Our guest today has extensive experience as a CIO with large banks. He has successfully set up and managed 3 sizeable Technology Development Centers in the mainland and has played a key role in the initiation of 2 startups including one in the FinTech space in the mainland. Let me welcome Greg Au Yeung to the Podcast!
Today on the podcast, we are going to ask Greg about how his career trajectory and we are also going to delve into his experience setting up development centers in China and the future of technology there. Greg has recently started his own YouTube Channel called Inspiring China (https://youtu.be/JyrVpCGc5Ug)
Intro Questions:
Greg, could you please give us an intro of yourself in your own words? Are you from Hong Kong originally?
Can you talk about your experience as an IT person - how did you rise to the level of being a CIO and did you always want to become a CIO?
According to your LinkedIn Profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregauyeung/), you started getting involved in building Technology Development Centers as early as 2005 when you were with State Street. Why the interest in China?
More questions about China:
In 2005 many people were not entirely sure about moving to China whereas you seemed to have embraced the chance of building your experience and expertise in China. Why is that? What was your motivation? Was it a career-driven move?
What challenges did you face in setting up a development center in China? Can you speak to the talent available in China?
One of the problems with offshore development centers tends to be that it is harder to integrate a Mandarin-speaking tech center with an English-speaking front office business in Hong Kong or in other parts of the world. What are your thoughts on bridging this sort of language barrier?
Some say that China is becoming more expensive and the offshore centers would now have to move to places in South America. What are your thoughts on this?
How do you see the trend of offshore centers in China developing over the next few years?
Technology Questions:
There is no doubt that clear winners are emerging from China. Like DJI, BYD, TikTok, BitMain and so many more. How would you compare the landscape of mainland-based tech unicorns with their Silicon Valley counterparts? Do you think the government in China is very encouraging of the development of new tech startups? Is the legal system conducive to building a good environment for these startups to mature?
From a data standpoint, given China has less stringent rules on privacy, do you think they have an advantage when it comes to Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence as these technologies need more and more data to become better?
What do you think are the roadblocks when it comes to the development and progress of technology in China?
Can you talk about the startups you've been involved with? How did you choose them and what has your role been in them?
YouTube Channel:
What inspired you to set up your YouTube channel Inspiring China?
Could you talk about who your target audience is and why they should subscribe?
Personality:
You've been working for a while now and have achieved quite a bit in your career. Do you still have the same drive to learn and grow as you did at the start of your career?
What career advice would you give to young ambitious IT professionals who want to be CIO one day?
Has there been any particular mentor who has been instrumental in your career development?
What books do you read? Is there a pattern and what are some of the top books you'd recommend?
How do you manage stress?
Has there been a key mentor or a significant person in your life who has enabled you to achieve the success you have had in your career?
Knowing what you know now if you could travel back to when you were 25 years old, what advice would you give yourself?
Is there anything else you would like to say that we haven't asked you?
Thank you so so much for your time and for sharing your wisdom with our audience