Meeting Title: Brainforge Project Manager Interview Date: 2025-07-07 Meeting participants: Amber Lin, Rey Yap
WEBVTT
1 00:00:01.940 ⇒ 00:00:04.125 Amber Lin: Okay, awesome.
2 00:00:05.230 ⇒ 00:00:13.190 Amber Lin: I know. Luke. Luke recommended you to me and to our company, and I heard a lot of good things from him.
3 00:00:13.750 ⇒ 00:00:19.009 Rey Yap: Tended him to do so. Yeah, again, it was. It was a pleasure working with him before.
4 00:00:20.260 ⇒ 00:00:22.760 Amber Lin: How long have you been working with him for.
5 00:00:24.356 ⇒ 00:00:30.900 Rey Yap: I would we were in one team for about 6 years, but I worked.
6 00:00:30.900 ⇒ 00:00:32.009 Amber Lin: Wow!
7 00:00:32.450 ⇒ 00:00:37.910 Rey Yap: Yeah, and but I worked with him became his manager for about 3 years.
8 00:00:38.470 ⇒ 00:00:40.169 Rey Yap: 2 years, 2 years.
9 00:00:40.800 ⇒ 00:00:41.610 Amber Lin: Wow!
10 00:00:43.970 ⇒ 00:00:51.869 Amber Lin: That’s so interesting. And right now. And so you’ve mainly just worked as a project manager right.
11 00:00:52.430 ⇒ 00:00:53.290 Rey Yap: Yes.
12 00:00:53.810 ⇒ 00:00:56.280 Amber Lin: Is that what you want to do for your career.
13 00:00:57.230 ⇒ 00:01:02.389 Rey Yap: Yeah, I I am a journeyman. I consider myself as a journeyman. So
14 00:01:03.025 ⇒ 00:01:03.360 Amber Lin: Hmm.
15 00:01:03.360 ⇒ 00:01:07.360 Rey Yap: I would say I practiced project management
16 00:01:08.277 ⇒ 00:01:13.289 Rey Yap: since becoming Qa, I would say, because I say, I say
17 00:01:13.460 ⇒ 00:01:28.270 Rey Yap: quality assurance engineer, you’d really do project management on your own task from need to be involved in the very 1st phase of the project. But it happened to me by chance because of
18 00:01:28.380 ⇒ 00:01:30.029 Rey Yap: we had, like
19 00:01:30.820 ⇒ 00:01:44.859 Rey Yap: project managers leave it who left our team? Some 2 years ago. So I was put into interim role for as a project manager for since last year, and it was formalized this year around January.
20 00:01:45.350 ⇒ 00:01:45.940 Amber Lin: Hmm.
21 00:01:47.020 ⇒ 00:01:51.930 Rey Yap: I began to acknowledge and realize that
22 00:01:52.120 ⇒ 00:02:00.329 Rey Yap: I’ve been practicing the the same thing the same role but in specific teams like in the
23 00:02:01.360 ⇒ 00:02:02.640 Rey Yap: quality assurance
24 00:02:02.850 ⇒ 00:02:11.149 Rey Yap: in the technical support team. And just this year, with the data data engineering team as a total project manager.
25 00:02:11.980 ⇒ 00:02:19.519 Rey Yap: So like a lot of familiar terminologies that the when was introduced, but like having
26 00:02:20.035 ⇒ 00:02:29.770 Rey Yap: practicing the role for almost 2 years now. I just didn’t. I just didn’t know like the terminologies. But I’ve been practicing it, I would say
27 00:02:29.880 ⇒ 00:02:32.820 Rey Yap: for the past, I would say 12 to 15 years.
28 00:02:34.220 ⇒ 00:02:35.190 Amber Lin: Wow!
29 00:02:35.270 ⇒ 00:03:03.918 Amber Lin: That’s really impressive. Oh, I realized I forgot to introduce myself. Sorry about that. My name is Amber. I’ve been working on Brain Forge Brainforge. Since March. So not long, not that long ago. It’s been around for 3, 4 months now and quickly about Brainforge. So we are a data and AI consultancy. We’re still relatively new, a startup. We have been around for around
30 00:03:04.600 ⇒ 00:03:18.240 Amber Lin: a year and a half, almost almost 2 years now. And so what we do is we have clients that have data problems. And essentially, what we do is we help them figure out
31 00:03:18.350 ⇒ 00:03:26.240 Amber Lin: and customized solution of how to make the most out of their data. Either it’s to create.
32 00:03:26.370 ⇒ 00:03:55.479 Amber Lin: enable them to do better analytics, to have a clear view of what’s going on. Or if it’s creating the AI systems, so we help them set the foundation so that they can go ahead and do anything with it. And essentially the purpose of this interview just to get to get to know you a little bit more in in the end I can help answer any questions. So this is mostly just know what you want to do.
33 00:03:56.307 ⇒ 00:04:11.699 Amber Lin: What you are good at doing what you’re interested in doing or parts that where you’re not good at or not interested in doing professionally. So we can both see where we’re a fit.
