1) What was your first job?
After graduating with an engineering degree, I started work at Accenture (then called Andersen Consulting). I stumbled upon this job opportunity at a local university career fair that I was not entitled to attend, given that I graduated from the UK.
2) What led you into a career in telecoms?
I didn’t start out in telecoms. In my first role, based in Singapore, we were assigned to projects based on skillsets. I worked primarily on government projects for the first six years of my career.
I bought my first mobile phone in 1998. I believe it was then I had an epiphany that telecommunication will change the way people live and change the world. In 2000, the Singapore office expanded and the practice was reorganised into different market operating groups. I joined the Telco practice.
3) Without naming and shaming, tell us about your worst ever boss?
I have worked with two types of bosses – the kind bosses and the strict bosses. The kind bosses are nurturing and encouraging. The strict bosses are the types that prefer to micro-manage, are time-optimisers and exhibit an unyielding desire to be right all the time. That is unless you can prove him or her wrong with complicated mathematical hypotheses and models. For me personally I think I have had a good dosage of pats-on-the-back and slaps-on-the-wrist.
Some personal relationships are easy, and others less enjoyable. In the long run, exposure to all types of bosses gives you a well-rounded character and serves as beacons to guide you to become who you want to be. Bosses are like marinade. The more you soak in different types of marinades, the more flavoursome you become.
4) What has been your worst business travel experience?
I have often been perceived to be younger than my age, and with that an association with inexperience. My worst travel experience(s) are when my clients succumb to this assumption and make me wait for hours past the scheduled meeting times. This has happened to me in a few countries. I had no choice but to suppress my ego, grin and bear it and prove to these clients the value that I can bring to them. It takes some effort to overcome their initial scepticism but once that barrier is overcome, things progress much more smoothly.
5) What has been the proudest moment in your career?
I would have liked to say that I did this big project or saved a project from delays or contractual liabilities. However, I think that all projects are equally important to me, regardless of the value of the deal. I learned a lot from every encounter in any country or with any teams. Every customer matters, big or small.
My proudest moments are when someone comes up to me and says “you have made a difference and I want to learn from you.”. This type of feedback touches and inspires me to do more.
6) Where do you see yourself in five years?
I have been working with AsiaInfo for over two years. AsiaInfo is the second largest BSS software provider in the world and has a large customer base in China. In the last few years, AsiaInfo ventured beyond China into South East Asia, India and Europe. I have had the privilege of building a practice in Thailand, and am now working on building a practice in South Asia.
From my home base in Bangkok, the land of smiles and eternal sunshine, I would love to build more practices for AsiaInfo in Indochine, other regions in South East Asia or beyond this region. Working with diverse cultures excites me. I see myself coaching large teams, and creating meaningful and sustainable careers for both AsiaInfo teams and the customers whom we serve.
