Definition
Deng Xiaoping was a paramount leader of China from the late 1970s until his death in 1997. He is credited with architecting China's economic reforms, which shifted the nation from a centrally planned economy to a "socialist market economy". His policies led to significant economic growth and improved living standards for millions of Chinese people. However, his legacy is also marked by the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. Think of him as the CEO who dramatically changed the course of a major company.