Carlos Wang’s tech experience led him to set up his business Slasify, which creates a virtual workforce for entrepreneurs.
What’s your story?
I’ve pictured how my future would be ever since I was a student. I wished that I could do something meaningful in my life. I aspire to contribute my own efforts to build a better society and to help Taiwan gain recognition from the rest of the world.
2016 was the hardest year for me and my entrepreneurship journey. My wife and I were homeless and roving around with our luggage and we didn’t even have a settled residency in Taiwan. During this period, we were searching for opportunities. During this time we met several saviours who helped us a lot and inspired us to create Slasify.
Despite my poor English and without any social connections, I brought my team to Singapore. We have now opened up the South East Asian markets and we have been endorsed by several famous clients including Coca-Cola, Unilever and Siemens.
I have an experienced technical background. I have led my technical team to participate in the development and operation of a big data platform which serves more than 100 million customers. I have also worked with IBM in Taiwan to provide mobile solutions for business financial institutions. We still have a long way to go, but we believe in what we can accomplish.
格局决定布局, 布局决定结局 (The circumstance determines strategy. The strategy determines the outcome).
What excites you most about your industry?
Traditional employment relations are changing, and it’s time for us to evolve. We liberate white-collar workers with professional abilities, and we help enterprises develop a brand new employment mode of hiring called “virtual team(s).”
Imagine that you can collaborate with people all over the world within a virtual space connected simply by a laptop and Internet and accomplish tasks assigned by the “employer” while you are drinking a cocktail on the beach.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I am 100% Taiwanese, and I for most of my career, I’ve been in mainland China. I therefore have an understanding of greater China’s market, and I am influenced by the past generation of Taiwan businessmen. I worship the “Taiwan’s Buffalo Spirit” that I’ll be “conscientious, diligent and down-to-earth.”
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
I love doing business in Singapore and in Beijing. Singapore is a melting pot of Chinese culture and Western culture, hence it has tremendous market opportunities. Beijing is the cradle of China’s internet businesses, and it is also a city filled with talents.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
It’s a film clip about ‘selling me a pen’ which Jordan Belford plays in The Wolf of Wall Street. This scene explains that the best salesmen create needs for customers rather than telling customers how good the product is. Customers need guidance and even scenarios which explain their needs.
Who inspires you?
I like listening to other people’s stories, both successful and unsuccessful stories. Everyone has his or her part to learn and to draw lessons from. In this sense, a number of people inspire me with their different features and characteristics.
Once I was taught a lesson by a worker when I was in the factory of our Vietnam client; he questioned me, “why do I need to spend so much time on my work? Am I really happy?” Well, this Vietnam friend inspired me a lot, and his questions are always in my mind.
Those who can really inspire you need not be celebrities. Your friends or even a stranger you meet on the street can be inspirational.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
Earlier this year, I went to Beijing to so a strategic management course in Renmin University of China. This course changed the way I think. I majored in Computer Science, so I lack management skills. Through this short course, I learned to view my career with vision, and I also gained a deep understanding of competition. So, I would like to suggest to other entrepreneurs that they consider regularly going back to college to cultivate their professional knowledge and abilities.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Every process in our life has its own value and meaning, no matter whether good or bad. If I could live my life twice, I would inform myself to care more about my health, and to spend more time with my family. These things can not be bought with money.
How do you unwind?
I love to drive my car around the suburbs. I don’t own a car overseas, so when I go abroad, I find other ways of relaxing. I’ll have a good sleep to energize myself for the next day.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Taiwan, more precisely, Kaohsiung City. Because that’s my home country, especially for someone like me who is always travelling. There’s a saying: “East or west, home is the best.”
Everyone in business should read this book:
Lead the Work: Navigating a World Beyond Employment
Every manager should be aware of the future employment trends which will influence the management, culture and KPI for every enterprise, especially start-ups.
Another one is, of course, “The Art of War.” That’s an essential for every entrepreneur, the wisdom from Ancient China.
Shameless plug for your business:
We create the future working style and connect like-minded entrepreneurs and freelancers by flexibly organising virtual teams which can free up enterprises from redundant man-power costs.
How can people connect with you?
You can connect me via Facebook or LinkedIn:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carloxwang
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carloxwang
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
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