Bernard Leong

How I think

Here is a framework that I explain to others to about my thinking process. Basically, how I think is broken into three parts: break the problem and solve by first principles, build or understand a strategy around a problem by a Bayesian approach i.e ascribing probabilities and statistics to a set of solutions that might tackle the problem that is complex and emergent, and lastly, figuring a business problem using basic unit economics and perspectives while figuring out how irrationality or behavior models might affect them.

Examining the Super App Strategy in Southeast Asia

In this article, we examine the super app strategy adopted by the ride hailing companies in Southeast Asia. In the same spirit, we want to validate the strategy that are adopted by both Grab and Gojek in comparison to US and China and explain the challenges which these companies has to overcome so that the strategy can succeed.

How to shut down a zombie company gracefully

In the past few years, somewhere between I left the startup world to the corporate world till the birth of my 2nd child, I have worked to help some founders of zombie startups or companies to shut down their companies and transition to move on with their lives after that. In this article, I share the process in how I helped them to work out the shutting down details and in the hope that others can help their friends who might be in this process.

Recalibration of Value in the Sharing Economy Internet Companies

In this article, I will explain what the true value of companies in the sharing economy is that they re-calibrate the value of the physical assets in that traditional industry which they seek to disrupt.

Perspectives on the 9-9-6 work ethic in China

The 9-9-6 work ethic championed by technology companies in China suggests that every tech worker there should work from 9 am to 9 pm for 6 days a week. Within a year, it has gone from the envy of people outside of China to a serious pushback from the Chinese technology workers. In this article, I want to explain if the 9-9-6 work ethic is really sustainable for anyone out there and offer the perspective when 9-9-6 work ethic can work for an individual.