Lester Chng

Cyber CEOs Brand Strategist. I build your brand as you build your business. | Senior Cybersecurity Advisor | Author | Naval Officer | CISSP | 🇨🇦🇸🇬 |

You head a leading cybersecurity firm.
But your online presence doesn't reflect it.

In fact, being invisible is damaging. 

You understand the power of thought leadership.
You know LinkedIn shapes deal flow and adds credibility in the industry.
You just don’t have the cycles (or the copy) to share your expertise and experience.

You have stories worth telling.

The insights from being in the trenches.
The deep conversations with your ace teams.
The hard discussions with your clients. 

Don’t let this wisdom go to waste.

That’s where I come in.

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How we work together.

Profile & Positioning
=> Rebuild your LinkedIn profile so visitors see industry authority, not “another vendor.”

Content engine
=> Ghostwritten posts that leverage your insights and expertise into engaging LinkedIn posts. 

Outreach campaign
=> Targeted DM campaigns and audience-building strategies that build your authority and land you on podcasts and conference stages.

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You focus on growing your firm and protecting your clients.
And we will ensure the industry, clients, prospects, and investors can’t ignore it.

Let’s build the personal brand that commands the cybersecurity conversation and drives business.


Worked with global client portfolio 
- MSPs
- MSSPs
- Agentic AI SOC
- AI-powered GRC 
- Operational Resilience 

Senior Advisor, Financial Crimes Unit Exercises. BMO Fusion Centre

Execution of Financial Crimes Unit Exercise and Drill Program
• Design and execution of exercises and drills to operationalize the Financial Crimes Unit Fusion Centre
• Scenario creation and exercise execution for Information Security, Enterprise Fraud Management, Physical Security, and Global Crisis and Continuity Management teams 
• Providing effective challenge of incident response readiness through exercise observation
• Execution of enterprise-wide Purple Team Exercise


Cybersecurity Exercises: Purple Team, Ransomware, DDoS, Malware, Data Corruption, Data Breach, 3rd Party Incidents
Fraud Exercises: ATOs, Attack on Payment systems, Business Email Compromise, PII Breach
Physical Security Exercise: Active Assailant, Civil Unrest, Bomb Threats
Crisis Exercises: Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, Operational Resilience, Fire Incidents, Natural Disasters, Utilities Disruption

Welcome to yr cyber flight simulator. 

I promise I won’t make u cry. 

The Cyber Range has been a faithful workhorse of Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University. 

Incident response professionals, IT teams, municipal leaders, law enforcement officers, veterans, and foreign partners have gone through their paces at the range. 

Has yr team seen what a cyber incident looks like?

Have they been in the hot seat, trying to make sense of what’s happening and needing to coordinate and prioritise actions?

Have they been given the rigor of training to sharpen their instinct, rehearsal their articulation, and coordinate competitions priorities?

This is your cyber flight simulator. 

Step in and see what happens when the rubber hits the road. 

Or are you going to take the risk and wait for a real incident to find out?

Good luck. 
Godspeed. 


P.S 
Please follow Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University. 

We have been delivering exciting programs to individuals and organizations for years and have shaped Canadian’s Cyber Ecosystem. 

It’s going to be an eventful year. 

Follow + try to keep up w the Catalyst.

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I once received AAR feedback from an executive that changed how I view these "mundane" reports.

After-action reports are very important to the success of an exercise program. Without it, there is no chance of leadership buy-in, and soon the program will fizzle out.

These are typical uses/benefits of an AAR.

• capture lessons learned
• provide recap of proceedings
• serve as evidence for risk/auditors
• feeds into enterprise-wide action item register

On this occasion, I drafted the AAR for a fraud-related exercise. It involved many operational teams including executive involvement. The AAR was signed and sent.

One feedback from an executive stood out.

"It had alot of detail, but I don't know if it was a success".

That struck me. We just missed an opportunity.

An opportunity to highlight:
• the alignment with the overall security program
• the collaboration involved to run the exercise
• the advancement in teamwork 
• the reduction of risk

Include a clear story and highlight the win in your AAR.

Don't take these exercises and artefacts for granted.
Each event builds confidence, familiarity, and resilience.
Don't let it go unnoticed; give it its due credit.

P.S Have you seen AARs put to good use?

Most cyber CEOs think LinkedIn is about “posting more.”

It’s about posting with a positioning equation:
Authority + Trust + Leads

Don't start without a clear content strategy.

Here’s the simple way to build your content calendar.

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
1. Build authority so you become the obvious expert.
Authority is when your audience says,
“This person knows the space.”

Teach one niche concept per post (one takeaway).

Share your lived experienced not conceptual ones.

Break down “why this fails” in real environments.

Add proof when possible:
Lessons, patterns, results, before/after.
Authority posts go deep in your niche.
More “results, insights, wisdom.” Less "frameworks"

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁
2. Build trust so people believe in what you stand for.
Trust is when your audience says,
“I’d take a meeting with them.”
It comes from clarity and consistency, not hype.

Show how you think, how you communicate risk, and how you make tradeoffs under constraints. Use stories, principles, and honest calls on what you will and won’t do. When people understand how you deal with situations, they start to trust your delivery.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀
3. Generate leads without sounding salesy.

Direct: a clear CTA after you have earned it.

Indirect: a walkthrough of what it is like working w you.

Remove friction:
scope, timeline, roles involved, what success looks like.

Make it obvious you solve this specific problem for this specific buyer. Lead posts can be direct or indirect, and “walk-through” posts remove buying friction fast.

If you want a repeatable content calendar, stop brainstorming topics.

P.S Do you start writing without a plan?

Thanks Timothy Martens for prompt inspiration.

And Gerald Auger, Ph.D. + Mike Miller
for the reminder to include an image =)

How was your first full week at work?

This will happen if you don't intervene.

The Rule of the First 5 Days is a stock market indicator that states that if the market performs positively in the first 5 trading days of the year, there is a high probability that the markets will end the year positively.

