I build systems that are meant to hold. The kind that reduce friction, survive contact with reality, and keep working without drawing attention to themselves.
This is the through-line across my career: understand the real constraint, remove unnecessary complexity, and design for durable leverage.
为无为，则无不治. The goal is not constant intervention. It is to build systems that can carry themselves.
Professional background
I lead Operational Support and Efficiency at TikTok, where my team uses AI to improve how tech operations run and explores what AI-native operations can become in practice.
My broader background spans engineering, operations, infrastructure, and management across:
- TikTok: Site Leader for Server Architecture, OSE Engineering Leader
- PayPal: Engineering management in Consumer In-Store, Digital Commerce, and Compliance
- Singapore Power: DevOps Lead
- Nugit: Senior Engineer
- Earlier roles: Software engineering across mobile, web, and platforms
Engineering philosophy
Good engineers pick up new technologies quickly. Strong fundamentals matter more than fashionable tools.
Complex problems should be broken into smaller parts, then solved by learning what’s missing. Engineering leadership should empower others rather than centrally control everything.
Community and philanthropy
I’ve contributed to social empowerment and community building for over a decade.
IAmTalentedSG (2014–2024) Used technology to improve operational efficiency, served as event photographer, and focused on uplifting youths in at-risk communities.
Project Stable Staples (2020) Co-founded during COVID to provide rapid-response support for families in rental communities. Raised SGD 160,000, supported 2,600+ individuals across 600+ households, built a donation portal in under 2 days, and maintained zero expense ratio. Later received the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards People of Good recognition.
Lai Yu Hua Bursary Active engagement with recipients of this NUS Computing bursary for financially challenged students.
GeekcampSG (2011–2014) Lead Organizer, grew the community substantially - foundation for later developer outreach work.
Awards and recognition
- President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards People of Good (2020)
- NUS Computing Outstanding Young Alumni (2022)
- NUS Outstanding Young Alumni (2021)
- Voice of Loving Kindness from Singapore Kindness Movement (2022)
How I work
I work from first principles. I value resilient teams, practical execution, and using whatever skills are most useful in the moment.
In community work, that can mean logistics, communications, fundraising, or building tools quickly. In engineering, it means combining leadership with enough technical depth to stay credible and effective.
The through-line is leadership through useful action: understand the system, identify the gap, move quickly, and build something practical that helps.