A Letter to Fresh Graduate

Stepping out of university and into the working world can feel like stepping into fog. The path ahead is unclear, rejections feel personal, the job market seems harsh, and everywhere you turn someone is talking about how AI might replace your skills. If you’re feeling lost, you’re not alone, and more importantly, there is a way forward. As someone with over ten years of experience navigating technology, teams, and the ups and downs of multiple industries, here’s the advice I would give you, my mentee.

When everything feels chaotic, the instinct is to push harder. But sometimes the best first step is to stop and reflect. Ask yourself what your teenage self once dreamed of becoming, and imagine the ideal version of yourself five years from now if there were no constraints, no financial pressure, no competitive job market, no expectations from others. This reflection isn’t about realism, it’s about reconnecting with your authentic aspirations. And if your honest answer is simply wanting to earn more money, that’s a reasonable and valid goal too. But discovering a deeper passion gives direction, shaping the industries you choose and the skills you develop.

It’s natural to feel insecure about your technical abilities. The solution isn't to panic but to understand yourself better. Start with a self-assessment: identify what you’re strong at and where you struggle. Maybe you understand programming fundamentals well but feel nervous during presentations. That’s fine. You can improve your weaknesses over time while doubling down on your strengths during job applications. Your growth accelerates when you learn to play to your natural advantages.

If the industry feels overwhelming or confusing, take time to study it. Conduct a simple market analysis: understand what differentiates a traditional financial institution that uses technology from a tech company entering the finance world. Explore sectors like cryptocurrency companies, digital banks, retail banks, investment firms, and payment platforms. Researching the landscape not only boosts your confidence and interview performance, it also helps you identify opportunities that align with your goals.

You may also worry when your programming skills don't match job descriptions that seem to demand specific languages like Java. But instead of focusing narrowly on syntax, take a broader view of technology. Java is common in banking and backend systems, JavaScript powers frontend development, Solidity is for blockchain, Python drives AI and data work. More important than any specific language is your grasp of fundamental concepts: object-oriented design, pointers versus references, synchronous versus asynchronous operations, single-thread versus multithread processing, and core architecture principles. If you understand these well, you can pick up new languages quickly. And remember that technical interviews are essentially communication tests disguised as coding challenges. Being able to explain complex ideas in simple terms, for example, describing what Chainlink does without resorting to jargon like “Oracle”, demonstrates clarity, maturity, and the ability to collaborate effectively.

Many young graduates also worry that AI might take away their jobs. The truth is that AI will automate certain tasks, but it won’t replace people who work well with other people. Strengthen your soft skills: learn how to manage up, understand your boss’s leadership style, adapt your communication accordingly, and practice empathy. Develop critical thinking and domain knowledge. In the age of AI, the people who thrive are the ones who understand problems deeply, communicate clearly, and make thoughtful decisions. AI is a tool, and those who know how to leverage it, rather than compete with it, will succeed.

If you’re thinking about whether you should work overseas in the future, bring the question back to your personal goals. International exposure can be valuable, helping you broaden your worldview and stretch your comfort zone. But working overseas comes with intense competition, higher taxes, and cultural adjustments. Your success isn’t defined by geography. What matters more is clarity about your goals, awareness of your strengths, and how well you align opportunities with the future you want to create. If global experience helps you reach your ideal future, pursue it. If it doesn’t, focus on building a strong foundation where you are.

Feeling lost at the start of your career is not a sign of failure. It is the beginning of a meaningful journey. Careers are built not by knowing everything from day one, but by reflecting on your goals, understanding your strengths, asking thoughtful questions, improving steadily, staying adaptable, and building human skills that remain valuable even in an AI-driven world. This era isn’t about competing with everyone else, it’s about differentiating yourself. Your clarity, your curiosity, and your willingness to learn will set you apart far more than any single programming language ever could. You don’t need to see the entire path today, you just need to take the next intelligent step. And I’m here to walk with you.

