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  • How to Build a Global Career Starting in Asia

    How to Build a Global Career Starting in Asia
    2025/08/21
    In Episode 39 of The Generalists Podcast, we sit down with Nadav Itach, Vice President at Mastercard, to unpack his unique journey—starting as the only foreigner in a 4,000-person Chinese factory in Qingdao, to leading APAC for Trax Retail, and now driving enterprise data adoption at Mastercard.Nadav shares lessons on navigating manufacturing, startups, and global enterprises—plus how to balance family with the demands of leadership across Asia.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What does it really take to build a career across Asia’s most complex markets? Why China in the mid-2000s was a career-defining launchpadLessons from being the only foreigner in a Chinese manufacturing plantHow a serendipitous dinner led to joining Trax Retail in SingaporeScaling SaaS globally with Coca-Cola & P>he differences between startup agility and enterprise stakeholder managementThe “five-year rule” for truly understanding China and AsiaHow to balance travel, work, and family as a regional leaderAdvice to his 20-year-old self: relax, invest early, and stay present👥 Hosts:Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgpRazko Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282👤 Guest:Nadav Itach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadav-itach-24546745🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more founder stories, startup tips, and global tech trends.👉👉👉 Subscribe Now: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast🔗 Links & Resources:Mastercard: https://www.mastercard.coTrax Retail: https://traxretail.comTomorrow.io (climate tech): https://www.tomorrow.ioCoca-Cola: https://www.coca-cola.comProcter & Gamble (P&G): https://www.pg.comDaimler (Mercedes-Benz Group): https://www.mercedes-benz.comGeneral Motors (GM): https://www.gm.comTencent (WeChat/Weixin): https://www.tencent.comWeChat (Weixin): https://www.wechat.comJoe Rogan Experience: https://open.spotify.com/show/4rOoJ6Egrf8K2IrywzwOMkHoward Stern Show: https://www.howardstern.comSam Harris Podcast (Making Sense): https://www.samharris.org/podcastSnipd (podcast discovery app): https://snipd.comWild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/291448/wild-swans-by-jung-chang
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    55 分
  • How Plug and Play Became the Tinder for Corporates

    How Plug and Play Became the Tinder for Corporates
    2025/08/13
    In Episode 38 of The Generalists Podcast, we sit down with Xander Khoo and Kishore Ravichandran from Plug and Play and learn exactly how their matchmaking system connects 550+ corporate partners with high-potential startups across 27 industries and 67 countries.From nuclear engineering startups to the future of corporate innovation in Southeast Asia, we explore why deep tech remains the most exciting (and misunderstood) investment frontier, and how Plug and Play helps founders cross borders—both geographically and commercially—faster than they ever could alone.What You’ll Learn:How Plug and Play matches corporates with startups The 3 business lines driving Plug and Play’s global reach: VC, corporate innovation, and acceleratorsWhy deep-tech investing demands a completely different mindset—and can yield outsized returnsHow brutal honesty accelerates corporate–startup partnershipsThe “technical sniff test” for vetting founders in emerging techScaling strategies for startups expanding beyond Singapore into diverse regional marketsWhy nuclear engineering may be the next big clean-energy frontierHow to avoid over-promising in early corporate engagementsHosts:Michael Smith Jr.: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp⁠⁠⁠⁠Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282⁠⁠⁠⁠Guests:Xander Khoo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanderkhoo/Kishore Ravichandran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishore1997/Resources & Links:Plug and Play: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.comCSA (Cyber Security Agency of Singapore): https://www.csa.gov.sgTIG: https://www.tig.com.sgUlu: https://www.oklo.com1890 Industries: https://www.1890industries.comFukushima Nuclear Accident: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/focus/fukushimaChernobyl Disaster: https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident.aspxWaymo: https://waymo.comNUS Overseas Colleges (NOC): https://enterprise.nus.edu.sg/education-programmes/nus-overseas-collegesOutliers by Malcolm Gladwell:https://www.gladwellbooks.com/titles/malcolm-gladwell/outliers/9780316017930/Originals by Adam Grant: https://adamgrant.net/book/originals/Same as Ever by Morgan Housel: https://www.morganhousel.com/same-as-everThe Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel: https://www.morganhousel.com/the-psychology-of-money
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    1 時間 3 分
  • How Improv Comedy Made Me A Better CEO

