Asking the right questions, listening carefully to the answers and responding as simply as needed are CK Mah’s guidelines.
What’s your story?
Business Driver with strong international (posted in Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore) track record on strategic business development, business management, consulting, and deal making in the financial, telecommunication, media & communications, hi-tech manufacturing and government related industries within Asia Pacific region. Been specialising in monetising cyber security start-up in Asia Pacific region for the past 12++ years.
What excites you most about your industry?
New Challenges: Unlimited mind-set. Constantly new ways to invent or break the status-quo, so your job changes every day.
High Impact: Protect real people, critical infrastructure, and large companies from massive commercial harm.
Continuous Learning: Open minded. Always learning new technologies, strategies, business environment and go-to-market responses.
Problem Solving: Especially in monetising start-up, it feels like solving a high-stakes puzzle or playing a real-world strategy game.
What drives you in your career to push beyond what other people consider normal?
My drive to push beyond normal limits in a career comes from a deep desire for continuous growth and creating meaningful impact. Curiosity, Mastery, Impact and Legacy are my core motivations.
• Curiosity: My natural need for continuous improvement.
• Mastery: The pursuit of excellence and deep skill in my craft.
• Impact: Solving commercial problems that improve status-quo.
• Legacy: Leaving behind systems, models or approaches that continue.
What have been the most useful skills you have learnt and applied in your journey?
The most useful skills I learned and applied throughout my professional and business journey are clear communication, critical thinking, and continuous adaptability.
Clear Communication – Explaining ideas simply and listening actively
Critical Thinking – Ask deep questions, test my assumptions and be objective.
Adaptability – Embracing changes, staying calm under pressure and learning from failure.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
The single best piece of advice I received is “allow yourself to change your mind and pivot when a goal no longer serves its objective”.
Who inspires you?
Startup founders, especially those who combine an unyielding vision with a deep connection to their customers and a relentless drive to solve hard problems in order to achieve their objectives.
What have you learnt recently that blew you away?
Steve Jobs: “If you define the problem correctly, you almost have the solution.”
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Nothing. The “adventurer mindset” is the unique thrill in testing my instincts, adapting on the fly, and solving problems in real time without a safety net or a step-by-step blueprint.
How do you unwind?
Good casual game of bowling and/or golf….
What is a major mindset change, belief shift or ‘ah ha’ moment that you’ve experienced in relation to your career?
My major career breakthrough is realizing that delivering real value matters much more than simply staying busy.
1. From “Effort” to “Impact”
2. Solving the right problem(s)
3. Power of communication
Everyone in business should read this book:
The definitive book by and about Charlie Munger is Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, compiled and edited by Peter D. Kaufman
Shameless plug for your business or career:
Established in growing regional business by 200% to 1100% through direct and strategic partnership.
Proven knowledge on IT business transformation (paradigm shift), thought leadership and IT business consulting within the Asia Pacific region.
Well versed in business trend impressing and capturing C-suite customers mind share.
Trained and proven strategic deal structuring with strong ability to translate into business and commercial conversations with C-suite customers.
Good financial and operational understanding in business management.
Adept at managing cross-functional and multi-cultural teams with efficiency in motivating and monitoring performance as per organizational objectives.
How can people connect with you?
Linkedin at www.linkedin.com/in/ck-mah-aa060666
Mobile at +65 81214396
Email at ck.mah2026@gmail.com
Social Media Links?
www.linkedin.com/in/ck-mah-aa060666
This interview is part of the CallumConnects series.
Please attach 3 images here: We need at least one high res image of you. The other 2 can be either additional shots of you or your company logo, your team, a picture of you relaxing etc. : Mah Chor Kiat – Professional 2 (reduced).jpg
2nd Image. : Mah Chor Kiat – Professional 8.jpg
3rd Image : Mah Chor Kiat – Professional 6.jpg
Your Name : CK Mah
Your Title (including company name) : Regional Director (Armis Security)
Your best email address : ck.mah2026@gmail.com
Your Country : Singapore
Your City : Singapore
Your industry (start typing) : Computer/Network Security
If you selected ‘Other’ please tell us what : Cyber security