寫給迷惘求職者的一封信

走出大學、踏入社會，就像走進一片濃霧。前方的路看不清楚，求職被拒讓人覺得挫敗，職場競爭激烈，而四周充斥著「AI 會取代你」的聲音。如果你覺得迷茫，請相信這並不是只有你才有的感受，更重要的是，迷茫不代表走錯路，而是前往真正方向的起點。以我十多年的工作經驗，歷經科技轉變、組織變化與多個行業的起伏，以下是我想對你說的。

當世界看似混亂時，人最自然的反應就是更努力往前衝。但有時候，最好的第一步是停下來思考。問問自己，青少年時期曾經夢想成為什麼？如果沒有任何限制、壓力、競爭與期待，五年後的理想自己是什麼模樣？這不是要你務實，而是要你重拾內心真正的渴望。如果你的答案只是「我想賺更多錢」，那也是合理且正常的。然而，找到更深層的熱情能幫助你更清楚職涯方向，也能決定你未來會選擇的產業與要培養的技能。

你可能也會擔心自己的技術能力不夠好。面對這個焦慮，最有效的方法不是恐慌，而是更了解自己。先做一次自我評估：你的強項是什麼？弱點在哪裡？可能你程式基礎扎實，但上台介紹時會緊張。這很正常。弱點可以用時間改善，但你可以在求職時善用自己的強項。唯有了解自己，才能把優勢放在最能發光的位置。

如果你覺得自己對行業了解不夠，那就開始做研究吧。進行簡單的市場分析：想清楚傳統金融機構運用科技與科技公司進入金融領域有什麼不同。了解加密貨幣公司、零售銀行、投資機構、數位銀行、支付平台等不同業態。研究市場不只是面試中的加分項，它能幫你找到真正適合自己的機會。

你也可能會擔心自己不符合職缺要求，例如某些工作要 Java，而你是學 Python 或 JavaScript 的。這時候，不要把焦點放在語言本身，而是用更宏觀的角度看技術堆疊。Java 常見於銀行與後端，JavaScript 是前端主力，Solidity 用於區塊鏈，Python 用於 AI 與資料分析。比語言更重要的，是基礎概念：物件導向、指標與參照、同步與非同步、單執行緒與多執行緒、資料結構、程式設計思維。只要基礎扎實，你換語言會很快。而且，多數技術面試其實是「溝通能力測驗」。能否把複雜概念用簡單方式解釋，例如不用「Oracle」這種術語，也能說清楚 Chainlink 在做什麼，這種能力其實更重要。

很多畢業生也會擔心 AI 會取代所有工作。事實上，AI 會取代的是不懂與他人合作、不懂思考、缺乏專業深度的工作。但 AI 取代不了人類的特質：理解他人、管理利害關係人、與主管相處、換位思考、根據領導風格調整溝通方式、提出洞察力與判斷力。這些都是 AI 時代更被重視的能力。真正能在 AI 時代成功的人，是能善用 AI、而不是被 AI 替代的人。

最後，你可能會想：要不要規劃未來到海外工作？把問題拉回第一步，回到你的職涯目標。海外經驗確實能拓展視野，也能讓你更成熟，但國外也意味著更激烈的競爭與更高的稅務負擔。成功不是由地點決定的，而是由你的方向、你的優勢，以及你是否將機會與目標對齊所決定。如果海外經驗能靠近你的理想，那就去追求。如果不能，那就專注在眼前的地方打好基礎。

迷惘不是弱點，而是你正在「思考自己想成為誰」的證明。職涯的構築從來不是靠一開始知道全部，而是靠踏實地反思、了解自己、問對問題、穩定成長、保持彈性、並深化那些 AI 也無法複製的人類能力。這個時代的競爭不是比誰懂的多，而是比誰更清楚自己、誰能更快調整、誰能在人與 AI 共存的時代找到自己的位置。

你不需要今天就看清所有道路，你只需要踏出下一步正確的選擇。而我會在你走的這段路上，陪著你。

Tokenising Money Market Funds — the quiet revolution in short-term cash management

The tokenisation of money market funds (MMFs) has shifted from speculative pilots to a strategic transformation led by the world’s largest asset managers. Firms like BlackRock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton and others are no longer experimenting; they are actively deploying tokenised fund structures to bring institutional liquidity onto blockchain networks. What once seemed experimental is now becoming an infrastructural layer for global cash management, driven by rising interest rates, improved custody solutions, and a maturing technological stack that blends traditional finance with programmable digital assets.