Historical probabilities are between 69 - 84%.

Some of the reasons are:
Early Positioning
Investor Sentiment
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy


Bringing it back to how was your first week back at work?

Busy?
Stressed?
Juggling priorities?

Chances are if you don't make any changes, this will be how your year pans out.


If you had a great week, keep at it!

If not, time to review:
- the triggers
- the pain points
- the larger picture
- the longer term goals

Good luck for week 2!

P.S Dow has best 5-day start to year since 2006!

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bootcamp

Sign up here:
https://catalystcorporatetraining.classe365.com/form/view/AutoBootCamp?_gl=1*9rfqtg*_ga*MTQ4NTczNDM0MC4xNjk4MjQxODM1*_ga_YYXBQS6S5Q*MTcwNzgzMzEyNi4xODEuMS4xNzA3ODMzMTYwLjI2LjAuMA

Time is flying by. Jan is almost over. 

This is 1 thing I miss from 10 years ago. 


My lucious hair that would give me a chance at K-pop auditions. 

Just kidding. I stand no chance. 



What do u miss from 10 years ago?




Thanks sir Chris Chia for taking this pic and sending it again to me recently!

Leader, Coach, Facilitator

If your cyber exercise doesn't make you sweat,

why do you call it an exercise?

Too many teams are taking a stroll during tabletop exercises. They don't prepare in advance, they talk in circles, and frankly take it too lightly.

I have seen teams prepare extensively for exercises.

They relook their process and hold internal preparation meetings to validate if it still makes sense. They ask tough questions internally and the leaders confirm if their assumptions about alternatives, recovery times, capabilities, and priorities are still accurate.

The best teams go in well-prepared and respond confidently. This is not just for show. This is an opportunity where leadership teams have recognized the importance of readiness and set aside protected time to be intentional about preparation. 

This only happens if the exercise program is well-socialized.
When the experience and outputs are understood.
And the leadership is serious about training.

Otherwise, what's the point?
Check a box? It's 2026, do better.

Your next Cyber TTX will be miles better with this small tweak. 

Don’t rush the start of the exercise. 

I know you have been planning it for months. Your adrenaline is pumping and you assume the participants are chomping at the bit to begin. 

But don’t neglect the pre ex brief. 

Here’s why it matters. 

1. Not everyone is familiar w exercises

Some have never participated in one. 
Others can’t remember what it’s like. 
1 or 2 even have weird assumptions. 

2. Remind everyone of the Why

The stakeholders are not equally invested in the exercise or outcome. Half are wondering why they are there. 

3. A good start is important

Some exercises that start poorly can result in minutes of waffling, rabbit holes or just straight up disengagement. 

4. Questions forces a buy-in

Facilitate a short quiz or discussion. 
This makes participants feel involved and helps them warm up as well. 

5. Simple introductions helps

You will be surprised how often teams don’t know each other or what role they play in an incident. 
Take time to do a roundtable intro. 

6. Sponsor emphasis 

Allow the exercise sponsor to speak. 
This reiterates the investment, focus, and important of the exercise. 

7. Calms your nerves

Address concerns before an exercise can help mitigate against difficult scenarios such as wrong expectations and challenging stakeholders. 
There will also be disruption but touching on some issues early helps. 

The next time you plan yr exercise. 
Spend abit more time on the start. 
It will be worth it. 

P.S any other exercise faux pax?

What most Cyber CEOs post on LinkedIn 
 
- repost their company's post 
- post about the latest hack 
- random AI blog 
 
What should Cyber CEOs post on LinkedIn 
 
- customer success stories 
- lessons learned about your business 
- strong opinion about industry issues 
 
You are the leader. 
 
Lead by example. 
 
Here are more post ideas. 

Subject Matter Expertise
- insights
- pain-points
- transformation
- trends + opinion
- counter-trends
- mistakes you have seen others made

Trust
- client success stories
- decision-making dilemmas
- framework for decision-making 
- social proof
- results

Character
- guiding principles
- values
- client examples
- stories of resilience
- leadership

Authenticity
- challenges that excite you
- lessons learned
- challenges that you overcame
- best advice that you received

Majority of my bosses in Cybersecurity have been female.

Yet female only make up 21% of the cyber workforce.

I interviewed Sarah to get her insights on Women in Cyber.

Sarah is a certified coach, facilitator, and founder of the Human Skills Leadership Lab, a unique and customizable program that helps professionals develop the human skills (or ‘soft skills’) required for effective leadership in the modern workplace. 


𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

1. When you think about women leading in cybersecurity, what have you noticed most often in how they lead, communicate, or navigate their roles?

They’re brilliant and discerning. They carry a full plate - navigating complex decisions and significant risk - and still, they lead with calm authority, thoughtfulness and integrity. They think deeply about their teams, their organizations, their families, and the broader systems. They’re the kind of leaders the world needs more of.


2. As you look ahead to the Women in Cyber Leadership Program in Malaysia with the Catalyst, what aspects of the program are you most curious or energized about?
   
After 4 years collaborating with the Catalyst to support cyber leaders from across Canada, I’m incredibly excited to connect with cyber leaders from 7 countries across ASEAN. It will be thrilling to be part of the conversation as these women come together to learn from and with each other.

 

If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Sarah Lang (MA, PCC, CPCC). She is a human skills expert, a Leadership in Communication Skills Coach, and has trained leaders from leading corporations and brands.

P.S. How are companies promoting diversity?

Soft Skills Expert • Certified Leadership & Public Speaking Coach & Facilitator • Program Design and Instruction @ U Toronto, KPMG, ESRI, Rogers • I help leaders transform confidence into connection and influence.

I trained Principle Warfare Officers. 

We assessed them on 3 attributes. 

The Principle Warfare Officer (PWO) was responsible for fighting the ship. 

This included the deployment of weapons, manoeuvres, and in many cases the control of multiple ships and aircraft to fulfil a mission. 

These are the 3 attributes. 