34 00:04:12.550 ⇒ 00:04:14.730 Rey Yap: Yeah, thanks for explaining that.
35 00:04:15.201 ⇒ 00:04:33.239 Amber Lin: Yeah, and I know, I asked you a little bit about your project management. Experience, I think, I, just in general want to hear about your career goals of what you want to do, maybe now, or say 5 years, 10 years down the road like, what do you see yourself doing? What do you want to achieve?
36 00:04:34.790 ⇒ 00:04:41.270 Rey Yap: I really love? The types of tasks which involve problem solving.
37 00:04:42.430 ⇒ 00:04:43.440 Rey Yap: So
38 00:04:44.032 ⇒ 00:04:51.280 Rey Yap: when they when I step into the role of a project manager like really put practicing their role since last year.
39 00:04:52.191 ⇒ 00:04:54.839 Rey Yap: It’s a new area for me.
40 00:04:56.090 ⇒ 00:04:59.479 Rey Yap: But I come to learn to
41 00:05:00.108 ⇒ 00:05:04.769 Rey Yap: love the problem, solving aspect of it. Like the challenges of
42 00:05:05.710 ⇒ 00:05:18.590 Rey Yap: the risk management, the dependencies, and the overall planning between one team to to another. So what I especially love about it is the
43 00:05:18.740 ⇒ 00:05:29.330 Rey Yap: challenge of not just on the delivering the projects that the business needs, but bridging the gap between the stakeholders and the engineering team
44 00:05:29.440 ⇒ 00:05:33.390 Rey Yap: and putting a word for success for both teams. We’re in
45 00:05:34.783 ⇒ 00:05:44.240 Rey Yap: what they do is really in in the past team is, get some feedback within the stakeholders on how our projects impact them positively.
46 00:05:44.350 ⇒ 00:05:50.250 Rey Yap: or some areas that we that do, we improve on that we need to improve on. So
47 00:05:51.120 ⇒ 00:05:53.150 Rey Yap: I love that side of
48 00:05:53.847 ⇒ 00:06:04.332 Rey Yap: helping the business achieve their goals and at the same time, making sure that we’re doing it in the right way and making sure that the team members are not just
49 00:06:04.790 ⇒ 00:06:07.509 Rey Yap: like putting up numbers, but like
50 00:06:08.460 ⇒ 00:06:14.940 Rey Yap: making them like a self managing team, and in such a way that they do
51 00:06:15.110 ⇒ 00:06:25.130 Rey Yap: know how their work impact, not just the business and generating income, but and how they work their work impacts the business.
52 00:06:26.010 ⇒ 00:06:28.589 Rey Yap: Reducing, reducing cost, and
53 00:06:28.730 ⇒ 00:06:36.699 Rey Yap: on like. How a usual business process would take in a day to do like 2 h an exam for an example. So
54 00:06:37.610 ⇒ 00:06:39.462 Rey Yap: I see, okay,
55 00:06:41.150 ⇒ 00:06:42.280 Amber Lin: I think
56 00:06:42.530 ⇒ 00:06:50.500 Amber Lin: what I wanted to ask was more for you personally. What would what would you like to do? As a career.
57 00:06:51.300 ⇒ 00:07:00.490 Rey Yap: I would really love to. I think I’ve been with the I had a similar talk actually, sometimes 2 years ago, with my.
58 00:07:01.150 ⇒ 00:07:09.420 Rey Yap: I will see with my mentor and my boss report so like already. You asked me because I’m already a career manager.
59 00:07:09.710 ⇒ 00:07:31.010 Rey Yap: and he asked me if he will be stepping up into larger roles. You need to explore what you would want to do and what what what’s the best fit with what I can bring with with the business and with the team. So I would say, even if I’ve I’ve been with just 2 years with the Project manager role. I think I really have a lot to learn.
60 00:07:33.700 ⇒ 00:07:34.360 Rey Yap: Which
61 00:07:34.590 ⇒ 00:07:43.850 Rey Yap: I would say tech on the technical side of it. What what’s what’s how, how AI and data can can help
62 00:07:44.377 ⇒ 00:07:48.860 Rey Yap: me make with good decision making with the role.
63 00:07:50.620 ⇒ 00:07:54.720 Rey Yap: So I’d really love to explore more of their role.
64 00:07:55.830 ⇒ 00:08:05.662 Amber Lin: Yeah, that’s really great to hear. I’m happy to hear that you know what cause. We are a data and AI consultancy. And so it’s great for me to hear that.
65 00:08:06.100 ⇒ 00:08:20.139 Amber Lin: And my next question I have is also, what do you think you’re really good at? Professionally like? If you have to list the top 3 or top 5 things that you’re really good at. What would you say? Those are.
66 00:08:22.050 ⇒ 00:08:30.065 Rey Yap: Hmm top 3 top of my head. The person would really pick up, I would say, communication
67 00:08:30.430 ⇒ 00:08:31.090 Amber Lin: Okay.
