Thursday, April 16, 2009

Updated career inventory

Note: The additions to the resume are in underlined, bold,and in italics.

LANGUAGES Fluent in English and Mandarin (written and spoken). Working knowledge of German.

WORK EXPERIENCE

UBS Investment Bank, Asian Industrials Group, Hong Kong June 2007 – June 2008
Investment Banking Analyst
Executed deals:
· Initial public offering of Uni-President China Holdings (USD512 million offering size)
on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
· Initial public offering of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (USD104 million offering size)
on the Philippines Stock Exchange
Prepared multiple pitchbooks (Chinese and English) for metals and mining, trucks, transportation, consumer, retail and power generation industrial sectors Completed several operational and financial models, Life-of-Mine DCF, analyst presentations, roadshow presentations, trading comparables and benchmarking analyses
Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore Jul '06 - Jun '07
Industrial Programme Development Officer. Appointed as project manager for flagship project to commercialize oil-refining technology within eighteen-month timescale.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Dragon 100 Study Trip, Hong Kong and Xi'an (China), 23 - 30 Aug '06 Delegate. One out of 100 selected Chinese youth leaders from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and other Chinese diaspora communities around the world for a week long study trip in Hong Kong and China about Chinese culture and heritage.

INNOVATE Globalization Conference, Shanghai and Kyoto, China and Japan 10 – 19 Mar ’06 University Delegate. Selected from forty-six applicants to be one of twelve Rice University-subsidized delegates for an international symposium on globalization, technology and leadership in the global marketplace. Visited companies and educational institutions in both countries, including Toyota, Matsushita, and Fudan University. Participated in panel discussions with entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials and student leaders. Personal research topic: renewable energy developments in China.

International University Bremen, Bremen, Germany Aug ’04 – Jun ‘05 Exchange Student. One of four selected exchange students from Rice to International University Bremen (IUB). Started a new club, participated in Student Think Tank (see Activities) and represented Rice University as student ambassador. Traveled extensively through Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Italy, UK, Portugal, Spain) and Asia.

The Arlington Institute, Arlington, Virginia, USA Jun ‘04 – Aug ‘04 Research Intern. Selected as first representative of Leadership Rice Summer Mentorship Experience to The Arlington Institute, a futurist research institute. Created a presentation to the Pentagon for an alternative-energy competition to wean the US from dependence on oil to renewable energy sources. Wrote SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) analysis and an in-house executive summary of Singapore’s national security. Offered a job at the end of internship.

EDUCATION
Rice University, Houston, TX, USA Aug ‘02 – May ’06 Bachelor of Science in Chemical Physics. Current GPA: 3.49 Coursework included: Multivariable Calculus, Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Chemical Kinetics, Programming, Complex Variables, Leadership, Accounting and New Venture Creation. Two courses done in University of California (Berkeley) in Summer 2003. Exchange Student in International University Bremen (IUB) for 2004-2005.
* Senior-year Honors nanotechnology research project with Dr. Naomi Halas. Creating nano-sized sensor particles with potential applications as non-invasive sensors of salicylic acid and glucose in blood.
* GRE: 1400 (Verbal 680, Math 720, Analytical 5.0)
* GMAT (Unofficial): 730 (97th percentile) Hwa Chong Junior College, Bukit Timah, Singapore Jan ‘98 – Dec ‘99 Cambridge GCE ‘A’ levels. A’s for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics ‘Core’, B for Economics and A1 for General Paper SAT 1520 (Verbal 800, Math 720) SAT II Physics 800, Math 750, Writing 750 TOEFL 293
*President’s List Fall 2002, Spring 2006
* Rice University Dean Hugh Cameron Service Award. For service contributions to Rice's international student community
* Chemical Sciences Honor Society, Phi Lambda Upsilon. Member since 2006

ACTIVITIES

International Undergraduate Society, Rice University Aug ’05 – May ’06 Co-secretary. Organized social activities, including first successful IUS Movie Night and social activities for international undergraduate students at Rice.

Peer International Advisor Program, Rice University Aug ’05 – May ’06 Co-Head. Organized and advised participants in program, where existing Rice international undergraduate students advise incoming international freshmen, and help in adjusting to their new environment, softening their culture shock. Edited the Orientation booklet.

