An interview from my previous job several years ago.
- Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Hong Kong, moved to Bangkok when I was around 10 years old, went to Oita, Japan for my undergraduate study and then the UK for postgraduate degrees in Economics at University of Cambridge and London School of Economics. - What is your work like?
I worked in a small, collegial and dynamic company, with smart and driven people to make sense of important macro issues happening in the world. - What do you like best about your role?
I like the autonomy and broad scope of the role. One never runs out of things to learn. To do well in the job requires not just good understanding of economics, but also history, politics, and technology. It’s also exciting to follow fast growing economies like China and witness changes in real time. - What is your team like?
It is a small and friendly team, with plenty of informal chats on a regular basis. Popular topics include parenting, politics, and the insane property market! - What do you do in your spare time?
Besides spending time with my family, I run 4 to 5 times a week and practice Wing Chun, a Chinese martial art made famous by Ip Man and Bruce Lee (According to Wikipedia, it’s the world’s most popular form of Southern Kung Fu). - So you’re a lean, mean, fighting machine?
I’ve practiced for 4 years and learned the wooden dummy. I don’t have a saffron robe…yet! - How did you find time to do all this?
Discipline. I wake up at 6am, go for a run or do a workout in the gym, get back to have breakfast with my family before going to work.
I listen to podcasts while commuting and read books at night after my kids go to bed – that’s my routine. - What are you reading at the moment?
The Master Algorithm: How the quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World – by Pedro Domingos.
The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance – by Josh Watkins - What is your favourite place in the world?
My favourite place in Japan used to be Kyoto. Back then it was more quiet. Now I feel like there are too many tourists so would pick Naoshima and Okinawa as my favourite. I like the food, architect, nature and just walking around. - Who would be your ideal dinner guests?
David Hume, Bruce Lee, Lee Kuan Yew and Richard Feynman. - What is your favourite food?
Japanese Kaiseki Ryori, or just an ekiben (e.g. bento you eat for a Shinkansen train ride). Rather than one dish, I like the balance of various small dishes. - Do you have any secret talent that we don’t know?
I bought a skateboard for my son but secretly I’ve been enjoying learning it myself.
So far, I have mastered the art of going and stopping! - What is on your bucket list?
Too many. Learn sports like snowboarding, surfing, and diving. Learn architecture and build a house. Compose a song, draw manga, make an anime, and perform music with friends. - What is your advice for a young person?
Work hard, learn, and stay humble. - Have you had any strange jobs in the past?
During my University era, I worked in a farm making fermented pickles (Tsukemono in Japanese). I’d gather cabbage from the farm, put them into a pickle press (with lots of salt), and place the processed products in packages for sale.
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