68 00:08:34.169 ⇒ 00:08:39.849 Rey Yap: With with the experience that I have, I think what’s very constant with with me is
69 00:08:41.349 ⇒ 00:08:45.874 Rey Yap: really bridging the gap, even at some point
70 00:08:46.619 ⇒ 00:08:55.267 Rey Yap: become the Pocs of all sorts, and not just on the technical side of things, but on like even the lighter side of things like
71 00:08:57.779 ⇒ 00:09:00.907 Rey Yap: prob problem, solving video in terms of communication. We’re in
72 00:09:02.720 ⇒ 00:09:09.300 Rey Yap: 1 1 team or one person is not able to
73 00:09:09.847 ⇒ 00:09:14.550 Rey Yap: deliver their message to another another team or another person
74 00:09:15.315 ⇒ 00:09:22.254 Rey Yap: like interpreting the basically become a middle man or a middle middleware in a technical part between 2
75 00:09:23.255 ⇒ 00:09:23.770 Rey Yap: parties.
76 00:09:24.090 ⇒ 00:09:25.800 Rey Yap: Second would be,
77 00:09:27.170 ⇒ 00:09:35.629 Rey Yap: I really loved. I I began using data in much in many of my decision making. I guess around 10 years ago.
78 00:09:35.840 ⇒ 00:09:39.720 Rey Yap: and that was inspired. Because, I was.
79 00:09:39.930 ⇒ 00:09:41.650 Rey Yap: I was a claim manager.
80 00:09:41.840 ⇒ 00:09:53.740 Rey Yap: and I just see a trend looking at our work. And the team was put into a lot of pressure because we’re not making that land. So I look at the data
81 00:09:53.860 ⇒ 00:10:02.789 Rey Yap: and we’re and on my previous team, a previous company. They’re looking at like numbers
82 00:10:04.310 ⇒ 00:10:11.900 Rey Yap: hours we’re in. They’re not using it in the right way. Because they’re putting their resources at just start at the finish.
83 00:10:12.050 ⇒ 00:10:26.160 Rey Yap: And when I tried to get in the data out of it, like the the hours, really, for the partition starts somewhere at the later part. So like, I need, I put up a a a presentation explaining to the.
84 00:10:26.530 ⇒ 00:10:28.730 Amber Lin: Our leaders and the team. So.
85 00:10:29.040 ⇒ 00:10:34.819 Rey Yap: I would say I I don’t. I’m not. I’m not sure I I don’t.
86 00:10:36.940 ⇒ 00:10:40.310 Rey Yap: I’m not shy to say no to things as we.
87 00:10:41.737 ⇒ 00:10:46.489 Rey Yap: If I if it’s not too urgent, I would I would actually say that to.
88 00:10:46.830 ⇒ 00:10:51.829 Rey Yap: I’d come up with my decision after a while
89 00:10:52.040 ⇒ 00:10:56.170 Rey Yap: checking 1st with the data before making up a decision.
90 00:10:56.930 ⇒ 00:10:58.550 Rey Yap: Thirdly.
91 00:10:59.190 ⇒ 00:11:12.407 Rey Yap: yeah. And the next one would be just the relationship with team members start my 1st interview with all my team members with establishing that
92 00:11:13.000 ⇒ 00:11:16.690 Rey Yap: I really love conversations which are
93 00:11:18.520 ⇒ 00:11:39.360 Rey Yap: which which may which the my team member would probably be having second thoughts. So I I tell them that, and I love. I would encourage them to tell me anything, even if it’s about me. I would rather have uncomfortable conversations than assume that everything is fine. So I think
94 00:11:39.520 ⇒ 00:11:45.069 Rey Yap: most of my team team members appreciate that a lot from.
95 00:11:47.750 ⇒ 00:12:11.590 Amber Lin: Yeah, that sounds great. That’s really great to hear. I was just writing these down. I think those are really great qualities to have, and I know Luke really enjoyed working with you. He said you were someone that’s really awesome at over promising sorry wait under promising and over delivering, and that’s that’s really great to hear coming from him as well.
96 00:12:12.340 ⇒ 00:12:12.970 Rey Yap: Yeah, but
97 00:12:12.970 ⇒ 00:12:19.339 Rey Yap: but most of it, just most of it comes with like, I’m I’m also very picky with hiring me myself, like
98 00:12:22.407 ⇒ 00:12:27.629 Rey Yap: like the the my last team. They took me about 8, 8 months, 8 to 9 months.
99 00:12:27.830 ⇒ 00:12:38.990 Rey Yap: just to hire 4 people but I guess my director over the over the one year did
100 00:12:39.310 ⇒ 00:12:45.230 Rey Yap: know the reason why. I’m very picky, because, like not a really self managing team right now.
101 00:12:47.001 ⇒ 00:12:50.249 Amber Lin: what do you mean by a self managing team.