Wine Society, Rice University Oct ‘02 – May ‘06 Co-founder and President (2003–2004, 2005–2006). Club founded to educate Rice community on wine. Successfully negotiated for club discounts of 10% with local wine merchant. Club membership expanded from 2 people to 30 within two years, including Houston Area young alumni. Currently negotiating with Houston Young Alumni Association to jointly create discount card for Houston area.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Career inventory update - 09 Sept 07

Note: The additions to the resume are in underlined, bold,and in italics.

LANGUAGES Fluent in English and Mandarin (written and spoken). Working knowledge of German.

INTERNATIONAL AND WORK EXPERIENCE

UBS Investment Bank, Hong Kong Jun'07- present
Investment Bank Analyst.
Corporate valuations, creating pitchbooks, executing transactions.

Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore Jul '06 - Jun '07
Industrial Programme Development Officer. Appointed as project manager for flagship project to commercialize oil-refining technology within eighteen-month timescale.

Dragon 100 Study Trip, Hong Kong and Xi'an (China), 23 - 30 Aug '06 Delegate. One out of 100 selected Chinese youth leaders from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and other Chinese diaspora communities around the world for a week long study trip in Hong Kong and China about Chinese culture and heritage.

INNOVATE Globalization Conference, Shanghai and Kyoto, China and Japan 10 – 19 Mar ’06 University Delegate. Selected from forty-six applicants to be one of twelve Rice University-subsidized delegates for an international symposium on globalization, technology and leadership in the global marketplace. Visited companies and educational institutions in both countries, including Toyota, Matsushita, and Fudan University. Participated in panel discussions with entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials and student leaders. Personal research topic: renewable energy developments in China.

International University Bremen, Bremen, Germany Aug ’04 – Jun ‘05 Exchange Student. One of four selected exchange students from Rice to International University Bremen (IUB). Started a new club, participated in Student Think Tank (see Activities) and represented Rice University as student ambassador. Traveled extensively through Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Italy, UK, Portugal, Spain) and Asia.

* The Arlington Institute, Arlington, Virginia, USA Jun ‘04 – Aug ‘04 Research Intern. Selected as first representative of Leadership Rice Summer Mentorship Experience to The Arlington Institute, a futurist research institute. Created a presentation to the Pentagon for an alternative-energy competition to wean the US from dependence on oil to renewable energy sources. Wrote SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) analysis and an in-house executive summary of Singapore’s national security. Offered a job at the end of internship.

* 21st Battalion Singapore Artillery, Singapore Army, Singapore Jan ‘00 – May ‘02 Assistant Administrative Supervisor. Promoted to a regular-soldier’s position as a conscript because of demonstrated leadership ability. Led 6-man battalion administrative section with Battalion Manpower Officer to achieve full score in manpower administration component of battalion field evaluation exercise.

HONORS
*President’s List Fall 2002, Spring 2006
* Rice University Dean Hugh Cameron Service Award. For service contributions to Rice's international student community
* Chemical Sciences Honor Society, Phi Lambda Upsilon. Member since 2006

EDUCATION
Rice University, Houston, TX, USA Aug ‘02 – May ’06 Bachelor of Science in Chemical Physics. Current GPA: 3.49 Coursework included: Multivariable Calculus, Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Chemical Kinetics, Programming, Complex Variables, Leadership, Accounting and New Venture Creation. Two courses done in University of California (Berkeley) in Summer 2003. Exchange Student in International University Bremen (IUB) for 2004-2005.
* Senior-year Honors nanotechnology research project with Dr. Naomi Halas. Creating nano-sized sensor particles with potential applications as non-invasive sensors of salicylic acid and glucose in blood.
* GRE: 1400 (Verbal 680, Math 720, Analytical 5.0)
* GMAT (Unofficial): 730 (97th percentile) Hwa Chong Junior College, Bukit Timah, Singapore Jan ‘98 – Dec ‘99 Cambridge GCE ‘A’ levels. A’s for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics ‘Core’, B for Economics and A1 for General Paper SAT 1520 (Verbal 800, Math 720) SAT II Physics 800, Math 750, Writing 750 TOEFL 293

ACTIVITIES

* International Undergraduate Society, Rice University Aug ’05 – May ’06 Co-secretary. Organized social activities, including first successful IUS Movie Night and social activities for international undergraduate students at Rice.

