Name: King-Hong Chung

Title: Senior Technical Manager

Organisation: MediaTek Inc.

King-Hong Chung is a Multimedia Specialist having over 16 years of algorithm research, development, implementation, and quality assessment experience in the field of image/video signal processing and embedded system areas. He received a BEng (Hons) degree and a PhD in electronic and information engineering from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2001 and 2009 respectively. He currently is working in MediaTek Inc. as a Senior Technical Manager responsible for the image processing engine development for various system-on-chip (SoC) applications.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope King's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

As a technical leader, the most challenging part is to predict the product features in the coming years and, within a limited period, align each teammate to develop the related technologies for the features and make sure these technologies are mature enough for mass production.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

To become a capable leader, you have to work hard and work smart to build up the skills/abilities required in your area in a short period. Once you can deliver reliable and high-quality outcomes sustainably, your reputation will then be built up, and the leadership position will be waiting for you when the time comes.

My story may be an example. I have had no any experience in hardware implementation but was assigned in my first job in industrial to design a challenging algorithm and implement it in hardware within 3 months. I then worked very hard (over 14 hours a day) to learn about the required implementation skills, did many experiments to find out the best implementation way and cooperated with different teammates to develop the driver and the firmware for the hardware to maximize the performance. Finally, I was able to deliver my design on time, and the performance of it was very satisfactory. It was highly appreciated by customers and exceeded my supervisor’s expectations. Since then, I have always been assigned to lead the development of the most challenging algorithms and speed up the development cycle of the whole team. A few years later, I was recruited by the current company with a promoted position, and a similar story happened to me again there. Finally, I was offered another promotion to my current position a few years later.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I get up at 7:30 a.m. and do meditation for 15-20 minutes before going to the office. In the office, I will first prepare a morning coffee, check emails and then spend about 30 minutes reading the worldwide news, especially about the technology in my field. After that, I will prepare a simple task list and put all my efforts into completing the tasks as quickly as possible. About 30 minutes before off, I will prepare materials for tomorrow's tasks and then enjoy the time with my family members after work. An hour before bedding, I will watch YouTube for 30-45 minutes to learn something new in different areas and do another meditation for 15-20 minutes before bedding.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

The recent lesson I have learned is to be not so serious to your teammates, listen to them carefully and figure out what they are demanding before lending your helping hands. In this way, you will find that your team will grow much faster than we expected.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

The one that has a profound impact on my leadership is not a book but an interview clip called “Hard Work Leads to Massive SUCCESS! | Li Ka Shing | Top 10 Rules”. I follow these rules as much as possible not only at my work but in my life. They have worked great so far.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Work hard with heart and wisdom.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

When I was a research student at the university, I always asked seniors and professors about the ways to complete my PhD within the shortest possible time. One day, an assistant professor told me that what I should do is hard working and focusing on my research. You will then know you be there one day when the time comes. It is like a monk asking to be Buddha with the shortest path. There is no such a know-how for everyone because everyone is unique and has to find out the best way by himself through daily practice. He should put all his effort and focus on doing the practice every day. When the time comes, you will know one day when you get enlightenment.

The same applies to a newbie asking for a shortcut to be a leader or professional. Working hard with heart and wisdom, you will be there one day when the time comes.