At its core, a tokenised money market fund represents legally recognised shares of a traditional MMF expressed as blockchain-based tokens. The legal nature of the fund remains unchanged, but the technology introduces unprecedented efficiency: intraday settlement, programmable liquidity, automation of corporate actions, and real-time composability with the broader on-chain ecosystem. Smart contracts govern the issuance and redemption flow, but the transfer agent remains responsible for the canonical shareholder register, ensuring regulatory compliance while enabling the advantages of digital asset operation.

This new design pattern borrows concepts from both traditional finance and innovations in blockchain. Stablecoin architectures have influenced how NAV-pegged tokens behave as stable-value instruments. Zero-knowledge proofs offer a way to verify compliance and investor identity without exposing private information on a public ledger, enabling regulated participants to transact with verifiable but private credentials. The architecture of tokenised MMFs is shaped around bridging the privacy requirements of traditional funds with the openness and transparency of blockchain networks.

A critical piece of this architecture is solving the oracle problem. Blockchains cannot directly access external information; they are deterministic systems that require external data—NAV, interest rates, FX feeds, redemption windows, and compliance signals—to be provided through oracles. If an oracle is compromised or inaccurate, the entire tokenised fund becomes vulnerable. Chainlink addresses this by using decentralised oracle networks that aggregate data from multiple independent providers, cryptographically secure the delivery of information, and provide decentralised execution and off-chain reporting to reduce costs while maintaining verifiability. Chainlink also offers cross-chain interoperability capabilities through CCIP, allowing tokenised assets and their state transitions to move securely between chains. This means the NAV, corporate actions, and compliance events of a tokenised MMF can be synchronised across a multi-chain ecosystem without relying on insecure or fragmented bridge mechanisms.

Cross-chain complexity is becoming one of the central design challenges for tokenised funds. Liquidity, applications, user preference, and institutional custodial environments differ widely across blockchains, forcing tokenised assets to exist in a multi-protocol world. Different chains operate with different token standards, finality models, KYC primitives, and smart contract frameworks. ERC-20, while the most widely adopted token standard, does not natively support regulated transfer restrictions, identity-aware compliance, or cross-chain consistency. This pushes institutions toward extensions such as ERC-1400 or ERC-3643, or toward permissioned wrappers that impose compliance layers on top of ERC-20. Fragmented liquidity, heterogeneous bridge mechanisms, and inconsistent regulatory enforcement across chains create significant operational burdens. Industry initiatives such as Chainlink CCIP, Cosmos IBC, and Polkadot XCM are making progress, but true standardisation is still evolving and will take years to fully harmonise.

The broader ecosystem supporting tokenised MMFs is growing rapidly. Banks, custodians, fund administrators, market infrastructures, and digital asset specialists like Chainlink, Sygnum, Fireblocks, Taurus and others are building the rails for tokenised share issuance, on-chain settlement, compliant identity frameworks, real-time NAV delivery, and cross-chain operational controls. These providers are forming the connective tissue between on-chain programmable assets and the regulated frameworks of traditional financial markets.

Regulation remains both a catalyst and constraint. Tokenised funds must comply with existing securities regulations, investor protection rules, transfer agent requirements, and disclosure standards. Maintaining the shareholder register on-chain requires legal clarity, and custodial models must address bankruptcy remoteness, fiduciary duties, and segregation of client assets. Yet regulators increasingly recognise the efficiency potential: tokenisation provides transparency, auditability, and reduced operational risk. As long as compliance obligations are met, regulators see tokenisation as an enabler of safer and more efficient markets.