* Peer International Advisor Program, Rice University Aug ’05 – May ’06 Co-Head. Organized and advised participants in program, where existing Rice international undergraduate students advise incoming international freshmen, and help in adjusting to their new environment, softening their culture shock. Edited the Orientation booklet.

* Wine Society, Rice University Oct ‘02 – May ‘06 Co-founder and President (2003–2004, 2005–2006). Club founded to educate Rice community on wine. Successfully negotiated for club discounts of 10% with local wine merchant. Club membership expanded from 2 people to 30 within two years, including Houston Area young alumni. Currently negotiating with Houston Young Alumni Association to jointly create discount card for Houston area.

* Student Government Think Tank, International University Bremen (IUB) Sep ‘04 – Jan ‘05 Member. Authored Student Court reforms (including the creation of the Chief Justice position and the on-line publication of by-laws and procedures) to streamline decision-making and court administration. Implementation in Fall ’05 immediately resulted in improved efficiency in the Court’s administration with an estimated 50% decrease in response time.

Labels:

Missing from the web

I've not really updated my online presence in a while: besides this blog, my other blogs and online profiles have basically been untouched.

Given the amount of time I spend at work, and given the fact that I have zero internet access at home (haven't gotten round to it), it's probably little wonder...

The new job has been an eye-opener. Very interesting stuff, most of which I actually cannot talk about, because much information is quite sensitive. Before I started investment banking, I had no idea whatsoever about the job... now that I'm in it, I realize that there is so much information that is kept from the public domain due to the sensitivity of it.

The other thing is, I realized very quickly just how much I don't know. It's very humbling, starting from scratch, and knowing that I don't know anything at all. There is a tendency in my mind to dismiss myself, that I'm new, and that I can't be expected to know everything... but the attitude that I'm adopting is, "I don't know now, but I will know it soon enough!"

So I've been learning stuff like the keyboard shortcuts for Excel, Word and Outlook (although the Ctrl+Enter shortcut for Outlook has gotten me into a LOT of trouble... basically by sending off emails before I finish with them...), valuation techniques like comparables and collecting precedent transactions, and having a first-hand glimpse at how markets, banks and the financial system operates. I've been getting a pretty good glimpse at certain industrial sectors as well, and not just the chemical industry as in my previous job: so far I've worked on projects in the steel sector, power, capital goods and consumer goods, amongst others.

I've also been incorporating the "Getting Things Done" system, largely because it's a crucial necessity! I've been staffed on five projects, which sometimes happen concurrently... the system helps me keep things manageable.

I've also taken to going back to the Dhamma. This, I have to thank Amruta, whom I've gotten back together with. She reminded me again about what is important, what is the core.

I was also sent to London for training, and met a ton of great people, all of whom have been largely helpful and forthcoming in giving guidance and assistance. London was great; met tons of friends, learned a lot of new things, made new friends, and discovered a great city.

Life, while always unpredictable, is going good for now.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

New Job

I have resigned, and will be working for UBS AG in Hong Kong as an Analyst from June onwards.

Given the nature of the new job, I probably won't be able to post much on this blog at all. It should be a good experience, with lots of learning: I am very much looking forward to it! A new job and a new life in a new place.

My old job at ICES was a wonderful experience. To be honest, the decision to change my job was one of the toughest decisions I had ever made in my life, as I still feel a sense of loyalty to the place and to the people. They have given me many opportunities to prove myself, and have helped me grow as a person as well.

On Monday I said goodbye to two of the interviewers who had given me my first job; one of them, my female boss, cried as she said goodbye.

I will miss them all.

Labels: , ,

Thursday, March 29, 2007

It's been a while

I haven't written in this blog for quite a while now; not much has changed, career-wise, although I just came back to work after a month-long recovery from an ACL reconstruction. My project is starting to run into problems of every imaginable kind: I won't specify more as I'm bound by a confidentiality agreement from work.