Knowledge 
- know the procedures 
- know the asset capabilities
- know the adversary’s capabilities 
- know the ever changing situation 

Command and control
- clarity of situation  
- clarity of instruction 
- clarity of orchestration

Creativity 
- demonstrates intuition 
- demonstrates flexibility 
- demonstrates adaptability 


In cybersecurity operations,

We assess
.
.
.
.
.

Hope you get my point. 

Happy training.

Most cyber CEOs aren’t afraid to post.
They’re afraid to be misunderstood.

And 19 other myths of writing on LinkedIn. 

 1. “I’ll get DMs from random people and waste time.”
 2. “If I post about a niche topic, it’ll limit my market.”
 3. “I should wait until my messaging is perfect.”
 4. “I’ll get fact-checked and embarrassed.”
 5. “I’ll be judged by peers in the industry.”
 6. “Clients will think I’m wasting time.”
 7. “I’m not a ‘social media' person.’”
 8. “I need a hot take every time.”
 9. “I’ll look like I’m bragging.”
10. “My team will cringe.”
11. “I need perfect writing.”
12. “People will think I’m selling.”
13. “I’ll attract trolls or get dragged.”
14. “I’ll upset a partner/vendor/client.”
15. “My competitors will copy my ideas.
16. “I’m not ‘big enough’ to have opinions.”
17. “If I post, I’m giving away the secret sauce.”
18. “Need to sound super technical to be credible.”
19. “If engagement is low, it means I’m bad at this.” 

P.S which is your fav? Mine is #8  🔥

I reviewed the LinkedIn headlines of 23 Cyber CEOs.

Not 1 mentioned these important aspects.

LinkedIn headlines are your first impression.
More precisely, the first 57 characters matter.

They are seen:
• on your profile
• during connection requests
• on the main feed via your posts
• in the comments with every response


I help [buyer] achieve [outcome] without [pain].

None of the CEOs mentioned buyer, outcome, or pain.

How would you write your headline?



[9]
CEO at [Company]
CEO at [Company]
CEO at [Company]
Founder/CEO at [Company]
Founder and CEO of [Company]
Founder and CEO at [Company]
Co-Founder & CEO at [Company]
Co-Founder & CEO at [Company]
CEO & Co-founder at [Company] - We are hiring!

[7]
CEO at [Company]| Autonomous SOC
CEO @ [Company]- Enterprise Hyper-Automation
Co-founder & CEO at [Company]| AI for Security Operations
Co-founder and CEO @ [Company] | Security Operations, at scale
Co-Founder/CEO at [Company]| Outpace attackers with agentic AI SOC Analysts
CEO @ [Company]| Executive | Entrepreneur | Revolutionizing the SOC with AI
Founder, CEO @ [Company] Autonomous SecOps & Investigation Platform with Hyperautomation.


[7]
Hiring misfits to solve security!
Tech Entrepreneur, investor and board member.
CEO at [Company] and Author of [Book] available now!
Building Your AI Knowledge Engine for Security Operations. Hiring!
Building great teams to execute on very difficult engineering problems
Tech Founder & Executive. Defender. Nation-state Hacker. Medal of Honor Recipient. Public speaker.
Empowering businesses: ChatGPT training, strategizing AI implementation, and offering tailored LLM and AI solutions for process automation.

AI tools are being used in yr org. 
Have your IR plans kept up?
Here are 4 changes to make. 

Implementing AI tools have left security team scrambling over the last couple of years to ensure it is securely deployed and monitored. 

Your incident response plans may have be neglected in the process. 

Consider these updates. 

1. Include AI related incidents 

- sensitive data exposure
- supply chain vulnerabilities 
- unauthorised model changes 

Don’t assume your plan is a catchall. 
AI asset owners don’t fully understand the security risks. 

2. Validate asset + contact list

- AI asset owners 
- data architects r crucial
- most of these folks r probably new

These AI gurus have been heads down focused on speed on implementation. They probably can’t spell cyber if u meet them for the first time on an incident call. 

3. AI specific containment

- understand the impacts 
- ask if traditional options will work

It’s going to get more complex as AI tools integrate across enterprise. It may soon become so entrenched that disabling it is a non option. 

4. Logs and investigation 

- review if current threshold is valid
- check on logs before/after go-live

You will learn to love “black boxes” and need to navigate round them. 


P.S what other areas to add?

2.

Incident response plans only play a small part in cyber resilience. 

“Do you have an IR plan?”

Is probably one of the most common question that consultants and experts use to gauge a company’s resilience. 

Many teams are happy to tick yes. 

But having a plan is merely the start. 

Here’s why:
- high turnover of staff
- fast pace of tech change
- lots of assumptions remain  
- plans get outdated due to new tech 
- teams don’t use the playbooks/plans
- primary teams hardly get trained
- secondary teams ignored 
- random cyber exercises 
- no training plan

There is barely any focus on training. 

7 men squads in the military get more training time and resources than multi-million dollar cyber defence teams protecting our financial ecosystem. 

Will having a plan alone save you?

And how long are you going to assumed your team is ready?

P.S the world is still a vulnerable place

Human skills training will unlock your career potential.

These are your advantages against AI... for now.

I interviewed Sarah to get her insights on human skills.

Sarah is a certified coach, facilitator, and founder of the Human Skills Leadership Lab, a unique and customizable program that helps professionals develop the human skills (or ‘soft skills’) required for effective leadership in the modern workplace. 


𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

1. What are some of the key human skills that will unlock an individual’s potential in the workplace?
   
First: self-awareness, because awareness always precedes change. From there, the skills of emotional intelligence, listening and clear communication. These will help you improve your relationships and increase your influence and impact.


2. Were there pivotal moments from your own experience or from those that you coached that reaffirm that Human Skills Training is a vital part of career development?

I’m reminded of this everyday, given how easy it is to outsource one’s thinking, ideas, and voice to AI. We’re constantly pitched the benefits of efficiency, when really it’s our unique essence as a human that makes us compelling. Human skills will always be vital to professional and personal development.  