102 00:12:52.083 ⇒ 00:12:56.219 Rey Yap: I i i’m not a fan of like micromanaging so.
103 00:12:57.450 ⇒ 00:13:04.499 Rey Yap: and I would I would define it as a team that knows what to do
104 00:13:04.870 ⇒ 00:13:06.870 Rey Yap: on a day-to-day basis.
105 00:13:07.020 ⇒ 00:13:20.570 Rey Yap: and what steps in in behalf of their team members when they’re because if we got it on a weekly schedule, or in a monthly schedule like there would be down days for persons made. Emergencies or not. Feeling it not, are not feeling well.
106 00:13:21.080 ⇒ 00:13:27.120 Rey Yap: but I appreciate I would define this as team members who stepped in
107 00:13:27.250 ⇒ 00:13:34.970 Rey Yap: when others are are not there to do the task, and.
108 00:13:34.970 ⇒ 00:13:35.580 Amber Lin: Okay.
109 00:13:35.580 ⇒ 00:13:36.110 Rey Yap: Yeah.
110 00:13:39.290 ⇒ 00:13:58.189 Amber Lin: Thank you. I have 2 more questions, and then feel free to and ask me any questions after that. Think this one is very similar to the one that I asked before. So this question is, what are you not good at, or not interested in doing professionally?
111 00:14:00.286 ⇒ 00:14:02.850 Rey Yap: Is it related to the role.
112 00:14:03.723 ⇒ 00:14:30.930 Amber Lin: No, not just in just in general, professionally. What do you think you’re not good at? Or there’s just some things that you’re not interested in doing, because I know for for my end I know that I wouldn’t be interested in doing sales, and that’s something that I don’t I would rather invest my energy in somewhere else. So it’s just like a personal preference or and self understanding as well. I just wanna see
113 00:14:30.960 ⇒ 00:14:34.539 Amber Lin: what you think you’re not good at, and not interested in doing.
114 00:14:37.240 ⇒ 00:14:40.530 Rey Yap: I would agree that definitely, not also in sales.
115 00:14:40.530 ⇒ 00:14:41.570 Amber Lin: Okay.
116 00:14:42.220 ⇒ 00:14:58.279 Rey Yap: Like it. It takes time for me to arm up even with with my peers. So I’m not usually outgoing type, but in terms of their like what I see with the role, or or or with the organization with the team.
117 00:14:58.460 ⇒ 00:15:08.498 Rey Yap: And I would say, seeing no, when there’s a particular
118 00:15:10.090 ⇒ 00:15:20.029 Rey Yap: help that is asked there with me. I I do make sure that I I ask like is it? Is it that. Can it wait? When do you need it?
119 00:15:20.561 ⇒ 00:15:34.630 Rey Yap: But I sometimes say no, and sometimes I do think if the appropriate answer I can’t even recall. But I I do. I do know that there are times that they should have said No in in the past.
120 00:15:35.341 ⇒ 00:15:42.640 Rey Yap: but, like my mindset, is always try 1st before saying no to any ideas, or even or even to help.
121 00:15:42.990 ⇒ 00:15:46.290 Rey Yap: But yeah, they always make sure to check first, st
122 00:15:46.290 ⇒ 00:15:53.940 Rey Yap: if it’s something urgent, or it’s something that that this may help. Let me checking.
123 00:15:54.690 ⇒ 00:16:00.590 Amber Lin: Okay, do you know, if there’s okay? So I think.
124 00:16:02.373 ⇒ 00:16:07.870 Amber Lin: would there be any other areas that you would also point out in regards to this question.
125 00:16:12.340 ⇒ 00:16:14.019 Rey Yap: I would say.
126 00:16:18.010 ⇒ 00:16:20.569 Rey Yap: In particular, with Project mesh, I would say.
127 00:16:21.620 ⇒ 00:16:25.980 Rey Yap: no, but I am. I’m I would say even I love exploring more.
128 00:16:27.527 ⇒ 00:16:31.940 Rey Yap: To the point that what I’m really in that I’m really
129 00:16:32.490 ⇒ 00:16:38.300 Rey Yap: would love to learn on like, how are your data and AI
130 00:16:38.590 ⇒ 00:16:41.800 Rey Yap: offerings can be applied to project management itself.
131 00:16:42.502 ⇒ 00:16:48.457 Rey Yap: Really sorry. Really curious on that on that part. I’ve been stopping as well.
132 00:16:49.435 ⇒ 00:16:56.550 Rey Yap: Okay, like they lost a day job. And they listen. Tom’s podcast and like some of the
133 00:16:57.766 ⇒ 00:17:04.830 Rey Yap: Interviews. So like, and studying, yeah, we’re studying for this role.
134 00:17:05.760 ⇒ 00:17:15.490 Rey Yap: like it just brings to my mind that, like how that data definitely can is is there? But, like how AI can, what’s out there.
135 00:17:15.490 ⇒ 00:17:16.280 Amber Lin: I see.