Outside of work, I have been actively involved in ECO Singapore, a youth group focusing on environmental issues. Just last night I sent off an email on behalf of the marketing department to the producing company of An Inconvenient Truth, asking if we may use their movie for our "Engage!" Roadshow.

The roadshow is quite a major undertaking; we'll be showcasing two shows this year for a start, but we're quite ambitious. We want to have at least 10% of all participating members-of-the-public to pledge to reduce their power consumption, amongst other green-inducing acts. The main focus of the roadshow isn't just to educate, inform, and bore the audience, but to provoke them, and then to make it easy to take action RIGHT THERE.

Kudos to Wilson Ang for the concept and the principle.

So far there are only three people on this committee: Zheying (a nice NUS final-year student), Wilson Ang (President of ECO), and myself, but we're looking to get more people on board. I basically summarized all the proposals for the different modules of the roadshow, and edited the entire proposal to make it presentable to a corporate audience. We have gotten a number of corporate sponsors on board, and it looks to be very likely to succeed. That would really make my year!

Besides ECO, I'm also contemplating taking up an M.Sc. in Mathematics (with a specialization in Mathematical Finance) from NUS on a part-time basis. I don't know why everyone is discouraging me, except my parents; a friend even told me "you don't have an aptitude for mathematics". Actually, I would argue that I don't have a demonstrated aptitude in mathematics, largely because of a lack of formal training (in high math) and a lack of focus (distracted as I was by other mundane things, like finishing up my chemical physics degree, for example...). Given time, and focusing only on math, I'm pretty certain I can end up as skilled in math as any other person.

Labels: , ,

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Economist Mistake


The Economist misspelled my name... but otherwise they did a remarkable job of editing my letter.

My letter is the second letter (top half of second column from the left).

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Resume/CV (21 October 2006)

Note: The additions to the resume are in underlined, bold,and in italics.

LANGUAGES
Fluent in English and Mandarin (written and spoken). Working knowledge of German.


HONORS
*President’s List Fall 2002, Spring 2006
* Rice University Dean Hugh Cameron Service Award. For service contributions to Rice's international student community.
* Chemical Sciences Honor Society, Phi Lambda Upsilon. Member since 2006


EDUCATION
Rice University, Houston, TX, USA Aug ‘02 – May ’06
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Physics. Current GPA: 3.49
Coursework included: Multivariable Calculus, Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Chemical Kinetics, Programming, Complex Variables, Leadership, Accounting and New Venture Creation.
Two courses done in University of California (Berkeley) in Summer 2003.
Exchange Student in International University Bremen (IUB) for 2004-2005.
* Senior-year Honors nanotechnology research project with Dr. Naomi Halas. Creating nano-sized sensor particles with potential applications as non-invasive sensors of salicylic acid and glucose in blood.
* GRE: 1400 (Verbal 680, Math 720, Analytical 5.0)
* GMAT (Unofficial): 730 (97th percentile)

Hwa Chong Junior College, Bukit Timah, Singapore Jan ‘98 – Dec ‘99
Cambridge GCE ‘A’ levels.
A’s for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics ‘Core’, B for Economics and A1 for General Paper
SAT 1520 (Verbal 800, Math 720)
SAT II Physics 800, Math 750, Writing 750
TOEFL 293


INTERNATIONAL AND WORK EXPERIENCE

Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore 25 Jul '06 - present
Industrial Programme Development Officer. Appointed as project manager for flagship project to commercialize oil-refining technology within eighteen-month timescale.


Dragon 100 Study Trip, Hong Kong and Xi'an (China), 23 - 30 Aug '06
Delegate. One out of 100 selected Chinese youth leaders from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and other Chinese diaspora communities around the world for a week long study trip in Hong Kong and China about Chinese culture and heritage.


INNOVATE Globalization Conference, Shanghai and Kyoto, China and Japan 10 – 19 Mar ’06
University Delegate. Selected from forty-six applicants to be one of twelve Rice University-subsidized delegates for an international symposium on globalization, technology and leadership in the global marketplace. Visited companies and educational institutions in both countries, including Toyota, Matsushita, and Fudan University. Participated in panel discussions with entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials and student leaders. Personal research topic: renewable energy developments in China.

