“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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