In the full Episode 37 of The Generalists Podcast we sit down with Jeremy Snyder — CEO of FireTail and one-time member of AWS Singapore’s eight-person “day-zero” crew — for a free-wheeling chat about wrangling rogue APIs, reading the room (literally, through improv), and why three design partners are never enough. Recorded just after FireTail was named a Startup Spotlight finalist at Black Hat Asia (“Hacker Summer Camp”), this conversation traces Jeremy’s loop-de-loop from early cloud evangelist to API-security contrarian.

From leaky S3 buckets to shadow-API gremlins, we unpack why most “breaches” start with boring misconfigurations, how CISOs can’t protect what they don’t know exists, and the simple calendar tricks a remote-first founder uses to keep both code and kettlebell reps moving.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why API inventories, not firewalls, are the real first line of defense — and how most companies are still flying blind
• Lessons from AWS’s earliest days in Southeast Asia and how those shape Jeremy’s startup playbook today
• The “×3 Design-Partner Rule”: getting written commitments before you write a single feature
• How misconfigurations made Capital One & Optus infamous — and what they teach about org culture
• Productivity hacks for fully remote teams (calendar blocking, fiction breaks, RSS over doom-scrolling)
• Why improv comedy beats an MBA for leadership training and boardroom persuasion
• The upside of speaking seven languages when selling security tech across continents
• Jeremy’s advice to his 20-year-old self on risk, compounding skills, and building before you’re “ready”

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr.: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp⁠⁠⁠
• Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282⁠⁠⁠

Guest:

• Jeremy Snyder: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremysnyder/⁠

Resources & Links:

• FireTail: ⁠https://www.firetail.ai⁠
• AWS: ⁠https://aws.amazon.com⁠
• DropSuite: ⁠https://dropsuite.com⁠

• Black Hat: ⁠https://www.blackhat.com⁠
• DEF CON: ⁠https://defcon.org⁠
• BSides: ⁠https://www.securitybsides.com⁠
• Microsoft Azure: ⁠https://azure.microsoft.com⁠
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP): ⁠https://cloud.google.com⁠
• Oracle Cloud: ⁠https://www.oracle.com/cloud⁠
• Capital One: ⁠https://www.capitalone.com⁠
• Optus: ⁠https://www.optus.com.au⁠
• Pocket: ⁠https://getpocket.com⁠
• Hugh Howey “Silo”: ⁠https://hughhowey.com/books/silo-series⁠

In Episode 36 of The Generalists Podcast, we sit down with Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, for a full-length conversation on how geography shapes entrepreneurship—and why the East-West divide isn’t as wide as you might think.

From Silicon Valley to Southeast Asia, what really sets these startup worlds apart?

What You’ll Learn:

• The cultural and operational differences in startups across regions
• How founders approach risk, fundraising, and growth in the East vs West
• Why local context matters for product-market fit and scaling
• Common misconceptions about global startup strategies
• The “density advantage” of Silicon Valley vs generalist talent in SEA
• Democratizing entrepreneurship via Hustle Fund’s Angel Squad
• Stack-ranking opportunities across emerging markets
• The generational shift in risk tolerance and ambition

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr.: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp⁠
• Razko Kotler: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282⁠

Guest:

Resources & Links:

• Hustle Fund: https://hustlefund.vc/
• Reap: https://reap.global/
• Jan Health: https://jan.health/
• CharterSpace: https://charterspace.co/
• Angel Squad: https://www.hustlefund.vc/squad
• A History of the People’s Action Party: 1985–2021: https://nuspress.nus.edu.sg/products/a-history-of-the-peoples-action-party-1985-2021
  

Sau Sheong Chang—Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of GovTech Singapore, and bestselling author of two Go-language books—drops by to code-switch with Michael & Raz on the future of technical leadership. From writing his first lines of C to shipping SingPass Mobile for five million citizens, Sau Sheong reveals how hands-on coding sharpens executive judgment, why GovTech runs like a startup inside the state, and how AI-augmented teams will rewrite the engineer’s career map over the next five years.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why he still writes code as a CTO