    How Improv Comedy Made Me A Better CEO
    2025/08/05
    In the full Episode 37 of The Generalists Podcast we sit down with Jeremy Snyder — CEO of FireTail and one-time member of AWS Singapore’s eight-person “day-zero” crew — for a free-wheeling chat about wrangling rogue APIs, reading the room (literally, through improv), and why three design partners are never enough. Recorded just after FireTail was named a Startup Spotlight finalist at Black Hat Asia (“Hacker Summer Camp”), this conversation traces Jeremy’s loop-de-loop from early cloud evangelist to API-security contrarian.From leaky S3 buckets to shadow-API gremlins, we unpack why most “breaches” start with boring misconfigurations, how CISOs can’t protect what they don’t know exists, and the simple calendar tricks a remote-first founder uses to keep both code and kettlebell reps moving.What You’ll Learn:Why API inventories, not firewalls, are the real first line of defense — and how most companies are still flying blindLessons from AWS’s earliest days in Southeast Asia and how those shape Jeremy’s startup playbook todayThe “×3 Design-Partner Rule”: getting written commitments before you write a single featureHow misconfigurations made Capital One & Optus infamous — and what they teach about org cultureProductivity hacks for fully remote teams (calendar blocking, fiction breaks, RSS over doom-scrolling)Why improv comedy beats an MBA for leadership training and boardroom persuasionThe upside of speaking seven languages when selling security tech across continentsJeremy’s advice to his 20-year-old self on risk, compounding skills, and building before you’re “ready”Hosts:Michael Smith Jr.: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp⁠⁠⁠Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282⁠⁠⁠Guest:Jeremy Snyder: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremysnyder/⁠Resources & Links:FireTail: ⁠https://www.firetail.ai⁠AWS: ⁠https://aws.amazon.com⁠DropSuite: ⁠https://dropsuite.com⁠Black Hat: ⁠https://www.blackhat.com⁠DEF CON: ⁠https://defcon.org⁠BSides: ⁠https://www.securitybsides.com⁠Microsoft Azure: ⁠https://azure.microsoft.com⁠Google Cloud Platform (GCP): ⁠https://cloud.google.com⁠Oracle Cloud: ⁠https://www.oracle.com/cloud⁠Capital One: ⁠https://www.capitalone.com⁠Optus: ⁠https://www.optus.com.au⁠Pocket: ⁠https://getpocket.com⁠Hugh Howey “Silo”: ⁠https://hughhowey.com/books/silo-series⁠
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    59 分
  • The Hilarious Reality of Early Stage Investing

    The Hilarious Reality of Early Stage Investing
    2025/07/29

    In Episode 36 of The Generalists Podcast, we sit down with Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, for a full-length conversation on how geography shapes entrepreneurship—and why the East-West divide isn’t as wide as you might think.

    From Silicon Valley to Southeast Asia, what really sets these startup worlds apart?

    What You’ll Learn:

    • The cultural and operational differences in startups across regions
    • How founders approach risk, fundraising, and growth in the East vs West
    • Why local context matters for product-market fit and scaling
    • Common misconceptions about global startup strategies
    • The “density advantage” of Silicon Valley vs generalist talent in SEA
    • Democratizing entrepreneurship via Hustle Fund’s Angel Squad
    • Stack-ranking opportunities across emerging markets
    • The generational shift in risk tolerance and ambition

    Hosts:

    • Michael Smith Jr.: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp⁠
    • Razko Kotler: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282⁠

    Guest:

    • Shiyan Koh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiyankoh/

    Resources & Links:

    • Hustle Fund: https://hustlefund.vc/
    • Reap: https://reap.global/
    • Jan Health: https://jan.health/
    • CharterSpace: https://charterspace.co/
    • Angel Squad: https://www.hustlefund.vc/squad
    • A History of the People’s Action Party: 1985–2021: https://nuspress.nus.edu.sg/products/a-history-of-the-peoples-action-party-1985-2021
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    1 時間
  • The Future of Coding with AI

    The Future of Coding with AI
    2025/07/17

    Sau Sheong Chang—Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of GovTech Singapore, and bestselling author of two Go-language books—drops by to code-switch with Michael & Raz on the future of technical leadership. From writing his first lines of C to shipping SingPass Mobile for five million citizens, Sau Sheong reveals how hands-on coding sharpens executive judgment, why GovTech runs like a startup inside the state, and how AI-augmented teams will rewrite the engineer’s career map over the next five years.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why he still writes code as a CTO
    • Data-driven leadership lessons from GovTech, PayPal, & SP Group
    • AI’s impact on software-engineering careers over the next 5 years
    • Building “startup culture” inside government
    • Counter-intuitive takeaways for building products
    • The one thing he’d tell his 20-year-old self


    00:00 Introduction02:00 Writing and Publishing Books on Code02:24 Early Coding Journey and Java Era04:36 Transition to Ruby and Go09:31 Career Path and Opportunities12:43 Leading Engineering and Business Teams20:35 Singapore's Unique Tech Journey31:28 GovTech's Role and Responsibilities31:50 Smart Nation Initiative and Govtech34:15 The Role of AI in Software Engineering38:59 Impact of AI on Various Professions49:33 Advice for Startups and Engineers54:58 Reflections and Personal Insights

    Hosts:

    • Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp
    • Razko Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282

    Guest:

    • Sae Sheong Chang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sausheong/

    Resources & Links:

    • GovTech Singapore: https://www.tech.gov.sg
    • SP Group: https://www.spgroup.com.sg
    • Temasek: https://www.temasek.com.sg
    • Yuu Rewards: https://www.yuu.sg
    • Codeium: https://www.codeium.com
    • Revenge of the Tipping Point (Malcolm Gladwell): https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Tipping-Point-Overstories-Superspreaders/dp/B0D5RFG8KQ/
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    1 時間 1 分
  • Building a Seed Fund in Southeast Asia with Kevin Brockland

    Building a Seed Fund in Southeast Asia with Kevin Brockland
    2025/07/09

    Kevin Brockland, CFA, founder & managing partner of Indelible Ventures, sits down with Michael & Raz to map out what it really takes to build—and fund—tech-enabled B2B startups that can scale internationally. From choosing Malaysia as a launchpad to running a lean, AI-driven fund, Kevin shares the operator tactics and investor discipline that turn regional bets into global wins.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why Malaysia? Kevin’s contrarian thesis for basing a seed fund there—and the flywheel it unlocks
    • Fundraising mastery: data-room hygiene, crisp narratives, and the art of saying “no”
    • AI for VCs: specific automations Kevin uses to source, screen, and support deals
    • Customer support = revenue: why most founders under-invest and how to fix it
    • Building global-first B2B companies out of Southeast Asia—step-by-step guidance
    • Well-being hacks: Kevin’s mental & physical regimen for sustainable performance
    • One thing he’d tell his 20-year-old self that every emerging manager should hear


    00:00 Introducing Kevin and Indelible Ventures04:06 Challenges of Raising a Fund in Malaysia09:31 The Role of AI in Emerging Markets19:18 Importance of Data Rooms for Startups23:44 Why We Invest: Decision-Making Insights30:01 The Importance of Saying No31:12 Tech-Enabled B2B Startups31:56 Understanding Consumer vs. B2B Markets32:58 The Evolution of Tech Ecosystems36:48 Customer Support as a Revenue Generator43:44 Challenges and Opportunities in ASEAN54:25 Advice to My 20-Year-Old Self56:13 Maintaining Physical and Mental Health58:17 Recommended Podcasts and Books

    Hosts:

    • Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp
    • Razko Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282

    Guest:

    Kevin Brockland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbrockland/

    Resources & Links:

    • Indelible Ventures: https://indelible.vc/
    • Portfolio: https://indelible.vc/portfolio
    • Kinetix Pro: https://www.kinetixpro.ai/
    • K-Link: https://www.klink.cloud/
    • Shoppable Business:https://shoppable.ph/
    • The Next Big Idea podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-big-idea/id1482067226
    • Blinkist (book-summary app): https://www.blinkist.com/
    • Lightspeed Venture Partners “Southeast Asia: Resetting Expectations” report: https://lsvp.com/stories/southeast-asia-resetting-expectations/
    • The Big Bang Theory (TV series): https://www.warnerbros.com/tv/big-bang-theory
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    1 時間 1 分
  • Forging the Future | Tiang Lim Foo | Venture Capital Insights

    Forging the Future | Tiang Lim Foo | Venture Capital Insights
    2025/06/28
    In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, Michael and Razko sit down with Tiang Lim Foo—Partner at Forge Ventures and long‑time builder in Southeast Asia’s tech scene—to explore:​How the NUS Overseas Colleges program pulled him into Silicon Valley and later into Singapore’s startup ecosystem​Lessons from shipping product at Evernote during the mobile‑productivity boom​Why Forge Ventures backs founders early and builds a community instead of a portfolio​Concrete steps VCs can take to curb founder fraud and short‑termism in 2025’s stressed market​Balancing seed investing with parenting two young “Foolets”​Tiang’s advice to his 20‑year‑old self, fitness routine, and favourite timeless reads—including Poor Charlie’s AlmanackChapters:00:00 Welcome Tiang01:29 Educational Path & Early Career02:10 Silicon Valley Experience06:47 Startup Challenges & Successes08:50 Building Evernote in Asia12:15 Southeast Asia Startup Ecosystem22:20 Venture Capital Insights27:13 Investment Strategy & Portfolio Approach28:07 Balancing Family & Work Life29:06 Parenting Lessons in Business33:57 Role of a Board Partner39:19 Navigating Tough Times in VC42:55 Importance of Long-Term Relationships47:25 Maintaining Health & Fitness49:37 Recommended Reads & Final ThoughtsHosts: Michael Smith Jr.: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/ ⁠⁠Guest: Tiang Lim Foo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tianglim/Resources & Links: ​Forge Ventures: https://www.forge.vc​NUS Overseas Colleges: https://enterprise.nus.edu.sg/nus-overseas-colleges​Evernote: https://www.evernote.com​Mito Health: https://mitohealth.com​Qoala: https://qoala.com​Headquarters: https://www.tryheadquarters.com​Vouch: https://www.vouch-technologies.com/en/​Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charlie Munger: https://a.co/d/0dOXn6C​Stripe Press Collection: https://press.stripe.com/Tiang's Website: https://tianglim.net/
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    51 分
  • Media Innovation in the AI Era | Alan Soon (Splice Media)

    Media Innovation in the AI Era | Alan Soon (Splice Media)
    2025/06/19

    In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, hosts Michael Smith Jr. and Razko Kotler welcome Alan Soon, Co-Founder & CEO of Splice Media, to discuss:

    • His journey from radio and TV newsrooms across Asia to roles at CNBC and Yahoo
    • The community-driven success of Splice Beta and its impact on media entrepreneurship
    • Transitioning into a media entrepreneurship coach, Alan explains how AI and live community events are transforming journalistic practice.
    • Navigating mid-life - not a crisis but an opportunity

    Hosts:

    • Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
    • Razko Kotler: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/ ⁠

    Guest:

    Alan Soon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alansoon/

    Resources & Links:

    • Splice Media: https://splicemedia.com
    • Splice Beta: https://splicemedia.com/beta-2025
    • Splice Nano: https://splicemedia.com/nano
    • Yahoo: https://www.yahoo.com
    • CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com
    • Computerworld: https://www.computerworld.com
    • Do Not Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen: https://a.co/d/eIEK1t2
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    1 時間