The longer-term implications of tokenisation point to profound disruption. If on-chain settlement becomes the canonical record, many transfer agency functions—recordkeeping, reconciliation, corporate action processing—could compress dramatically or become automated entirely. If cross-chain standards mature, liquidity may shift from traditional distribution channels to interoperable, programmable token marketplaces. On-chain collateralisation of MMF tokens could reduce the role of custodians and distributors as assets become natively composable within decentralised and institutional financial networks. Oracle-secured automation could eliminate whole categories of middle-office functions, from NAV delivery to compliance attestations to settlement cut-off enforcement.

The most disruptive possibility is that algorithmic or open-source reference portfolios may begin to compete with or unbundle traditional fund providers. If a tokenised MMF structure can be replicated, transparently audited, and rebalanced automatically using on-chain workflows, the competitive advantage of traditional fund managers may shift from operational capabilities to pure investment strategy differentiation. While this is not an immediate shift, the direction of travel is unmistakable: tokenisation is compressing the operational stack and exposing the true value drivers in asset management.

The tokenisation of money market funds represents an inflection point in the evolution of institutional liquidity. It preserves the regulatory safeguards of traditional finance while unlocking the programmability and composability of blockchain infrastructure. As oracle networks mature, cross-chain interoperability becomes secure, and compliance primitives become standardised, the industry will see increasing pressure to modernise or risk disintermediation. The future of short-term liquidity will not be defined by which fund is largest, but by which fund is most visible, programmable, interoperable, and operationally efficient on-chain. This is the quiet revolution reshaping the very nature of cash management and the institutions that support it.

貨幣市場基金代幣化 —— 靜悄悄改變短期資金管理的革命

在金融科技的快速變革中，資產代幣化正重塑我們設計、交易與管理金融產品的方式。其核心在於將現實世界資產數位化，使其能在區塊鏈上以高度效率、透明度與可組合性運作。當代幣化從被動持有資產，進一步延伸至可在鏈上執行、拆分、抵押、轉移甚至自動化處理時，我們開始看到金融市場真正邁向程式化與全球化。特別是貨幣市場基金的代幣化，已成為傳統金融與去中心化金融之間最具象徵意義的橋樑之一。

然而，代幣化的價值並不僅止於「把資產放到鏈上」。當資產可在不同區塊鏈環境中流通，並符合高度標準化的協議時，其金融效率便真正提升。但在這個願景背後，仍存在深層挑戰，例如跨鏈複雜性、標準不一致、多協議共存與安全風險。理解這些挑戰，正是建立可信、可擴展代幣化金融基礎建設的關鍵。

在深入探討之前，必須理解一個區塊鏈最根本的問題：Oracle 問題。區塊鏈本質上無法主動取得鏈外資訊，這意味著鏈上合約若需要利率、資產價格、基金淨值或市場指標，都無法自行取得。如果沒有可信的鏈下數據來源，任何依賴外部價格或事件的應用都會失效或變得容易被操控。這正是 Chainlink 所解決的核心問題。透過去中心化預言機網路，Chainlink 建立一套由多個獨立節點、加密驗證與共識機制組成的資料傳遞層，為鏈上應用提供可信任、抗操控的現實世界資訊。它不僅讓代幣化資產能精準反映其實際價值，更讓鏈上金融模型得以安全運作。

然而，當代幣化資產跨越多條區塊鏈、不同協議、不同執行環境時，複雜度會急速提升。每條鏈都有自己的技術堆疊、共識模式與安全假設，而協議之間缺乏一致標準，使得代幣的互通性受到限制。即使是在 Ethereum 生態內部，看似簡單的 ERC-20 代幣也存在細微差異，例如不同的 transfer 行為、額外函式或不一致的錯誤處理。當同一資產在多鏈上存在多個版本時，如何確保其價格一致、供應一致、狀態一致，是極具挑戰的工程問題。

跨鏈互操作性因此成為代幣化金融的下一個主要戰場。不同鏈之間的橋接常伴隨重大安全風險，因為許多早期的跨鏈橋依賴中心化簽名、弱驗證或封裝代幣模型，容易成為攻擊者目標。要建構可信跨鏈環境，需要更高層級的標準化與更強的驗證機制，而 Chainlink 等去中心化跨鏈協議正在提供解決方案，包括通用訊息傳遞、跨鏈狀態同步與原生資產流動。這些基礎能力讓代幣化資產能在多鏈間安全移動，而不需要依賴脆弱的橋接結構。

