About
Engineer.
Banker.
Investor.
Thinker.
Builder.
Writer.
Illustrator.
Programmer.
Troubleshooter.
Light Bulb Fixer.
One of life's biggest ironies is that we usually don't end up working in what we study.
I was trained as an engineer in university.
Contrary to most of my peers, the world of finance and banking didn't come to me as a graduation gift. I had to constantly challenge the conventional wisdom inherited from 'elders' and 'seniors' in order to get my way and justify my existence and relevance in a corporate finance role.
In the last 17 years, I am grateful to have the opportunity to leverage my knowledge in engineering, and synthesise this with my work in investment banking. [Read my cover letter from 2006]
The process of learning does not stop at the point of graduation. It is something that should be consistently acquired long even after we leave school.
The classroom setting (and other institutionalised learning methods) provides a somewhat safe and systematic way of acquiring knowledge in those formative years.
Yet, many important personality traits and lifelong survival skills such as emotional intelligence, grit and problem solving, that are picked up in the professional setting are instrumental in shaping our abilities in the real world.
I studied computer engineering in university with no prior background or knowledge in programming. The learning curve had been steep and I was consistently 'outdone' by my peers in school.
After struggling through most parts of my 'freshmen' year, I decided to cast aside the pursuit for grades and take the subjects that really interest me: software engineering, computer networks, cybercrime and artificial intelligence.
My STEM-based education has played a significant part in how I look at the business and finance world.
Logic, mathematical reasoning and problem solving are at the core of it. This became one of the more unique features that has enabled me to stand out from the rest of my accounting, finance (and of course engineering)-schooled peers.
Having the privilege of working alongside many senior professionals and business owners from the investment and banking landscape in Asia, I had also cultivated an extremely practical towards business valuation and financial modelling.
I teach working professionals financial modelling and business valuation in an adjunct capacity. My teaching engagements provides me with the opportunity to consolidate what I have learned and also stay up-to-date with the real world.
I currently reside in Hong Kong. I hope you find what you read here useful. If you have any feedback or simply just wish to stay updated on the content here, please feel free to reach out here.
Kenny