If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Sarah Lang (MA, PCC, CPCC). She is a human skills expert, a Leadership in Communication Skills Coach, and has trained leaders from leading corporations and brands.

P.S. Are you worried about AI impacting yr career?

5 LinkedIn posts that should be part of your pre-RSAC marketing plan. 

If your Head of Marketing is not bugging you to start posting on LinkedIn before RSAC, ask them why?

Even better if they tell u what to post. 

Here’s 5 posts that I will write. 

“Heading to RSAC next week. Here’s the one question I’m asking every CISO I meet.”

“One year ago, [Client Type] was struggling with [Specific Problem]. Here’s what changed.”

“Everyone’s talking about [Trending Topic] at RSA. Here’s what they’re missing.”

“We’re bringing [Specific Thing] to RSA. Here’s why we built it.”

“I have 8 meeting slots open during RSA. Here’s who I wld love to talk to.”

_____________

Here’s 3 reasons why you shld post. 


REASON 1: 
Conferences are chaotic. 

This gives you a chance to cut through the noise.  

REASON 2: 
Post-Conference follow-up success is built upon pre-conference interaction.  

Unless you are a magician and can engage random folks on the floor. 

REASON 3: 
Yr competitors are already doing so. 

Silence = Falling Behind

You don’t want to waste all that $$$$

———————

No time to write?
Overwhelmed by the preparation?
Rather spend time on client demos?

Let’s work together and take that off your plate.

LinkedIn posts can be complicated.  

I simplify it by 3-2-1 method. 

3 types of posts 
- authority 
- leads 
- trust

Cycle this through the week. 

2 content pillars
- cybersecurity exercises
- LinkedIn copywriting 

Alternate pillars per day. 

1 target audience per post

Focus on 1 reader. 


What’s your 3-2-1?
⬇️

People judge within 7 seconds of opening yr mouth.

That's why I still get nervous before every presentation.

I interviewed Sarah Lang to get her insights on public speaking and establishing leadership presence.

Sarah is a certified coach, facilitator, and founder of the Human Skills Leadership Lab, a unique and customizable program that helps professionals develop the human skills (or ‘soft skills’) required for effective leadership in the modern workplace. 


𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

1. How would you explain what leadership presence is for those looking to grow in their career?
   
Leadership presence is your ability to stay grounded and intentional in all moments - including when you’re under pressure. In a society driven by distraction and dopamine hits, leaders who embody this type of presence, steadiness and self-trust stand out.  


2. What are some ways to practice being more grounded and present?

• Spend time on analogue hobbies that anchor you to the physical world - art, books, gardening, cooking, etc.
• Practice mono-tasking on purpose.
• Try slowing down your communication - listening, speaking, pausing, saying less.
• Regulate your nervous system with breathwork, yoga or grounding activities.
• Carve out daily moments to pause and transition between meetings and events


3. Presenting to an audience is a real fear for many professionals. Do you have a couple of tips that you usually teach?
   
First, get crystal-clear on what you’re trying to say and why it matters to your audience. Then, practice your vocal and non-verbal delivery to make sure you sound like you care about what you’re saying! I also teach simple ways to work with nerves rather than fight them so speakers can stay connected to themselves and their audience.
 

If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Sarah Lang (MA, PCC, CPCC). She is a human skills expert, a Leadership in Communication Skills Coach, and has trained leaders from leading corporations and brands.

P.S. What's the best advice u received on public speaking?

Most Cyber CEOs post randomly and wonder why LinkedIn isn't working.
They write when inspiration strikes.
They share whatever feels right in the moment.
They post about the latest breach one day, their product the next, then go silent for weeks.

The result? Confusion. Zero traction. Wasted effort.

Here's what you should be doing instead:
Plan your content around 3 post types.

1. Authority posts
This is where you demonstrate expertise.
Share insights from client engagements. Dive deep into problems you're solving. Break down complex security concepts.

Examples:
"5 issues all enterprises face with AI governance"
"How we helped Company X reduce risk by 40%"
"The biggest misconception about Zero Trust"

These posts establish you as the expert in your niche.

2. Trust posts
This is where you build relationships.
Share your founder journey. Talk about team culture. Reveal the challenges you've overcome.

Examples:
"Why we started this company in 2019"
"The toughest decision I made as CEO"
"What our clients don't see behind the scenes"

These posts show the human behind the solution.

3. Lead posts
This is where you attract prospects.
Address pain points directly. Show transformation. Make your solution crystal clear.

Examples:
"Overwhelmed with compliance requirements?"
"How we saved a client 2000 hours per year"
"Is your board asking about AI risks?"

These posts turn readers into conversations.

Now here's the system:

Mon: Authority post
Wed: Trust post
Fri: Lead post

Repeat this for 6 months minimum.
Map out topics under each category. 
Populate your calendar. 

Never start from a blank page again.

Most cyber CEOs will read this and do nothing.

They'll keep posting randomly.
They'll keep getting zero results.
Don't be most CEOs.

Plan your content. Execute consistently. 
P.S. What type of post do you struggle with most?

Worried about the removal of your role?
Don't be a deer in headlights.
Do this immediately.

2025/2026 is the new 2020.

The trigger is different.
Lockdown vs AI.
The outcome is becoming the same.

And we shouldn't really be surprised...
If you are, stop living under a rock.

What did you think would happen?

Just look around the wider workforce, companies, tasks, processes, meetings, discussions, emails.....

Bots will be much better at most of that.

Thanks Sherlock, so is that the end for the human worker?

Maybe.... but not yet.

So, until we start serving robotic overloads, let's prepare and control what we can.

These are 5 things I'll immediately do to mitigate job risk.

1. Get better at your work

Thanks, Captain Obvious.
You are welcome, but I made Major.

The people who are most worried are probably the ones with the most areas to improve...so if there was a time to buck up, its now.