貨幣市場基金的代幣化進一步展示了這些技術的力量。當代幣化基金能在鏈上即時清算、即時可用，並且透過可組合性進入其他 DeFi 應用時，資金效率會大幅提升。傳統金融中的 T+2 結算、跨境延遲、手動流程等限制，將被自動化、透明化與全球可訪問的基礎設施取代。若再結合跨鏈互通性，企業與投資人將可能在任意區塊鏈上存取同一組代幣化資產，而不再被單一基礎設施綁定。

這樣的轉變不僅是技術升級，更是金融邏輯的轉向。資產不再依附於特定市場，而是成為可在全球、跨鏈、跨系統流通的程式化物件。這也意味著企業需要新的治理方式、新的風險管理模式與新的合規路徑。特別是標準化的重要性將越來越被理解，因為沒有標準，互通性便無法落地，而沒有互通性，代幣化就無法創造真正的價值。

代幣化金融仍處於早期，但趨勢已十分明確。未來的金融基礎建設將由鏈上運作的標準化協議組成，由去中心化預言機提供數據保障，由跨鏈協議確保一致性與互通性。當這些基礎層成熟後，金融市場的效率、透明度與可接近性將達到前所未有的高度。那些能夠理解並掌握這些變革的企業，將在新一代金融生態中取得競爭優勢。

Becoming the Architect Your Organisation Needs

As enterprise architects, we spend much of our time shaping the future state of an organisation, its business capabilities, its technology landscape, and its operating model. Yet in the rush to design target architectures, many of us forget the most critical blueprint: the one for ourselves. Becoming the architect our organisation truly needs is not about titles, frameworks, or artefacts. It begins with defining, and deliberately inhabiting, our ideal professional self.

We often treat our “future self” as an aspiration, a distant point we hope to reach. But a more powerful approach is to act as if that ideal version already exists. Instead of seeing it as a future milestone, we adopt it as a present identity. This shift matters in enterprise architecture, where trust, influence, clarity, and leadership presence shape the outcomes as much as technical depth. If your ideal self is a confident communicator who navigates ambiguity with calm assurance, then show up that way today. Greet stakeholders with intention, hold eye contact in difficult conversations, and use each interaction to express the architecture leader you want to be.

This does not mean pretending or performing. It means aligning behaviour with the direction you want your professional life to grow. Acting from this identity creates momentum. Each action reinforces your capability, and each small win strengthens the belief that you already possess the qualities you are cultivating. And if you falter, there’s no need for self-blame. Failure is not the opposite of growth, it's the raw material that builds mastery.

Enterprise architects face many situations that can trigger discomfort: presenting contentious roadmap decisions, managing strong personalities in steering committees, or navigating political tension across business domains. Avoiding these moments may offer temporary relief, but it silently expands the boundary of what we fear. Our influence shrinks, and with it our ability to lead transformation. Instead, the practice is to take small, intentional steps into discomfort. If presenting to senior leadership feels overwhelming, start by presenting to a smaller audience. If navigating conflict is difficult, begin with lower-stakes discussions. The goal is not to eliminate fear but to reduce its power.

There is no architecture discipline without experimentation. Every failure, whether a misaligned operating model, a rejected proposal, or a tough stakeholder exchange, becomes a future asset. The question is never “Was this a mistake?” but rather “What does this teach me about becoming the architect I intend to be?” Transformation is rarely linear, and personal transformation is no exception. But each misstep refines judgment, sharpens communication, and deepens the resilience required to guide organisations through change.

Ultimately, the most powerful architecture work begins within. When we act as the ideal version of ourselves, today, not someday, we amplify our ability to shape systems, influence leaders, and guide enterprise-wide transformation. Tomorrow’s success is built from today’s mindset, today’s small actions, and today’s willingness to grow. The architect you aspire to be is not waiting in the future. You are already becoming them, one intentional decision at a time.

