Get to Know the CEO showcases some of the faces of our member companies, what they’re working on outside of work and the wisdom they have to impart on others in the industry. This month we interviewed Dr. CP Lu, CTO of Iluvatar.
What personal projects will you be working on this weekend?
This week is the first time I have stayed in Singapore. I will use this weekend to explore this lovely city and write a journal about my adventure.
What advice would you give to early-career engineers/people wanting to get into your vertical market/people wanting to start a company in the current climate/etc?
I want to offer a simple yet potentially game-changing tip for young engineers and scientists: always elaborate your ideas and thoughts in writing first before putting them down in PowerPoint presentation as bullet points.
This practice will significantly sharpen your thinking and reasoning capabilities and make you excel in your careers.
What advice would you give to your younger self? OR What advice do you wish you had when you graduated?
Following Elon Musk, be optimistic and wrong, rather than be pessimistic and right, so you can make some positive changes.
What has been the highlight of your career to date?
The highlight of my career is my role as the CTO of my company. I have never looked back in my career to search for the highlight. The highlight of my career is now.
Have you taken up any new hobbies during the pandemic?
I started writing and publishing on Medium.com during the pandemic. I have written seven technical and non-technical essays since the onset of the pandemic and made writing my newly found hobby. It has been helping me stay positive and productive during difficult times while expanding my view and knowledge through the painful yet rewarding process.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
My career’s most significant challenges were when I was establishing teams to develop new products from scratch. The fears, worries, and a sense of weakness and loneliness seemed overwhelming.
I overcome such emotions by staying passionate about the product and keeping visions of teams full of talents and products winning enthusiasm. The visions have always become realities.