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Hello World! It's Maude from Taiwan.

Hi there, I'm Maude. This is the place where I jot down learning notes, insights, architectural deep dives, and technical hurdles I've encountered in the world of wireless networking, IoT, and software development.

My "Previous Life" as a Curious Tech Journalist

I began my career as a journalist, largely because writing is my strength (specifically in my native language) and I majored in Journalism at university.

I was fortunate enough to start my reporting career on the tech beat. This gave me the chance to dive into topics I never would have explored as a non-STEM student. I wasn't just comparing the pros and cons of the latest iPhone and Android phones; I was witnessing how software changes the world. Along the way, I learned about Cloud computing, Big Data, IoT, and AI. These stopped being just buzzwords and became real tools for solving problems. This curiosity eventually inspired me to start learning how to code.

After four years in the media industry, I decided to pivot my career toward Software Product Management.

My "After Life" as a Software Product Manager

This is definitely not an easy journey, yet a challenging and rewarding one. I met many people who are willing to give me a chance and support me to be a better product manager. I also encountered skepticism from those who prioritize traditional CS degrees over diverse backgrounds.

Imposter syndrome has been a constant companion on this journey. It's crucial to navigate through and keep moving forward.

My milestones so far:

  • Participated in development workshops (RoR, Laravel).

  • Gained experience through internships and side projects including SALASUSU and SmallSomebody.

  • Transitioned into my first Software PM role through internal referrals.

  • Worked at Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) in Hong Kong, exploring the global IoT ecosystem.

In 2024/25, I stepped out of my comfort zone at Signify to attend hackathons and startup contests, working as both a backend developer and a PM. This period of reflection allowed me to rethink my career trajectory.

Next Step

I am currently working in the CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) OEM industry to gain a ground-level understanding of networking infrastructure. Why dive into the world of hardware and OEMs?

For me, the answer is strategic:

  1. CPE is the Gateway: At Signify, I realized that over 80% of smart home issues were unrelated to our products. They were caused by home network settings or glitches. To master IoT, I must understand the "entry point" of the network.

  2. The OEM/ODM Reality: This is the backbone of global electronics production. I am spending this year deeply understanding the business logic and workflows of this model.

This blog is my commitment to that belief. Here, I’ll document how I’m navigating the complexities of networking, always with the goal of building more intuitive, powerful software products.

Thanks for being part of my "After Life" journey. Let’s decode the world, one line of code at a time.