Say yes more than no.
Spend that extra hour.
Put in that additional effort.
Put yr hand up for that project.
Capture your achievements.
Socialize the wins w teams.
Help other teams win.


2. Restart your network

Your Rolodex is creaky, I know, but it is time to revisit.

It will be awkward at the start, but keep at it.
Better now than when you "need" a job.

Pro Tip: Be genuinely interested in them

Your older connections are easier to rekindle than establishing new ones. 


3. Build your profile

Refresh and improve your LinkedIn profile + professional portfolio.

It's 2026, we go to your profile and website if we want to get a good sense of who you are.

How are you showing up?
• old dated profile pic
• high school quality about section
• boring as f experience description

Or are you invisible?
Makes sense if you are James Bond.


4. Grow your network

Do some research. 

Who are your peers?
Who is in your dream role?
Which are the interesting companies?

Some of the folks who reported to you may now be execs.

Don't wait till your need a network to build one.

The earlier you start the better.

What are you waiting for? The HR Call?



5. Think like an owner

This is the future of the worker.
Gone are the days of 40 year old career.
My mom celebrates 45 years at 1 company soon!

If you think like an owner, you stop waiting for permission.

You start taking action, owning the risks, and keep going.

What is one thing you think will change when there is this mindset shift from employee to "owner worker"?

Storytelling is the lowest hanging fruit.

B2B marketing is getting harder than ever. After the shift from earned media to owned media, brand content is undergoing yet another paradigm shift in the era of generative AI. Simply generating content with an LLM isn’t cutting it, and brands are at a loss.

How do you avoid having your content sound like everyone else? Crucially, how do you attract the right audience and earn their trust enough to do business?

The way forward isn't more content – it's better storytelling. Stories that meet your audience where they are, say something worth hearing, and sound unmistakably like you.

I work with brands to uncover those stories and tell them well.

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What I bring to the table:

✅ Technical fluency from a prior career in IT.
✅ 18 years of editorial judgement as an independent writer and editor.
✅ Perspective shaped across editorial, agency, and brand roles.
✅ A track record in audience growth, brand building, and narrative shaping.

---

Here’s how I can work with you: 

Work with me directly
👉 Consulting on technology trends.
👉 Content strategy and ghostwriting.
👉 Speaking and moderation.

Reach my audience
👉 Sponsored posts.
👉 Brand partnerships.

---

If you would like to read more of my content:

🔸Follow me on LinkedIn.
🔸Tech Stories Blog: https://www.techstoryteller.co
🔸Weekly newsletter: https://www.techstories.co/updates
🔸Clearly Tech Substack: https://www.clearlytech.co
🔸WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbB6pYr9hXF32Ycd4t2f

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You can contact me via LinkedIn direct message or email at: paul@techstoryteller.co

Paul Mah

Received an email earlier this week from a reader in Australia that made my day: "I read [your] newsletter every week."

It sounds like a small thing, but to have a space in someone's cluttered inbox is not a compliment I take lightly.

It has been almost 3 years since I started writing online under my own platforms in 2023, beginning with daily LinkedIn posts, followed by weekly newsletters, and finally Substack.

You probably won't believe it, but I struggled with writing in the conversational style of LinkedIn and my newsletter commentaries. It was tough, and I sometimes felt they weren't good enough.

Anyway, I persevered with only one objective: I don't want to say the same things as already mentioned in a hundred other publications or to recycle tired talking points.

What I write must be sharp and offer unique value. Or I don't write it.

In case you wondered:

🔸My posts are all typed out by hand. Every sentence is crafted for an economy of expression. No nonsense about training an AI model to sound like me or on what I know.

🔸I don't hate AI; I do subscribe to multiple GenAI services and use them heavily. But I'm clear about not producing AI slop, which pushes the cognitive load to readers.

I want to say I am immensely thankful for the connections, conversations, and also opportunities that came my way.

As always, thank you for reading and engaging.

𝗣𝗦: Link to sign up for my newsletter in comments.

---
My name is Paul Mah and I offer sharp takes on AI, cybersecurity, data centres, enterprise IT, and sustainability. Follow me here for regular updates.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Paul Mah. My first 'pointless selfie' of 2026 taken at Vegas earlier this month - Ian Yong Hoe Tan.

Helping growing tech companies with their content and strategy

Digital Edge has announced a US$4.5 billion investment to build a 500MW data centre campus in Indonesia, its largest infrastructure commitment to date.

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𝟭/ 𝟱𝟬𝟬𝗠𝗪 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀

Digital Edge's CGK data centre campus will be built in the GIIC Industrial Estate in Bekasi, located within the Greater Jakarta area. The 500MW campus has "scalability up to 1GW."

The data centre campus will be engineered for AI workloads and designed for operational efficiency and sustainability, says Digital Edge in its release.

Some key details:

- Target annualised PUE of 1.25.
- Feature direct-to-chip liquid cooling.
- Renewable energy integration.
- Recycled water systems.

Phase 1 will consist of 3 buildings, with RFS dates of Q4 2026, Q1 2027, and Q2 2027. The capacity of phase 1 wasn't mentioned.

The CGK Campus is 40 kilometres from Digital Edge's downtown EDGE1 and EDGE2 data centres, which offer 6MW and 23MW IT load, respectively.

𝟮/ 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲

Like many data centres in Indonesia, the CGK Campus is located in an industrial estate. In this case, the GIIC Industrial Estate spans over a massive 2,100ha (1 hectare is ~1.5 soccer fields).

GIIC provides infrastructure, including electricity supply (500kV substation), water and wastewater treatment facilities, and fiber optic connectivity.

It is not clear if the CGK Campus will have its own water treatment plants or is relying on GIIC's facilities. But clearly, a lot of the heavy lifting is already done by the industrial estate.

It does seem like GIIC was chosen because that's where electricity is available - and appears to be well suited for AI data centre deployments.

𝟯/ 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵

Established in 2020, Digital Edge is headquartered in Singapore and has seen remarkable growth since its inception. It is backed by Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners.

