[1] Chao joined Sina in 1999 when the company was facing difficulties in its attempts to get a listing on the NASDAQ.
[citation needed] He overcame this challenge by establishing Sina as a VIE (Variable Interest Entity) company, which cleared the way for a successful listing in the US.
[2] Chao has also made use of the company's platform to support public welfare undertakings in China.
Currently, Sina is one of the largest venues for making donations and emergency fundraising and is one of the first internet companies to set up a charity and public welfare platform.
Prior to joining Sina, Chao served as an audit manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, an accounting firm.