called "brainwashing", according to former staff.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 16, 2018, with the headline Huawei's boot-camp culture. Subscribe

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