136 00:17:17.069 ⇒ 00:17:27.259 Amber Lin: Yeah, I have one last question, and then I would love to answer that question, because I I personally use AI in all my project management processes. Because
137 00:17:27.380 ⇒ 00:17:49.570 Amber Lin: AI came out when I started to do project management. And so it’s very integrated in my process and my Comp. And our company’s process. So I would love to answer that question. I just have one last question. And it is, who are your last 5 bosses? And how will they each rate your performance on a 1 to 10 scale when we talk to them?
138 00:17:49.990 ⇒ 00:17:51.939 Rey Yap: Sorry who are my.
139 00:17:52.570 ⇒ 00:18:02.129 Amber Lin: Yeah, who are your last 5 bosses? And how will they each rate your performance from one to 10? When we talk to them?
140 00:18:03.960 ⇒ 00:18:10.129 Rey Yap: So my last boss is so the honesty I like right now I’ve been
141 00:18:11.278 ⇒ 00:18:28.450 Rey Yap: removed from the team because I’ve already done seat, so I would say, my my last boss is the director, but late lately, before below 5 even because aside aside from others would say, it’s probably because
142 00:18:29.087 ⇒ 00:18:31.290 Rey Yap: what’s going on worldwide right now.
143 00:18:32.730 ⇒ 00:18:34.800 Rey Yap: Redundancy. But I would say.
144 00:18:35.235 ⇒ 00:18:45.630 Rey Yap: my my boss probably no longer see the value that I bring to the team. So I would rate, I would probably assume that he’d rate me below 5.
145 00:18:46.450 ⇒ 00:18:47.200 Amber Lin: Oh,
146 00:18:48.250 ⇒ 00:18:48.916 Rey Yap: Yeah, so.
147 00:18:50.650 ⇒ 00:19:04.799 Amber Lin: Why would they not see your value? Cause I I know from Luke that you do a really good job. Is it because you guys disagree on how projects are managed, or just because they don’t have enough headcount like that sounds that sounds like a
148 00:19:04.960 ⇒ 00:19:08.460 Amber Lin: like more that he’ll reach you below 5.
149 00:19:09.110 ⇒ 00:19:24.280 Rey Yap: Yeah, I would. Honestly, it’s it’s I. I don’t. I haven’t asked I asked. I tried to ask him, but I I we met and like just one day, and like immediately where our my access was like lost in.
150 00:19:24.280 ⇒ 00:19:24.630 Amber Lin: Oh!
151 00:19:24.780 ⇒ 00:19:26.500 Rey Yap: Remove right away so
152 00:19:28.061 ⇒ 00:19:41.979 Rey Yap: can’t ask that question on him on Linkedin. And it’s really because of the company need to cut cut cost, but he did to choose
153 00:19:42.230 ⇒ 00:19:50.270 Rey Yap: all over like the the teams in on, on in India, between the teams in the Philippines. So a lot of us are really, actively been.
154 00:19:50.270 ⇒ 00:19:51.030 Amber Lin: Hmm.
155 00:19:51.397 ⇒ 00:19:52.132 Rey Yap: Laid off
156 00:19:53.000 ⇒ 00:19:53.400 Amber Lin: Oh!
157 00:19:53.400 ⇒ 00:19:53.760 Rey Yap: And.
158 00:19:53.760 ⇒ 00:19:54.160 Amber Lin: Oh no!
159 00:19:54.160 ⇒ 00:19:55.490 Rey Yap: With the company. So
160 00:19:56.690 ⇒ 00:20:17.189 Rey Yap: but some of I just came to know. On the weekend that day we we had a hiring on some occasion similar also, but on their localization only. So I would say that the decision probably that I I would think that I would be rated below 5
161 00:20:17.720 ⇒ 00:20:22.540 Rey Yap: as compared to other candidates or
162 00:20:23.560 ⇒ 00:20:26.090 Rey Yap: team members on the on the similar role.
163 00:20:27.350 ⇒ 00:20:43.700 Amber Lin: I see I see that’s a that’s a pretty tough rating you have on yourself. But I’ll let you say what you say. I do think. Yeah, you probably perform pretty well based on Luke’s recommendation. But I’ll I’ll let you rate yourself the way you want to.
164 00:20:43.700 ⇒ 00:20:44.280 Rey Yap: Yeah, but that.
165 00:20:44.280 ⇒ 00:20:46.519 Amber Lin: The ones before. Yeah, go ahead. Sorry.
166 00:20:46.930 ⇒ 00:20:54.910 Rey Yap: Yeah. But yeah. But the previous boss before. Because the menu buses started this year around
167 00:20:56.140 ⇒ 00:21:03.939 Rey Yap: and February. But my, I would say my last, my previous boss was, I would would rate me, I would say, 9
168 00:21:04.899 ⇒ 00:21:09.079 Rey Yap: just based on the rating scale that he provided me.