Today, the company operates 24 data centres across seven countries: China, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These are a mixture of acquired assets and greenfield developments.
​
📆 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁

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𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Digital Edge. Digital Edge CGK Campus.

In anticipation of the growing role of HVDC in AI workloads and data centres of the future, STT GDC today launched a testbed to support its adoption.

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𝟭/ 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗯𝗲𝗱

Located in Jurong Island, the FutureGrid Accelerator is a testbed to test and refine HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) electrical systems using real AI servers.

By integrating HVDC with actual AI workloads, the goal is to gain competency in managing DC power systems to eventually develop new standards for data centres.

At the media event held in Jurong Island today, STT GDC's Mingcheng Lim noted that AI infrastructure is pressing against the limits of traditional AC electrical systems and how HVDC offers the answer.

STT GDC also signed MOUs with the ITE, SP, NTU, and NUS to provide internship placements, as well as various training on AI, sustainable energy systems, and HVDC.

𝟮/ 𝗛𝗩𝗗𝗖 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀

Though AC electrical systems have served us well, they are reaching their limits for ultra-dense AI infrastructure, explained Mingcheng.

Namely, multiple power conversion stages introduce inefficiencies, with enormous infrastructure complexity in the form of electrical switching, transformers, and redundant electrical pathways. 

On its part, HVDC can:

- Simplify electrical distribution system.
- Eliminates multiple conversion stages.

The outcomes are nothing to scoff at: Around 30% improvement in overall energy efficiency, and major savings in space and materials with less copper and fewer components required.

𝟯/ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗖 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲

Nvidia's upcoming Rubin Ultra GPU has cast HVDC into the limelight. Beyond cutting-edge AI systems, is there room for it in the data centres of the future?

The main challenge for HVDC adoption could be the lack of standards and awareness, Teong Chuan Y., who heads R&D at STT GDC, told me.

Another could be a lack of skillset.

- HVDC skillset.
- Operational know-how.

The second is easy to overlook but is a critical aspect that the testbed hopes to bring in the practical knowledge to be shared.

Will data centres of the future turn to HVDC? Hybrid deployments are likelier than a pure HVDC facility, says Teong Chuan.

In my view, here are two things going for HVDC:

🔸Even without AI workloads, HVDC can help ever-larger data centres cut down significantly on energy losses.

🔸When one considers the fact that renewables such as solar photovoltaics produces DC, HVDC makes even more sense.

What do you think of HVDC in the data centre?

𝗣𝗦: I also looked at the Green Data Centre Park plot, which I'll write about another day. Do sign up for my newsletter so you don't miss it.

📆 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁

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𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Paul Mah. Mingcheng Lim speaking. HVDC solutions from some partners.

Micron today broke ground on a new advanced wafer fabrication facility at its North Coast Drive manufacturing compound. Here's what it means.

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𝟭/ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀

First, the news. Micron Technology today broke ground on an advanced wafer fabrication facility that will produce NAND wafers for high-performance storage.

Micron president and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra was in town for the groundbreaking, as was DPM Gan Kim Yong, MTI's Beh Swan Gin, EDB's Jermaine Loy, and JTC's Jacqueline Poh.

Micron says the upcoming facility represents a planned investment of US$24 billion over 10 years. Wafer output is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2028.

Some notable facts:

- First double-storey wafer fab here.
- To co-locate manufacturing with R&D.

It's worth noting that Micron just last year announced an investment of US$7 billion on a HBM advanced packaging facility. They are located side-by-side.

𝟮/ 𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗠

According to a 2024 report, Micron gives Singapore a 10% share in the high-end global memory market. What is memory anyway?

Modern electronics relies heavily on two main categories of memory: DRAM and NAND.

🔸GPUs used for AI require large amounts of HBM which is an advanced, extremely high-performance form of DRAM.

🔸NAND is used to make modern SSD storage drives used by consumers and businesses.

In AI data centres, one could rightly say that one feeds data to GPUs at extreme speed, while the other stores it.

𝟯/ 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺

Memory production is a complex endeavour that requires a massive ecosystem.

- Materials, chemicals, and tooling.
- Wafer fabrication.
- Packaging.
- Testing.
- Integration.

This means working with a tightly interlinked network of manufacturing facilities along with a plethora of suppliers and partners.

𝟰/ 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲

Micron has dozens of facilities around the world, including in Malaysia. In Singapore, today's announcements would bring its investments to more than US$60 billion since 1998, says CEO Mehrotra.

Micron's investments in Singapore have accelerated in monetary terms. Using publicly announced figures:

- 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: US$24 bil.
- 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: US$7 bil.
- 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟴-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰: More than US$29 bil.

One observation: the new NAND facility will be built up in phases in line with market demand.

In its press release, Micron says it will "maintain flexibility in managing the pace of capacity ramps to align with market demand."

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀:
4. Micron's existing compound being expanded. Under construction: (Top left) HBM facility (Top middle) NAND facility.

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𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Paul Mah

Do you aspire to be a Top Voice? LinkedIn has finally published its requirements and best practices. And oh, you can even nominate yourself. Here's how.

Earlier this week, Admond Lee shared in a group chat a new LinkedIn FAQ none of us had seen before. Here's what you need to know.

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𝟭/ 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲

According to LinkedIn, Top Voice is an invitation-only programme designed to recognise members from a select group of experts, leaders, changemakers, public figures, and innovators.

For the longest time, scant details were available from LinkedIn; almost all information came from influencers who shared tips on how to get it. I'll also note that most of them are no longer a Top Voice.

I admit I originally made getting a Top Voice a goal when I started writing daily in 2023. However, the desire faded over time. Why? I realised all rankings are inherently biased by default.

In fact, when I received my Top Voice somewhere in August 2024, I never wrote a post about it. Accolades are fleeting, after all. Crucially, I realised I gained great joy in writing and sharing.

But if it's your cup of tea, here's what matters.

𝟮/ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿

Here are 3 key points that caught my attention.