International University Bremen, Bremen, Germany Aug ’04 – Jun ‘05
Exchange Student. One of four selected exchange students from Rice to International University Bremen (IUB). Started a new club, participated in Student Think Tank (see Activities) and represented Rice University as student ambassador. Traveled extensively through Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Italy, UK, Portugal, Spain) and Asia.

* The Arlington Institute, Arlington, Virginia, USA Jun ‘04 – Aug ‘04
Research Intern. Selected as first representative of Leadership Rice Summer Mentorship Experience to The Arlington Institute, a futurist research institute. Created a presentation to the Pentagon for an alternative-energy competition to wean the US from dependence on oil to renewable energy sources. Wrote SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) analysis and an in-house executive summary of Singapore’s national security. Offered a job at the end of internship.

* 21st Battalion Singapore Artillery, Singapore Army, Singapore Jan ‘00 – May ‘02
Assistant Administrative Supervisor. Promoted to a regular-soldier’s position as a conscript because of demonstrated leadership ability. Led 6-man battalion administrative section with Battalion Manpower Officer to achieve full score in manpower administration component of battalion field evaluation exercise.


ACTIVITIES

* International Undergraduate Society, Rice University Aug ’05 – May ’06
Co-secretary. Organized social activities, including first successful IUS Movie Night and social activities for international undergraduate students at Rice.

* Peer International Advisor Program, Rice University Aug ’05 – May ’06
Co-Head. Organized and advised participants in program, where existing Rice international undergraduate students advise incoming international freshmen, and help in adjusting to their new environment, softening their culture shock. Edited the Orientation booklet.

* Wine Society, Rice University Oct ‘02 – May ‘06
Co-founder and President (2003–2004, 2005–2006). Club founded to educate Rice community on wine. Successfully negotiated for club discounts of 10% with local wine merchant. Club membership expanded from 2 people to 30 within two years, including Houston Area young alumni. Currently negotiating with Houston Young Alumni Association to jointly create discount card for Houston area.

* Student Government Think Tank, International University Bremen (IUB) Sep ‘04 – Jan ‘05
Member. Authored Student Court reforms (including the creation of the Chief Justice position and the on-line publication of by-laws and procedures) to streamline decision-making and court administration. Implementation in Fall ’05 immediately resulted in improved efficiency in the Court’s administration with an estimated 50% decrease in response time.

Golden Mile to KL

To reverse the order a little bit, in conclusion, KL was an excellent trip: I met a number of new people, had lots of fun, with a dramatic episode on the first night.

It all started when my mum dropped me off at Golden Mile Shopping Complex.

It is a surprisingly happening place, with a lot of activity that is visible even before stepping into the mall. The front is full of bus companies that offer cheap rides to Malaysia and even Thailand. There were a number of Westerners who were waiting with their bags. And the companies looked almost like they were full of dealers and brokers, with lots of yelling, phonecalls, gestures and animated conversations.

I walked past everyone and headed into the heart of the mall. As I dragged my wheeled bag past the Thai grocery shops and provisions stores, it felt like I had left modern Singapore behind, and entered Bangkok instead: the newstand was full of beautiful Thai models gracing their magazine covers, and almost every shop had huge Thai lettered-signs, with the English translation beneath the Thai version. There wasn't a single word of English spoken. Thai karaoke-type music was playing in the background, from the open door of a sleazy girlie bar. There were Thai shops, of every kind selling every single available item from Thailand.

This apparently includes their women as well. There was a "restaurant" that also had lots of spaghetti-strapped women walking around, and being QUITE intimate with their male restaurant clients: these women were resting their hands on the guy's chest, and flirting like hyperactive butterflies in search of open flowers. A lot of these women were also drinking and flirting with their male clients, who in turn let their hands do the roaming in ways that you wouldn't see in a Sing Tel or Yellow-pages advertisement.

Sleeze aside, there is some pretty awesome food to be had. I initially had some problems getting dinner, though. The mall was full of Thais who were sitting at tables filled with wonderful-looking dishes in these shops that seem to have no menus, no signs, no ambience, and very little English-speakers. As I walked to one such anonymous joint, where a woman was hacking at a piece of meat behind the counter, I thought, this is cool, a hole-in-the-wall experience in Singapore! There was a young chap there, so I asked him, "What do you guys have available?"

