Cover In Lo’s new book, “I, Leader” he shares human-centric leadership advice consolidated from his year-long experiences advising startups (Photo: G Sharp Design LLC)
In Lo’s new book, “I, Leader” he shares human-centric leadership advice consolidated from his year-long experiences advising startups (Photo: G Sharp Design LLC)
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After building one of the first accelerators for AI startups in Asia, Hong Kong’s Tak Lo shares advice and tips from his book on how to effectively lead a company through a human-centric approach
Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. From image generation to accounting and customer service, AI is permeating various aspects of our lives and businesses. As more enterprises incorporate this technology into their products, founder of Asia’s first accelerator for AI startups Tak Lo said it’s more important than ever for company executives to lead with a human touch.
“AI is a powerful tool that amplifies. If you’re a bad person, it amplifies who you are; if you’re a good person, it amplifies who you are. That’s why being a human, having integrity and knowing your authenticity is even more important,” Lo explained.
“Ineffective leadership that misuses AI could derail a company in many ways, such as the decline of employees’ trust in their ability and the failure to attract customers with an ingenuine brand.”
Read more: Apple’s big AI event: The top 5 innovations you need to know
Above Tak Lo founded an accelerator for AI startups in Asia in 2016 (Photo: Jocelyn Tam)
Tak Lo founded an accelerator for AI startups in Asia in 2016 (Photo: Jocelyn Tam)
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Lo has always had a habit of journaling his insights throughout his career. In his new book, I, Leader, he has penned some of the most valuable takeaways on leadership, with extracts from his online blog and explanations incorporating Chinese philosophy, such as religion and martial arts.
Here are five pieces on how to become a people-focused leader.
Follow the momentum
Above A photo of Lo first met with David Cohen, the chief executive officer of Techstars, a leading pre-seed and early stage venture capital firm
A photo of Lo first met with David Cohen, the chief executive officer of Techstars, a leading pre-seed and early stage venture capital firm
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Lo said company leaders must make decisions by gauging whether external factors, such as market trends and investors’ preferences, favour them. This is especially so during fundraising.
He recalled an experience where he failed to accomplish a task because he went against the momentum. It was when he built his first programme at Techstars, one of the most established pre-seed and early-stage venture capital firms in the world. Despite relentlessly trying to meet with startup founders, he couldn’t schedule a call with anyone since most of them were on their winter break.
“[AI] doesn’t understand your human connections, the context of the world and your relationships with your limited partners. That’s where humans will still rule and we’ll still have an advantage over AI,” he explained.
Less is more
Above Lo said a clear and simplified message is crucial when pitching to investors (Photo: Getty Images)
Lo said a clear and simplified message is crucial when pitching to investors (Photo: Getty Images)
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Lo said one key to an impressive investor pitch is subtraction: reducing all the excess details until your message is crystal clear. An impactful story with one main point can stand on its own.
The inspiration for simplification came from the classic Taoist book, Tao Te Ching. It offers advice on living a life with goodness and integrity: “Thirty spokes share the hub of a wheel, yet it is its centre that makes it useful. You can mould clay into a vessel; yet, it is its emptiness that makes it useful.”
Read more: Making the pivot: Why this health tech startup went into AI medical diagnosis
Amplify your thinking
Above Lo emphasised that companies can have the biggest impact by focusing on the critical factors (Photo: Getty Images)
Lo emphasised that companies can have the biggest impact by focusing on the critical factors (Photo: Getty Images)
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When Lo was pitching to Japan’s Softbank founder Masayoshi Son, they asked him, “If we gave you all the money in the world, what would you do?” This question caught him on the spot. It was then that realised he needed to broaden his plan more than ever. He needed to amplify his thinking and possibly even create a new system.
“It’s not just an ambition. You need to think about a vision,” Lo said. In his book, he wrote that by 100 times your thinking of what kind of impact you want to achieve, you can work on the critical factors that matter and work with like-minded individuals who can make progress in the long haul.
Read more: How Mazing and Connie Lee are leveraging science to whet appetites
Lead like Sergeant Willy
Above Lo briefly joined the United States Army before relocating to Britain to study at the London Business School (Photo: Tak Lo)
Lo briefly joined the United States Army before relocating to Britain to study at the London Business School (Photo: Tak Lo)
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Before studying business and entering the world of startups, Lo enlisted in the United States Army. While serving in the military, he met Sergeant Willy, someone he still looks up to.
“Sergeant Willy is a litmus test of how to be a good leader,” Lo explained. “He may not have looked the part. He was always smoking and growling at his team. Still, everybody trusted him and would follow him to the foxhole if there was a war.”
What makes Sergeant Willy special? “He is a very simple man. He knows what’s right and what’s wrong,” Lo said.
Read more: AI’s creative conundrum: From copyright infringement to artistic originality
Strive in unity
Above Since 2022, more than 525,000 individuals have been laid off by technology companies, according to Layoffs.fyi, a platform that monitors job cuts in the sector (Photo: Getty Images)
Since 2022, more than 525,000 individuals have been laid off by technology companies, according to Layoffs.fyi, a platform that monitors job cuts in the sector (Photo: Getty Images)
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In his book, Lo wrote that the Rothschild family inspires him because they are an unbreakable unit that does the right thing. As one of the world’s oldest and wealthiest families, they are pacifists and contribute to charitable causes. Similarly, Lo wants to advance openness and innovation in AI so that the technology can benefit society significantly, just like the Rothschilds did.
However, since 2022, mass layoffs have made headlines as tech giants like Microsoft and Google cut costs to invest heavily in AI. These events have led to the workforce questioning whether AI will improve their performance or jeopardise their jobs.
Lo attributes people’s resistance to AI to the loss of humanity, citing instances where technology companies fired employees over email or after rapid scaling.
“Everyone can be a leader. What it takes is to be a better human,” he said.
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Based in Hong Kong, editor Yoyo Chow covers the people and ideas redefining Asia’s future—from cutting-edge innovation and AI to bold moves in sustainability and diversity. She also drives content for Tatler Gen.T in Hong Kong, a platform and community spotlighting the region’s next generation of startup founders, creatives and changemakers.
Before that, she was a video journalist producing content for international TV and digital platforms, including Reuters and South China Morning Post. If you have a powerful story to share, she’s all ears. Send press materials, event invites and any inquiries to yoyo.chow@tatlerasia.com.