169 00:21:09.710 ⇒ 00:21:17.339 Amber Lin: Oh, wow! Wait! So was it because you didn’t get it like your boss? You boss, didn’t get along that. Well.
170 00:21:17.450 ⇒ 00:21:20.439 Amber Lin: like that’s such a different different rating.
171 00:21:21.220 ⇒ 00:21:22.450 Rey Yap: I actually don’t.
172 00:21:23.490 ⇒ 00:21:31.830 Rey Yap: the reason why I I rated myself 5. This is because, I I actually don’t know the exact reason as well.
173 00:21:32.210 ⇒ 00:21:32.960 Amber Lin: Oh, I see!
174 00:21:32.960 ⇒ 00:21:38.280 Rey Yap: Aside from aside from like really the redundancy. So I just assume that.
175 00:21:38.280 ⇒ 00:21:38.690 Amber Lin: Car.
176 00:21:39.570 ⇒ 00:21:44.749 Rey Yap: Yeah. So I just assumed that whoever is replacing me is probably.
177 00:21:45.391 ⇒ 00:21:53.830 Rey Yap: He sees more about you attend me. But in the span of this year, like we haven’t talked. We only talked about twice for the whole year.
178 00:21:56.060 ⇒ 00:21:57.350 Rey Yap: Establish that connection.
179 00:21:57.350 ⇒ 00:21:57.820 Amber Lin: Thank you.
180 00:21:57.820 ⇒ 00:22:00.400 Rey Yap: Compared to my previous boss, who.
181 00:22:00.900 ⇒ 00:22:03.230 Rey Yap: I converse with on a weekly basis.
182 00:22:03.540 ⇒ 00:22:06.349 Amber Lin: How long have you been working with your previous boss?
183 00:22:07.140 ⇒ 00:22:09.890 Rey Yap: 2 years.
184 00:22:10.250 ⇒ 00:22:11.850 Amber Lin: Oh, okay.
185 00:22:12.430 ⇒ 00:22:18.929 Rey Yap: And yeah, again, I would say 9, just because of the rating scale that you provided me. And
186 00:22:19.502 ⇒ 00:22:25.360 Rey Yap: and with him, I think I’ve I’ve been promoted twice as well.
187 00:22:25.700 ⇒ 00:22:26.440 Amber Lin: Wow!
188 00:22:26.440 ⇒ 00:22:31.570 Rey Yap: In in 2 years. So that’s why I just humbly rate myself 9.
189 00:22:31.980 ⇒ 00:22:34.900 Amber Lin: Oh, I I well, I think sometimes it’s just
190 00:22:35.210 ⇒ 00:22:54.510 Amber Lin: some people work better together and under, maybe under the previous supervisor his vision aligned more like with your skill set. And the new director just had a different vision. And so it’s just more of a personal preference. What about the people before before these 2 bosses that you had.
191 00:22:54.960 ⇒ 00:23:01.000 Rey Yap: Yep, the previous plus I would say 7,
192 00:23:01.710 ⇒ 00:23:09.490 Rey Yap: 7, or 8 because we have only been 6 6 months. And then he actually left the company.
193 00:23:09.920 ⇒ 00:23:16.119 Rey Yap: So that I would say, 7 again, I just basing it on the rating scale that you provided me.
194 00:23:16.350 ⇒ 00:23:21.999 Rey Yap: And there are things that definitely he
195 00:23:22.250 ⇒ 00:23:26.170 Rey Yap: recommended me to take steps. Let’s and
196 00:23:26.940 ⇒ 00:23:32.028 Rey Yap: start doing which I did follow up follow through with my previous boss
197 00:23:32.900 ⇒ 00:23:39.420 Rey Yap: So with the 6 months I I will accomplish, I would say, of my
198 00:23:40.030 ⇒ 00:23:45.349 Rey Yap: okrs, I would say 70% have been achieved. So that’s why every 7.
199 00:23:45.350 ⇒ 00:23:46.740 Amber Lin: Oh, that’s awesome!
200 00:23:47.890 ⇒ 00:23:52.479 Amber Lin: Okay. You’ve been with your previous company for a long time. Right?
201 00:23:52.760 ⇒ 00:23:53.550 Rey Yap: Yes.
202 00:23:55.345 ⇒ 00:23:58.529 Amber Lin: Are you staying of Delta Center?
203 00:23:58.530 ⇒ 00:24:02.409 Amber Lin: Oh, I how long have you been with each.
204 00:24:03.670 ⇒ 00:24:07.590 Rey Yap: Dallas International for for almost 5 years and.
205 00:24:07.590 ⇒ 00:24:08.650 Amber Lin: Without that.
206 00:24:09.240 ⇒ 00:24:15.539 Rey Yap: Deltech, I think 9 9 years.
207 00:24:15.770 ⇒ 00:24:16.200 Amber Lin: Wow!
208 00:24:16.300 ⇒ 00:24:21.249 Rey Yap: Since it has, it has acquired by dell Tech. So.
209 00:24:21.540 ⇒ 00:24:22.910 Amber Lin: Oh, I see! I see!