(𝗮) Not perpetual

LinkedIn Top Voice badges are assessed and renewed twice a year. If you are invited, you will remain for at least 6 months, after which it will be reviewed and renewed. Top Voice status can and is removed; many have lost it over the years.

(𝗯) Originality

A distinctive voice and unique perspectives matter. How I see this is: If your post can be copied and shared verbatim by just about everyone else on the platform, then it's probably not very distinctive or unique.

(𝗰) Insights

LinkedIn looks for the sharing of expertise and insights. It doesn't matter if it refers to recent news, is a commentary, or an analysis. The key is whether it adds value to an industry or the community.

𝟯/ 𝗠𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

It's worth noting that the FAQ mentions "prominence" as a consideration. So don't compare yourself to the CEO of a large firm or a prime minister and beat yourself up.

Can you use fully AI-generated content and become a Top Voice? While this isn't addressed, readers generally don't like obvious AI slop - and I suspect LinkedIn takes that into consideration. But I don't think using AI to edit will compromise your chances.

I've written for almost 1,000 days now, and it is my belief that real-life influence matters more than metrics, rankings, or accolades.

If Top Voice comes, great. If not, keep writing anyway.

🔸LinkedIn Top Voices FAQ: https://lnkd.in/g9T7HT3E
🔸Nominate yourself: go.techstories.co/KqWA

📆 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁

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𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Screenshot

Walk into a data centre campus and you will invariably see massive storage tanks for water. Here's why data centres are so thirsty and why this won't stop overnight.

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𝟭/ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿

Data centres rely heavily on water. Inside, a vast network of pipes routes water through cooling towers, chillers, pumps, heat exchangers, and computer room air handlers.

Water is lost through two primary ways:

- Evaporative cooling to expel heat.
- As mineral builds up, water is discarded (blowdown).

This isn't new. What is new is the scale of data centres. Data centres of 5-10MW were considered large a decade ago. Today, data centre campuses are topping hundreds of MWs.

Even allowing for better economies of scale and increased efficiency with new systems, a 300MW data centre would consume almost 30x the water of a 10MW facility.

And it is impacting communities. In Johor, there is a temporary water moratorium for new data centres until 2027, as it races to divert water and build new water treatment plants.

𝟮/ 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲

Are there ways to reduce water or even do without it? There are. But there are trade-offs.

(𝗮) 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲-𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀

Dry coolers reject heat without water, but this typically comes at the cost of higher energy consumption compared with evaporative cooling systems.

(𝗯) 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼-𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿

Microsoft has talked about its zero-water evaporation design for data centres. I couldn't find technical details for it, but what I found suggests using elevated water temperatures and direct-to-chip cooling for everything (which costs more).

More tellingly, a New York Times report earlier this week noted that water consumption by Microsoft data centres will continue to rise as it builds new data centres. So it's clearly not using this system for all its new data centres.

Crucially, it's not possible to do either (a) or (b) without retrofitting existing data centres, a costly endeavour that few operators will embark on.

𝟯/ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻

Another way to save water is to minimise blowdown water. This is water that must be discarded as minute traces of minerals and impurities build up as water is evaporated.

Failure to do that in a timely manner can result in scale buildup, which can reduce cooling efficiency and ultimately damage equipment.

What can data centre operators do on this front?

- Treatment to improve quality of incoming water.
- Use chemicals as inhibitors.
- Filtration and other treatments.

Note that this presupposes the continued use of water, albeit with less wastage for much better water usage efficiency (WUE).

I'll talk more about this in another post.

📆 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁

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𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Paul Mah. Water storage tanks in a data centre in Johor.

Humans are starting to sound like AI, even in spoken conversations, says a study that evaluated 360K YouTube videos and 771K podcasts. 

Ever felt like AI is changing how we write and talk? It's not your imagination, according to a study that concluded LLMs are changing how we speak.

𝟭/ 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗟𝗠

The paper "Empirical evidence of Large Language Model’s influence on human spoken communication" was first published in Sep 2024 and substantially updated in July 2025.

The paper found a "measurable and abrupt increase" in the use of words preferentially generated by ChatGPT after its release.

The report noted: "These findings suggest a scenario where machines, originally trained on human data and subsequently exhibiting their own cultural traits, can, in turn, measurably reshape human culture."

Or put simply, our use of LLMs has resulted in a "closed cultural feedback loop" where cultural traits circulate bidirectionally between humans and machines.

Indeed, v1 of the report noted how a random sample of 50 manually reviewed videos found that the majority who spoke the word "delve" were not looking at a script.

𝟮/ 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

In the same vein, AI use is pervading written content and social media platforms. To me, the issue goes beyond sounding like AI, but about offering genuine insights and clarity of communication.

Depending on how it's applied, AI has a tendency to muddy or produce averaged-out content that is fluff. And those who are most reliant on it are unlikely to notice because they simply don't read at that level.

This is something B2B firms must pay special attention to. Just because you don't notice the AI slop doesn't mean the experts you're marketing to won't. Some will, and it can harm the brand.

On LinkedIn, I personally use an AI-detector I trust to give me an additional signal about whether a creator is worth paying attention to.

Anyway, there were initial concerns about potential AI model collapse. Now, I can't help but wonder if it is human communication that will 'collapse' instead.

---
My name is Paul Mah and I offer sharp takes on AI, cybersecurity, data centres, enterprise IT, and sustainability. Follow me on LinkedIn for regular updates (direct link): https://lnkd.in/gu5EMKQg.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Screenshot from report.

The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2-inch tablet is a premium tablet complete with a full-sized keyboard at an almost-bargain price.

I had the chance to try out one of the latest devices from Huawei's premium tablet over several weeks. My thoughts? It's a stellar device that offers outsized value.

𝟭/ 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀

The MatePad Pro is the premium line of tablets from Huawei, and this particular model comes with a 12.2-inch tandem OLED "PaperMatte" display.

