This user manual is a quick read on what it would be like to work with me and is for anyone collaborating with me – whether you’re a direct report, peer, or manager – to help us work together more effectively. It was initially inspired by the GitLab Handbook.

Me, Personally 

I was raised in Singapore and came to the Bay Area for college at Santa Clara University. My multicultural background gives me a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives — I value both harmony and individual initiative on teams.

Outside of work, you’ll often find me over a chess board or geeking out over personal growth. I love the techno/house music San Francisco nightlife scene, and I’ve learned to navigate strong personalities and high-stakes environments with empathy, adaptability, and clarity. That carries over into how I handle relationships at work — direct, but never careless.

You can also check out my Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

How I Operate

I excel at being a “system 2 thinker“, which means I approach problems like a strategist – first seeking to deeply understand the issue, then drilling into root causes. I’m a pragmatist at heart. I prioritize solutions that tackle the core problem, not just its symptoms. I optimize for long-term leverage over short-term band-aids.

What’s Important to Me

• Accountability and Integrity – I own my words and actions. If I miss a commitment, I communicate early, provide a new timeline, and surface blockers. I’d rather underpromise and overdeliver than the reverse.

• Personal Growth – I strongly believe in being a better person tomorrow than I am today. One of the best and most pivotal decisions I made was to get involved in personal development work back in the early 2000s. While I enjoy success in all its various forms, I also believe that every failure we encounter is a stepping stone to a future success, but only if we treat it as such!

• Human Connection – I care deeply about people. I’ve spent years helping others grow socially and emotionally, and even though I no longer do that professionally, creating meaningful human interaction still makes me tick.

• Social Impact – I am very blessed to be at a place in my life where I am able to have the resources to live comfortably and intentionally. The same cannot be said for everyone else, which is why it is important for me that what I work on reflects my values (above) and not just my wallet.

• Excellence & Authenticity – Whatever you commit to doing, be excellent about it. If you fall short, it’s OK. Own it, let’s figure a way to move forward together. I will do the same. After all, we’re in this together!

How to Work With Me

• Giving Feedback– I aim to “agree in public, refine in private.” If I offer feedback, it’s to improve, not criticize. If you prefer a certain way to receive feedback, let me know—I’ll do my best to adapt. If I disagree with your feedback, I’ll explain my reasoning so you’re not left guessing.

• Receiving Feedback – I value actionable, constructive input. ‘Try this‘ work better for me than ‘don’t do that‘. I actively seek feedback and especially appreciate feedback with context or rationale. I will always listen and respond to close the feedback loop, even if I do not agree.

• Meetings – I like clear agendas and action items. I value everyone’s input and group consensus wherever possible. I encourage open debate but once we decide, I expect us all to align in our agreement and support the outcome. I work best when roles and responsibilities are clear.

What I’m Working On 

• Being More Patient – I move quickly and sometimes expect others to keep pace. I’m working on slowing down. Feel free to remind me gently when I get ahead of myself – my partner does, and it works.

• Being More Tactful – I aim for clarity over comfort. Sometimes I come off blunt or overly critical. If that happens, call me in. I’ll thank you for it. I want to improve.

• Owning My Strengths – Growing up in a traditional Chinese household meant being constantly compared. That bred imposter syndrome, which I’ve only recently overcome through therapy and self-work. These days, I own what I bring to the table — and I encourage you to do the same.

How to Contact Me 

🟢 Non-Urgent – Email is best. I check it daily and usually reply within 24h. For ongoing projects, use a Google Doc with comment or edit access.

🟡 Medium Urgency – DM me if it can’t wait 24h but isn’t an emergency. If you are unsure about urgency, my DMs are a good place to start.

🔴 Urgent – Call me. If I don’t answer, send a text with context and try again in 5 minutes.

• I screen unknown numbers
• I might be in a loud place
• A text helps me prioritize quickly

🔵 Deep Work or Strategy – For complex, real-time collaboration, I prefer video chat or in-person meetings. I enjoy the nuance of live interaction.

Final Notes

If you’re ever unsure how best to work with me, just ask! And if something is unclear or not working for you, tell me either directly, anonymously, or through someone else. What matters is that it gets said. I’m here to listen and grow, and ultimately help you succeed.