成為組織所需要的架構師

身為企業架構師，我們花大量時間塑造組織的未來狀態——商業能力、技術版圖以及營運模式。然而，在設計目標架構的過程中，我們常常忽略最重要的藍圖：我們自己。成為組織真正需要的架構師，並不是關於頭銜、框架或產出物，而是從定義並刻意實踐理想中的自己開始。

我們往往把「理想的自己」視為一個未來的願景，一個希望有一天能達成的目標。但更強大的方式是把它視為已經存在的身份，不把它當作未來的某個點，而是當成現在的自己。這種身份上的轉換，對企業架構師尤其重要——信任、影響力、清晰度和領導氣場往往比技術深度更能左右最終成果。如果你的理想自我是那種能在不確定中保持冷靜、具備影響力且溝通自信的架構領導者，那麼就從今天起以這個狀態示人。主動地與利害關係人交流、在關鍵對話中穩定地看著對方、用每一次互動展現你想成為的專業身份。

這不是偽裝，也不是表演，而是讓行為與你希望發展的方向一致。以理想自我的身份行動會創造動能；每一個行動都會強化你的能力，而每一次小小的勝利都會加深你已具備這些特質的信念。即使你犯錯，也不需要責怪自己。失敗不是成長的對立面，而是打造專業的重要素材。

企業架構師經常面對易引發不安的情境：在高層面前發表具爭議性的架構方案、在跨部門會議中處理強勢性格的利害關係人、或是在政治氛圍濃厚的環境中推動決策。逃避這些場景或許能帶來短暫的解脫，但它會悄悄擴大我們的恐懼邊界，削弱我們的影響力，也限制我們帶領轉型的能力。更好的做法，是以小步挑戰不適感。如果在高層簡報讓你緊張，就從較小的觀眾群開始；如果衝突管理讓你不自在，就先在低風險的場景練習。目標不是完全消除恐懼，而是降低它的力量。

沒有實驗，就沒有架構工作。每一次失敗——無論是未達成一致的架構藍圖、未被採納的提案，或是棘手的利害關係人互動——都會成為日後的寶貴資產。重點不是「這是不是錯誤？」，而是「這對我成為理想中的架構師有什麼啟發？」。轉型從來不是直線，而個人成長也一樣。但每一次偏差都會磨練判斷力、強化溝通能力，並打造引領組織變革所需的韌性。

最強大的架構工作，往往始於內在。當我們以理想的自己行動——在今天，而不是某一天——我們就能放大影響力，設計更清晰的系統，引導領導者，並帶領組織走向更高效的未來。明天的成功來自今天的心態、今天的小行動，以及今天願意成長的勇氣。你渴望成為的架構師，不是在未來等待你，而是正在你每一個有意識的選擇中逐步成形。

Architecture That Moves People, Not Just Systems

As enterprise architects, we often gravitate toward the things we can control, frameworks, technical depth, governance, and execution. These are tangible, measurable, and deeply satisfying to master. But if your “career bank account” is full of expertise and achievements while the relationship column stays empty, you risk becoming an architectural hermit: highly skilled, highly driven, yet disconnected from the very people who determine the success of your work. Our role is inherently connective. We bridge teams, align technology with business intent, and influence direction. Yet the relationship-building aspect of our work is often overlooked or undervalued. We invest heavily in developing skills, but far too little in the human networks that give those skills real impact.

The reality is that the landscape we operate in is one of constant change. A network engineer once told me, “If I ignore tech trends for a month, I’m outdated. One day a box of software will replace me, and I’ll be standing on that box trying to survive.” That sense of imminent obsolescence resonates across every technical discipline today. Learning new methods and tools is necessary, but technical mastery alone no longer guarantees influence. New skills open new doors, but relationships keep you inside the room. The most effective enterprise architects I’ve met are defined not only by their frameworks or architectural rigor, but by their ability to mobilize people, build trust, and create alignment. They stay curious, adaptable, and deeply aware that people, not systems, ultimately drive transformation.