He replied, "Do you know what you want?"
Me: "No, not really"
Him: "Hmm, I think you should go to this other place with a menu" and proceeds to direct me out of HIS place, to another restaurant with a menu.

I think it's the first time that has happened to me at an ethnic place. "We don't want your business, go away". So I still don't know what's the deal with these menu-less eating joints at Golden Mile.Maybe there's a secret initiation rite that involves Singha beer or something.

While the food is great, the hygiene levels at Golden Mile are really atrocious: I went to the bathroom and it was a veritable full-production cockroach farm. 'Nuff said.

After a quick bite, I went to check-in my luggage. The "check-in" process of the bus-ride was a little bizarre: in the middle of a normal-looking travel office, there's a podium with a guy processing the "check-in" like a ground-crew of an airline. "Good evening, sir. How many bags are you checking in? May I see your passport? Please enjoy our First Class lounge behind" etc.

While we sat at the lounge, the guy came in to "announce" the boarding: "Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to announce the boarding of bus XXX XXX. Please take your luggage and proceed to the pickup point".

On the bus, we each settled into our seats. The seats were huge, and actually not very comfortable as they are a little unwieldily proportioned. Every seat had a controller and a pretty large LCD screen (about 9 inches diagonally across). They didn't begin the entertainment system until after we entered Malaysia, however.

Actually, right before they left, they made the safety announcements and introductions of the "captain of the cruise" (aka "bus uncle" in normal Singlish) a la passenger flights, which produced irrepressible smirks and chuckles all around.

The foood they served as a little plain and bad, but considering that we're on a freaking bus (this is not SIA), I was not complaining (I was glad that I filled up on some pad thai before leaving, though).

The bus ride was uneventful, by and large, with the only major event being that I'm a Donkey Kong retard.

By the time we got to KL, it was almost 12am. We hit the hotel, and then we headed out to Zouk Malaysia.... I'll tell more later.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Project Manager

So I got 'promoted' (without the extra pay, only the extra responsibilities and opportunities!) to be a project manager for (arguably) the most important project for my institute. It's our first flagship project, and I'm now assisting the Executive Director (who's personally overseeing the entire thing) in managing the project.

Given that I've only been at my job for 2 months, it's a tremendous opportunity (even though I'm not getting paid any more) which I'm grabbing by the horns. Already, on my first day, I've been elbow-deep in the internal politics, personal dynamics and the inter-organization rivalries that are typical of important projects.

And whereas I was complaining just one-and-a-half months ago of being bored and not having enough to do (which was true: I created a new blog and filled it up at that time), today I had half an hour for lunch, and maybe another half hour (in total) of personal-email-and-some-websurfing time. And I worked overtime as well.

I know, it's not as hectic as some other people working in private industry. But it's quite a few degrees more intense than previously, and for that, I am grateful and happy.

The ED is a very nice man to work for as well. There is an almost boyish enthusiasm for this project that he has, and he is a very remarkable person: within the past 24 hours, I've learned to see things in quite a different perspective. It's remarkable how much people-skills and technical knowledge is stored in his brain; that's only slightly less remarkable than the sheer speed with which he recalls all those skills and details.

As you can imagine, he makes for a pretty intimidating and tough task master. But the harder the challenge, the more fun it is for me. For me, I thrive under stress, as otherwise, I'm just so damned lazy...

It's challenging and interesting to deal with a team of academic researchers. I had thought it was an outdated stereotype that academicians and technologists tend to have a very microscopic and narrow view of their problems. Surely this cannot be the case in our era, especially given the buzzing enterprise creation that I had seen in my uni days at Rice and the ambition of a lot of academics?

That view went out of the window after we had our first discussion, and I witnessed how some people sometimes went deep into the details of certain technical problems or issues which had very little relevance to the project at hand at all. There are some people, I guess, who develop more in some ways than in other ways.

I'm also learning (at a fast pace) the technical skills involved in project management: Gantt charts, rosters, time-tables, task lists, etc. I might get sent for a quick and short course on project management, but in the meantime, things are ok.

Thank goodness that I had read the Dave Allen book way beforehand!