210 00:24:22.910 ⇒ 00:24:23.830 Rey Yap: So 9 years.
211 00:24:24.240 ⇒ 00:24:36.417 Amber Lin: Yeah, it’s so. It’s so rough. Every time I hear my friends say like they’ve been with the company for more than 5 years, and then they just they just get laid off because the company didn’t have any
212 00:24:37.130 ⇒ 00:24:47.970 Amber Lin: Any capital like that happened to my friend at Sony, too, like she was working there for already, like 1315 years. And they just cut the whole team. And it’s just it’s just really tough.
213 00:24:49.020 ⇒ 00:24:53.580 Rey Yap: Yeah, I I anticipated it early this year after the January.
214 00:24:53.680 ⇒ 00:25:00.880 Rey Yap: So it’s been happening with my wife’s company as well. I I do like.
215 00:25:00.880 ⇒ 00:25:01.500 Amber Lin: Wow!
216 00:25:01.500 ⇒ 00:25:04.080 Rey Yap: I do have beard as well. So I did see it.
217 00:25:04.080 ⇒ 00:25:04.500 Rey Yap: I see.
218 00:25:04.500 ⇒ 00:25:05.340 Rey Yap: That makes so.
219 00:25:05.610 ⇒ 00:25:18.210 Amber Lin: Okay, at least you had to prepare. I wanted to answer your question. I know you asked about how we use AI in our in our daily work so really quickly. We recently had a whole
220 00:25:18.250 ⇒ 00:25:27.299 Amber Lin: Zoom AI system set up where all of our meetings are recorded, and then it’s uploaded to one of our zoom clouds, and then from there
221 00:25:27.320 ⇒ 00:25:49.780 Amber Lin: we can chat with this with the meeting transcripts. So actually, the transcript is shown, and then, on the side we have a little AI chat. We can ask it as ask it any questions for it to summarize notes. So one it serves as an AI note taker. 2, we can take the transcripts and ask it to say, Okay, generate
222 00:25:50.210 ⇒ 00:26:05.119 Amber Lin: tickets. So we use linear as our project management. So it’s generate these project management tickets. And in that interface we can say, Okay, I want this ticket. I don’t want that ticket. I need to modify this ticket. And we create that.
223 00:26:05.520 ⇒ 00:26:31.329 Amber Lin: So that’s really, really convenient. And currently, I know they’re developing our AI team is developing something to to help essentially Qar tickets. So cause a lot of times. It just passes my mind because I get really busy. And I forget if a ticket is not up to quality. So they’re developing something that will check the different qualities of the tickets and say, Hey, this one might need a bit more detail
224 00:26:32.295 ⇒ 00:26:49.299 Amber Lin: other other one that I found really really helpful recently is, we have an AI agent for each client, and so they have context to all the slack messages that been sent. All the Github code and
225 00:26:49.580 ⇒ 00:26:54.760 Amber Lin: any email communications and Zoom Meetings that has happened. And so
226 00:26:55.060 ⇒ 00:27:05.310 Amber Lin: I can ask it. Okay, what happened in the past sprint. So what happened in the past 2 weeks? And then it generates a summary in a email draft.
227 00:27:05.310 ⇒ 00:27:25.780 Amber Lin: And based on that, I do some quick edits. And then I can send out an update email because I usually, before it takes me about 30 min to an hour to make sure that I captured everything to make sure I have the proper formatting. If right now I have all the content. So all I need is to do some basic adjustments. So right now, it takes about like 15 min
228 00:27:25.780 ⇒ 00:27:37.969 Amber Lin: for me to write an update. And it really, it just makes my life a lot easier because I try to avoid that every Friday. So it’s great to have an AI to at least do the 1st draft for me.
229 00:27:38.680 ⇒ 00:27:39.430 Rey Yap: Nice.
230 00:27:39.800 ⇒ 00:27:44.400 Amber Lin: Yeah, any other questions you you have. I would love to answer it as well.
231 00:27:46.050 ⇒ 00:27:46.629 Rey Yap: You
232 00:27:48.770 ⇒ 00:28:00.620 Rey Yap: So I I Ryan, did share it with me. The role it’s the lead project manager role, or is it in general project, project, manager role?
233 00:28:01.470 ⇒ 00:28:03.560 Rey Yap: Or that’s open. So.
234 00:28:04.250 ⇒ 00:28:18.756 Amber Lin: I see. So I I think it would depend on what Utah more CEO needs because I am a project manager. I don’t think I can hire ahead of my own department.
235 00:28:19.220 ⇒ 00:28:41.210 Amber Lin: I’m I’m responsible for doing the 1st round, and I can help answer any questions you have about the project management department. I do need to ask my advisor on the Pmo side and also ask Utam what the specific needs are. So we do currently, we do need a another project manager. And currently
236 00:28:41.773 ⇒ 00:28:54.300 Amber Lin: we need someone to help design the Pmo. And for now we have an advisor from Bridgewater. So helps is helping us build the Pmo but
237 00:28:54.460 ⇒ 00:28:57.920 Amber Lin: I believe they would still love some help on that.
