W eijian Shan is a prominent Chinese investor who is the chairman and CEO of the private equity firm, PAG. His is a remarkable life story. He grew up during China's Cultural Revolution, during which he was sent to the Gobi Desert for forced labor. He later taught himself English and became one of the first students from mainland China to study in the United States, where he earned a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. After a successful career in academia and at major financial institutions, including as a managing partner at the private equity firm TPG, he joined PAG and has since built it into one of Asia's largest and most successful alternative investment management firms.

PAG has a diversified portfolio of investments across private equity, real estate, and credit. He is a respected thought leader and the author of several books, including his acclaimed memoir, "Out of the Gobi." He is a major and influential figure in the Asian financial industry.