Lost in the maze of life, Mike Ng has charted his future through vocational education. A serendipitous opportunity propelled him into an internship at a leading global cloud services company, marking the dawn of his professional career. Upon completing his internship, he boldly ventured on his own, establishing a business that develops cloud systems for a diverse array of enterprises. Recently, he has spearheaded his team in embracing technological trends, entering the cryptocurrency market to challenge tradition, pioneer new frontiers, and seize opportunities, demonstrating a relentless spirit and a proactive pursuit of his dreams.
Seizing Opportunities Amidst Challenges
Like most young people, Mike loved playing video games and watching animations from a young age. During his secondary school years, he represented his school in a 3D animation competition in Australia. However, in his third year, he was unable to pursue his preferred subjects, which left him feeling lost and disheartened, leading to a period of aimlessness. Fortunately, with the encouragement and guidance of a social worker, he regained his motivation and embarked on a new journey to further his knowledge in information technology at Youth College, exploring his development path. The course reignited his passion for learning, and he successfully enrolled in IVE. When it came time to choose his subjects, he noticed that cloud computing was a major trend in IT. Although he was somewhat unfamiliar with the field, he decided to pursue a Higher Diploma in Cloud Systems and Data Center Management with a “no harm to try” attitude. This choice unexpectedly became a pivotal turning point in his future career.
The IVE Higher Diploma program provided Mike with a solid foundation, and the valuable internship experience proved to be immensely beneficial. By chance, Mike secured a full-time internship opportunity through IVE academic department at Amazon Web Services (AWS) just before graduation. Although this meant postponing his graduation for a year, the chance to intern at a top-tier company like AWS was an invaluable opportunity that would undoubtedly broaden his horizons. Without hesitation, he accepted the role of an AWS intern. That year coincided with the pandemic, which accelerated the rise of online shopping and led to network congestion in many applications. In response, smart queuing systems emerged, and Mike leveraged the knowledge and skills he had learned to develop systems for various clients. It felt as though he had leaped from the ground to the cloud, building each step of the way and experiencing a profound sense of accomplishment, further solidifying his goal of developing a career in the innovative technology industry.
Transcending Oneself, Soaring to New Heights
Drawing on his past internship experience, the young and fearless Mike embraced his “no harm to try” philosophy. Eager to take on new challenges and test his abilities while still young, he founded One2cloud immediately after graduation, providing clients with tailored multi-cloud solutions. At the outset of his entrepreneurial journey, he should have been extremely busy, yet he still spared time to participate in the World Skills Competition, hoping to open new vistas and enhance his networking opportunities. In the competition, there were both full-time participants and amateurs like him, each with their own strengths. Full-time competitors dedicated substantial time to training, mastering competition techniques but often lacking in-field experience and adaptability. In contrast, amateur competitors may not have perfected their competition skills, but their agile thinking and adept adaptability offered unique advantages. Through interactions with various competitors, he was inspired by the saying "there is something to learn from almost anybody," recognising the crucial role of collaboration in the innovative technology industry. It is essential to integrate the strengths of diverse talents and embrace inclusivity to establish a foothold in the cloud market, and then devise a strategy for the future.
In recent years, the cryptocurrency market has rapidly emerged, with the use of cryptocurrency as a payment method for everyday goods and services has begun to receive widespread attention. However, converting cryptocurrencies into cash has proven inconvenient, with high transaction fees, and limited options for institutions favoring non-cash payment methods. Recognising this challenge, Mike decided to break through boundaries by launching a new business for the company – Lookcard. This venture collaborates with major credit card institution to make it easier for the public to integrate cryptocurrencies into their daily lives and easily exchange them for various fiat currencies. Mike spent nearly a year planning this initiative, leading his team toward a new milestone. He emphasised the need for strict control over technical security, citing cybersecurity and risk management as areas where errors are unacceptable to ensure public trust and increase user engagement. Additionally, understanding the regulatory constraints in the financial market and addressing the interoperability mechanisms between different currencies presented new challenges. With technology evolving rapidly and advancing every day. Mike believes that staying abreast of trends and innovating technology is essential for maintaining competitiveness and seizing opportunities.
Broadening Horizons, Flying Towards Dreams
Although the company's business is gradually getting on track, the sky is vast, and to break though, one must spread their wings and navigate through layers of clouds to reach new heights. Therefore, Mike often encourages his colleagues to participate in various competitions, urging them to go international and broaden their perspectives.
Mike has always sought to hire like-minded and capable IVE graduates, and he encourages younger fellows to embrace continuous learning to stay abreast of the times. The sky is ever-changing, and to explore the world of the cloud network, one must possess a passionate and courageous mindset to face challenges. Come on! Let's soar together in the clouds!