238 00:28:58.090 ⇒ 00:29:13.979 Amber Lin: However, I do think Udam’s wanting someone based in the Us. Preferably right next to him. He’s based in Austin, so I know he’s talking to a few people in Austin, or more of the Pmo. Like leading the Pmo. Side.
239 00:29:14.370 ⇒ 00:29:17.389 Amber Lin: Which position were you more interested in.
240 00:29:18.904 ⇒ 00:29:31.030 Rey Yap: When Ryan shared to me their profile for the lead project manager definitely something that I think I’m not fit given my experience definitely but definitely, if it
241 00:29:31.140 ⇒ 00:29:39.559 Rey Yap: he mentioned that there’s an opening for some tech tech lead position or project manager role, which I’m very comfortable with.
242 00:29:40.980 ⇒ 00:29:48.680 Amber Lin: Okay, sounds good. Would you? Would you like me to ask and Clarify that.
243 00:29:48.900 ⇒ 00:29:49.440 Rey Yap: Yep.
244 00:29:50.270 ⇒ 00:29:50.860 Amber Lin: Okay.
245 00:29:51.000 ⇒ 00:29:54.049 Amber Lin: Any other questions you would like to ask.
246 00:29:54.050 ⇒ 00:29:54.800 Rey Yap: Yeah.
247 00:29:56.455 ⇒ 00:30:04.729 Rey Yap: in terms of just 1 1 more question, because since we’re due at times, I also want to restrict your time as well. So like, what are the
248 00:30:05.640 ⇒ 00:30:09.819 Rey Yap: pain points right now? For the company
249 00:30:10.830 ⇒ 00:30:15.449 Rey Yap: in this role. And that’s that’s why you’re hiring like, what are they?
250 00:30:16.440 ⇒ 00:30:23.730 Rey Yap: pain points. And then, second, is, what’s the 5 year plan for for the company right now.
251 00:30:24.677 ⇒ 00:30:29.210 Amber Lin: Yeah, I think the main pain points for project management is that
252 00:30:29.330 ⇒ 00:30:40.429 Amber Lin: we are developing very fast. And since I Joined there has opened. There has been a lot more projects that we’ve taken on. And currently, the main pain point is that
253 00:30:40.570 ⇒ 00:31:05.959 Amber Lin: the founders time has to be spent on some of the projects to manage them, and hence why they hired me, and hence why, they’re trying to hire another project manager to help with that. So that’s on the Pm. Side in terms of the company. 5 Year Plan. I do believe we want to scale up. We want to increase profitability. But ultimately we’re aiming for an exit. So either it’s being acquired.
254 00:31:06.390 ⇒ 00:31:10.560 Amber Lin: I don’t think they want to go, Ipo, but I I do think
255 00:31:10.610 ⇒ 00:31:22.180 Amber Lin: that we’re looking for either Vc. Investment or being acquired. And that means we want to maintain good figures and maintain good profitability.
256 00:31:22.200 ⇒ 00:31:41.660 Amber Lin: work with bigger clients and make sure all of the projects for at least for the Pmo. Side. To make sure all of the clients are satisfied with our work, and we deliver on time, and have enough. Make sure that we monitor the time and energy spent on each project
257 00:31:41.830 ⇒ 00:31:44.989 Amber Lin: to make sure that we’re actually profitable on them.
258 00:31:46.340 ⇒ 00:31:48.450 Rey Yap: Yeah, thanks for answering amber.
259 00:31:50.920 ⇒ 00:32:15.000 Amber Lin: Yeah, thank you so much for your time. It’s it’s really enjoyable talking to you. I will get back to you soon, or I think Rico will get back to you soon. Feel free to ask any questions via email in the meantime. And I’ll remember to ask which I’m what specifically he would like to place you in for if he, if he would like to.
260 00:32:16.020 ⇒ 00:32:20.549 Rey Yap: Yep, thanks for your time as well, Amber. I did learn let us know from you.
261 00:32:20.920 ⇒ 00:32:35.152 Rey Yap: and just kudos as well to what the website shows for the company, because it it’s just not. I know it’s a data and AI company. But there’s parts in there mentioning that they’re going together
262 00:32:35.700 ⇒ 00:32:40.179 Rey Yap: as a team, right in terms of what? What’s direction. Now, it depends. So yeah.
263 00:32:40.830 ⇒ 00:32:43.500 Amber Lin: Yeah, I I’m glad to hear that.
264 00:32:43.900 ⇒ 00:32:48.549 Amber Lin: Alrighty. I hope you have a good night. It’s really late for you.
265 00:32:48.880 ⇒ 00:32:50.770 Amber Lin: Okay, bye.
266 00:32:50.770 ⇒ 00:32:51.970 Rey Yap: Thank you. Bye-bye.