• Data-driven leadership lessons from GovTech, PayPal, & SP Group
• AI’s impact on software-engineering careers over the next 5 years
• Building “startup culture” inside government
• Counter-intuitive takeaways for building products
• The one thing he’d tell his 20-year-old self

• 
  

00:00 Introduction02:00 Writing and Publishing Books on Code02:24 Early Coding Journey and Java Era04:36 Transition to Ruby and Go09:31 Career Path and Opportunities12:43 Leading Engineering and Business Teams20:35 Singapore's Unique Tech Journey31:28 GovTech's Role and Responsibilities31:50 Smart Nation Initiative and Govtech34:15 The Role of AI in Software Engineering38:59 Impact of AI on Various Professions49:33 Advice for Startups and Engineers54:58 Reflections and Personal Insights

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp
• Razko Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282

Guest:

• Sae Sheong Chang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sausheong/

Resources & Links:

• GovTech Singapore: https://www.tech.gov.sg
• SP Group: https://www.spgroup.com.sg
• Temasek: https://www.temasek.com.sg
• Yuu Rewards: https://www.yuu.sg
• Codeium: https://www.codeium.com
• Revenge of the Tipping Point (Malcolm Gladwell): https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Tipping-Point-Overstories-Superspreaders/dp/B0D5RFG8KQ/

Kevin Brockland, CFA, founder & managing partner of Indelible Ventures, sits down with Michael & Raz to map out what it really takes to build—and fund—tech-enabled B2B startups that can scale internationally. From choosing Malaysia as a launchpad to running a lean, AI-driven fund, Kevin shares the operator tactics and investor discipline that turn regional bets into global wins.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why Malaysia? Kevin’s contrarian thesis for basing a seed fund there—and the flywheel it unlocks
• Fundraising mastery: data-room hygiene, crisp narratives, and the art of saying “no”
• AI for VCs: specific automations Kevin uses to source, screen, and support deals
• Customer support = revenue: why most founders under-invest and how to fix it
• Building global-first B2B companies out of Southeast Asia—step-by-step guidance
• Well-being hacks: Kevin’s mental & physical regimen for sustainable performance
• One thing he’d tell his 20-year-old self that every emerging manager should hear

00:00 Introducing Kevin and Indelible Ventures04:06 Challenges of Raising a Fund in Malaysia09:31 The Role of AI in Emerging Markets19:18 Importance of Data Rooms for Startups23:44 Why We Invest: Decision-Making Insights30:01 The Importance of Saying No31:12 Tech-Enabled B2B Startups31:56 Understanding Consumer vs. B2B Markets32:58 The Evolution of Tech Ecosystems36:48 Customer Support as a Revenue Generator43:44 Challenges and Opportunities in ASEAN54:25 Advice to My 20-Year-Old Self56:13 Maintaining Physical and Mental Health58:17 Recommended Podcasts and Books

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp
• Razko Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282

Guest:

Kevin Brockland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbrockland/

Resources & Links:

• Indelible Ventures: https://indelible.vc/
• Portfolio: https://indelible.vc/portfolio
• Kinetix Pro: https://www.kinetixpro.ai/
• K-Link: https://www.klink.cloud/
• Shoppable Business:https://shoppable.ph/
• The Next Big Idea podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-big-idea/id1482067226
• Blinkist (book-summary app): https://www.blinkist.com/
• Lightspeed Venture Partners “Southeast Asia: Resetting Expectations” report: https://lsvp.com/stories/southeast-asia-resetting-expectations/
• The Big Bang Theory (TV series): https://www.warnerbros.com/tv/big-bang-theory

In this episode of The Generalists Podcast, hosts Michael Smith Jr. and Razko Kotler welcome Alan Soon, Co-Founder & CEO of Splice Media, to discuss:

• His journey from radio and TV newsrooms across Asia to roles at CNBC and Yahoo
• The community-driven success of Splice Beta and its impact on media entrepreneurship
• Transitioning into a media entrepreneurship coach, Alan explains how AI and live community events are transforming journalistic practice.
• Navigating mid-life - not a crisis but an opportunity

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
• Razko Kotler: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/ ⁠

Guest:

Alan Soon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alansoon/

Resources & Links:

• Splice Media: https://splicemedia.com
• Splice Beta: https://splicemedia.com/beta-2025
• Splice Nano: https://splicemedia.com/nano
• Yahoo: https://www.yahoo.com
• CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com
• Computerworld: https://www.computerworld.com
• Do Not Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen: https://a.co/d/eIEK1t2

• 75% of small businesses get rejected for loans - but what if the system is rigged? Michel de Rijk, Founder of Kredit Hero, exposes why traditional SME lending is broken and reveals how AI-powered marketplaces are revolutionizing business financing across Asia.In this episode of The Generalists, hosts Michael Smith Jr. and Razko Kotler welcome Michel de Rijk, Founder of Kredit Hero, to discuss:
• • His journey from adtech (iWonder) to building programmatic platforms like Xaxis and leading growth at S4 Capital
  • Co-founding 19Volt’s venture-builder model and launching Kredit Hero, an AI-powered SME lending marketplace in the Philippines
  • How Kredit Hero matches lenders and borrowers digitally—closing Asia’s SME financing gap with speed, transparency, and competitive pricing
• 
  

• 00:00 Introduction & Episode Kickoff 00:17 Meeting Michel de Rijk & Singapore Journey 02:21 Building Xaxis & Programmatic Advertising 03:41 Transition to S4 Capital & Global Growth 11:48 Launching 19Volt & Venture Building Model 14:17 Kredit Hero: SME Lending Revolution 32:39 Lender–Borrower Matching & Transparency 34:20 Philippines Launch: Market Impact 35:18 Revenue Model & Competitive Advantage 35:59 Career Reflections & Ecosystem Challenges 50:38 Balancing Work, Life & Physical Wellness Hosts:

  • Michael Smith Jr.: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
  • Razko Kotler: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/ ⁠

  Guest:

  • Michel de Rijk: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mderijk/ ⁠

  
  

  Resources & Links:

  • The Generalists Podcast: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast ⁠
  • Kredit Hero: ⁠https://kredithero.com 19Volt: https://www.19volt.com
  • S4 Capital: ⁠https://www.s4capital.com⁠
  • WPP: ⁠https://www.wpp.com/⁠

  
  

  #GeneralistsPodcast #SmallBusinessLending #FintechTrends

In this episode of The Generalists, hosts Michael Smith Jr. and Razko Kotler welcome Mimi Nicklin, Empathy Advocate, to discuss:

• Transforming leadership through empathy—drawing on frameworks from her bestselling books and training over 16,500 leaders
• Tackling workplace loneliness via the OpenRoom initiative and comparing Southeast Asia’s evolving business ecosystem to Europe
• Operationalizing empathy across organizations, including the generalist-versus-specialist debate and practical steps for building empathetic cultures

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
• Razko Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/

Guest:

• Mimi Nicklin – Empathy Advocate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miminicklin/

Resources & Links:

• Empathy Everywhere: https://www.empathyeverywhere.co/
• Softening the Edge – Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Softening-Edge-Mimi-Nicklin/dp/9948340094
• Empathy at Work – Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Empathy-At-Work-Using-Change/dp/811972643X
• The MiMi YouYou Show (Apple Podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-mimi-youyou-show-creating-empathy/id1687806240
• Mimi YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxv635q-WB871-OA6KuUdpg
• The Cafe on the Edge of the World: https://www.amazon.sg/Cafe-Edge-World-Story-Meaning/dp/0991392051