“I wanted to do something so hard that people could not ever talk shit to me ever again,” says Gene Yu, co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Blackpanda, on the Crazy Smart Asia podcast. In conversation with Tatler Gen.T’s Chong Seow Wei, the Taiwanese American shares the scary hostage rescue of a family friend that got him into cybersecurity, why military school was more traumatising than war and why Asian founders should holiday in Europe if they really want a break.
Show notes:
00:00 Introduction to Crazy Smart Asia
00:22 Meet Gene Yu
01:07 Quick fire questions
04:06 Gene Yu's childhood and early influences
14:48 The West Point experience
22:11 Transition to civilian life
29:45 A life-changing decision
30:30 The rescue mission that changed everything
32:59 From the military to cybersecurity
34:24 Building Blackpanda
36:57 The evolution of cybersecurity
43:16 Setbacks and insights
54:02 The importance of relationships
55:20 Final thoughts
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