Empathy is one of the most underrated tools in an enterprise architect’s toolkit. Not a soft accessory, but a strategic capability that helps us understand motivations, pressures, and constraints across the organization. One powerful question I often ask stakeholders is, “What can I do to make you look like a rock star in front of your boss?” This question surprises people because it disrupts traditional dynamics. But the moment we shift our focus from our own agendas to theirs, collaboration accelerates and trust forms. We begin to influence not through authority, but through relevance. This mindset flips the traditional career logic on its head. Instead of trying to elevate ourselves by relying on others’ success, we elevate others through our work.

People are often surprised by how well I understand their challenges. It’s not because I’m brilliant, it’s because I ask questions and listen. I’m not a mind reader, and neither are you. But consistent curiosity and empathy become unfair advantages. The systems we design must be resilient, scalable, and future-ready, but so must our relationships. Technology changes fast and new skills are always required, but without human connection, our influence weakens quickly. Empathy is precious. It should never be wasted on those who do not value it, but it should be generously invested in those who matter. In a world of constant disruption, the relationships we build today will determine how much impact we can create tomorrow.

推動人心，而非僅僅驅動系統的架構

作為企業架構師，我們常常傾向專注在那些我們能掌控的領域，例如架構框架、技術深度、治理與執行力。這些都是具體、可衡量，而且能讓人獲得成就感的專業能力。然而，如果你的「職涯存摺」在專業與成果方面都相當豐盛，但在人際關係這一欄卻是空白的，你就會成為一名「職涯隱士」：勤奮、能力強、性格鮮明，卻缺乏真正關心你、與你關係緊密的人。企業架構師的角色本質上就是連結式的，我們必須串聯團隊、協調商業與技術方向，並在組織內建立影響力，但人際關係往往被忽略或低估。我們花大量時間投資技能，卻很少投資在人與人之間的網絡，這些網絡往往才是放大我們影響力的關鍵。

現實是，我們所處的環境正不斷加速變動。一位網路工程師曾對我說：「如果我一個月不追科技趨勢，我就過時了。總有一天，一箱軟體就會取代我，而我只能站在那個箱子上求生存。」這種隨時可能被淘汰的焦慮，在今日的技術領域並不罕見。學習新工具與新方法固然重要，但單靠技術已不足以建立影響力。新技能能替我們打開新的大門，而真正讓我們留在房間裡的，是人際關係。真正優秀的企業架構師，不只因為他們的架構能力與治理思維而出色，更因為他們能動員人心、建立信任、推動一致方向。他們保持好奇、保持彈性，也深刻明白：推動轉型的不是系統，而是人。

同理心，是企業架構師工具箱中最被低估的能力之一。它不是軟實力的附屬品，而是一種能夠理解組織中不同角色的動機、壓力與限制的策略性能力。我經常問利害關係人一個問題：「我能做什麼，讓你在你的主管面前像個搖滾巨星？」這個問題常讓人感到意外，因為它打破了傳統的職場互動模式。但正因如此，它能迅速建立信任。當我們不再只關注自己的目標，而是真正關心對方的成功時，合作就會加速，我們的影響力也會自然提升。這種思維顛覆了傳統的職涯邏輯，不再是依靠別人的成就來推動自己，而是透過讓他人變得更好，使整個系統因我們而提升。

人們常說我很了解他們面臨的挑戰，但那不是因為我特別聰明，而是因為我願意提出問題並傾聽。我不是讀心者，你也不是。然而持續的好奇與同理心，會成為我們最大的競爭優勢。我們所設計的系統必須具備韌性、可擴展性與面向未來的能力，而我們的人際網絡也必須如此。技術會變、人會走、新技能永遠需要學，但如果沒有深度的連結與信任，我們的影響力會迅速消散。同理心非常珍貴，不應浪費在不值得的人身上，但應慷慨投入在值得投資的關係裡。在這個充滿顛覆與變動的時代，今天你所建立的關係，就是你明天能創造影響力的基礎。

Why Networking Is an Important Investment for an Enterprise Architect

In the world of enterprise architecture, we often speak in terms of systems, integrations, dependencies, and capabilities. Yet the most defining architecture we build throughout our careers is not found in a blueprint or a solution design. It is the architecture of relationships. The modern workplace is volatile. One day you may be leading a major transformation program; the next day, market shifts or organisational restructuring may force you to start again. Global instability, economic uncertainty, and technological disruption all remind us of a timeless truth: your real career capital is who you know, what you can do, how you show up, and how hard you are willing to try.