The tandem OLED is gorgeous with up to 2000 nits of peak brightness, while the display is matte through nano-level etching, and is very pleasant and gentle on your eyes.

The tablet itself weighs 512 grams, and when paired with the bundled keyboard case and stylus, brings it to just 850grams.

𝟮/ 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝘂𝘀

Unlike other brands, Huawei has been bundling keyboard case and stylus with its tablets, which I used together with the MatePad Pro 12.2.

As a touch typist, I really loved the keyboard, which offers full-size key pitch and great key travel. I find the typing experience akin to a laptop, which says a lot.

The Huawei M-Pencil (3rd gen) stylus was adequate for writing, and Huawei Notes is a very polished app designed just for that. "Feel" cannot compare to my Remarkable Pro but it does feel less plasticky than other styluses that I've tried.

For handwriting across apps, Huawei has its FreeScipt as the equivalent to the iPad's Scribble capability. FreeScript worked well in my experience.

Both peripherals are charged wirelessly. The stylus attaches to the side iPad-like where it charges. The keyboard also snaps on magnetically and charges its built-in batteries automatically.

They communicate with Nearlink wireless, which is distinct from Bluetooth. Pairing is as simple as attaching them magnetically to the tablet and agreeing to pair. That's it.

𝟯/ 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲

Like other Huawei devices, accessing Android apps require jumping through a couple of initial hoops. You could either use the open-source MicroG app or the free GBox app.

- MicroG: Substitute for Google Play Services.
- GBox: Virtual machine environment.

In my opinion, the Huawei MatePro line is an underappreciated product range. Priced at ~SG$1,000 (can be lower during promotions) inclusive of keyboard and stylus, it offers a premium tablet experience without a premium-level price tag.

Of course, it's not perfect. Windowing experience trails behind the iPadOS 26 - which is exceptional. And there are no mobile-enabled variants.

The Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2 is sold out in Singapore right now, though a new model should replace it soon. I expect new models to offer similar value.

---
My name is Paul Mah and I offer sharp takes on AI, cybersecurity, data centres, enterprise IT, and sustainability. Follow me on LinkedIn for regular updates (direct link): https://lnkd.in/gu5EMKQg.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Paul Mah.

Each time we think we have AI figured out, everything changes with new models or ways to use them. Maybe we are all thinking about AI wrong.

We keep trying to put AI into a box. But perhaps what really matters is not what AI can or cannot do, but how we choose to use it.

I had fun putting this together. You can read the full Substack piece here (1,000 words): go.clearlytech.co/E2DY

Here's the quick read version:

𝟭/ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗜

In the classic blind men and the elephant parable, each person touches a different part of the animal and draws wildly different conclusions. None of them are wrong, yet they all completely miss the bigger picture.

Each time I write about the use of generative AI in writing, I’ve received wildly different responses. The reason? Everyone is using it differently.

𝟮/ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲

AI can effectively beautify poor or shallow writing, making it appear insightful until you actually read it. But the cracks appear quickly once you look beyond the synthetic coherence.

I personally think the best content will continue to be human written for a long time to come. Because AI cannot replace the craftsmanship and discernment needed to frame and write exceptional stories.

𝟯/ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵

Here are some ways I use AI to help me get better at writing, not replace me.

- Quickly extract quotes from a transcript.
- Critique my long-form content.
- Fine-tune text when copywriting.

𝘁𝗹𝗱𝗿;

A calculator doesn’t make someone a mathematician; a spell-checker doesn’t make someone a writer. AI amplifies existing capability rather than replacing it.

When it comes to writing, the question isn’t whether to use AI. It’s whether you have something to say.

What do you say?

𝗽𝘀: Sign up at clearlytech.co to get my latest Substack content delivered to your inbox.

📆 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁

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𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Unsplash/Randy Laybourne.

A consortium led by KKR and Singtel is in advanced talks to buy STT GDC, which has a network of over 100 data centres worldwide. Here's what the deal is about.

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𝟭/ 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮

This news was first reported in November, with KKR and Singtel said to be seeking to borrow SG$5 billion for a proposed acquisition.

On Saturday, a new report by the Wall Street Journal noted that talks are in an "advanced" stage for a deal that would value STT GDC at more than $13 billion (US$10 billion).

According to Bloomberg on Sunday, Singapore's GIC and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala are in discussions to join KKR and Singtel as minority co-investors.

If completed, this acquisition would rank among Asia's biggest data centre transactions.

𝟮/ 𝗦𝗧𝗧 𝗚𝗗𝗖

ST Telemedia currently owns 82% of STT GDC, which it established in 2014 to push into the data centre space. An earlier SG$1.75 billion investment in 2024 means KKR already owns around 14% and Singtel around 4%.

ST Telemedia is wholly owned by Temasek Holdings.

STT GDC has grown rapidly over the years, through a combination of acquisitions, joint ventures, and greenfield data centres. It moved early and adopted a diversified strategy to enter multiple markets, long before generative AI entered the spotlight.

Today, STT GDC has a combined capacity of more than 2.3GW spread over more than 100 data centres located in a dozen countries: six in Southeast Asia, India, South Korea, Japan, and three others in Europe.

𝟯/ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁

As I wrote in November, an acquisition would help build Singtel Nxera into a leading, global data centre player.

Singtel Nxera is currently developing new data centres in Johor, Batam, and Thailand. However, these take time to construct and build up. An acquisition would propel Nxera into a powerhouse overnight.

Moreover, Nxera's consolidation in Singapore with the closure of five old data centres leaves it with just three facilities. STT GDC's six in Singapore would greatly bolster its geographical coverage in the important data centre hub.

There is one more consideration. While the AI frenzy has fuelled interest in data centres, the reality is that many key regions require more digital infrastructure for non-AI deployments.

On this front, STT GDC’s substantial footprint will serve as a crucial resource whether in terms of familiarity with the region, training new data centre specialists, or doing R&D.

📆 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁

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𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: STT GDC. Upcoming STT VNG Ho Chi Minh City 2 in Vietnam.

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