Great architecture is never built in isolation. It emerges from deep collaboration with business leaders, delivery teams, engineers, customers, vendors, regulators, and partners. When you strip away the frameworks and methodologies, architecture is fundamentally a relationship-driven discipline. A well-designed target state means nothing if you cannot influence stakeholders. A beautifully defined roadmap collapses without alignment. A breakthrough insight never sees daylight if you cannot find champions to support it. This is why networking is not an accessory to your career. It is the infrastructure that supports it.

We often cling to comfort, hoping it will preserve stability. But comfort rarely produces greatness. In fact, the distance between being comfortable and losing control is frighteningly small. Careers shift. Organisations change. Strategies evolve. The only constant layer of stability is your network, the people who stand with you, challenge you, and open doors for you. In architecture, we emphasise resilience and fail-over. Your professional network is your personal high-availability architecture. When work becomes difficult, when organisational dynamics become political, or when opportunities dry up, your network becomes your recovery mechanism.

Influence and alignment require conversations that may feel uncomfortable, such as negotiating priorities, challenging assumptions, and pushing for long-term value instead of short-term fixes. These moments often carry emotional risk, including the fear of rejection or being dismissed. Yet every architect must learn to build resilience in communication, because this is how clarity is achieved and progress is made. Networking strengthens this ability. It pushes us to articulate ideas with confidence, understand different motivations, and navigate uncertainty with composure. Over time, we become more attuned to what resonates, earns trust, and builds true partnership.

For enterprise architects, networking is not about small talk or exchanging business cards. It is about understanding domain experts deeply so that architecture is grounded in reality. It is about building trust with executives so that your strategic recommendations carry weight. It is about partnering with engineering teams to co-create solutions rather than impose them. It is about connecting with the wider ecosystem, including vendors, architects in other industries, and thought leaders, to stay ahead of emerging practices. Most importantly, it is about cultivating a support network that sustains you during organisational shifts or career transitions. Networking becomes the human version of system integration. It is how information flows, how decisions propagate, and how value is created.

You cannot architect a great enterprise without intention, discipline, and investment. Likewise, you cannot architect a great career by relying on luck or comfort. Networking is your most valuable investment because it compounds over time. Each conversation adds to your understanding. Each relationship expands your influence. Each connection becomes part of your personal architecture, your career capital. In a world of constant change, your network is the one system that grows in value even when circumstances do not. So step forward. Say hello. Start the conversation. Build resilience. Influence with humility and courage. Because as enterprise architects, our greatest designs are not made of systems. They are built through people.

為何人脈網絡是企業架構師的重要投資

在企業架構領域，我們經常談論系統、整合、相依性與能力。然而，在整個職涯中，我們真正建造的最關鍵架構並不在藍圖或解決方案設計裡，而是人際關係的架構。現代職場瞬息萬變。某天你可能還在領導一個重大轉型計畫，隔天市場變動或組織調整便讓你不得不重新開始。全球局勢不穩、經濟不確定性與科技顛覆都不斷提醒我們一個永恆的道理：真正的職涯資本，是你認識誰、你能做什麼、你如何展現自己，以及你願意投入多少努力。

卓越的架構從來不是孤立完成的。它來自與業務領導、交付團隊、工程師、客戶、供應商、監管者與合作夥伴深入協作的結果。撇開框架與方法論，架構本質上就是一門以關係為核心的學問。若無法影響利害關係人，再完美的目標架構也毫無意義。若無共識，再精心規劃的路線圖也無法落地。若找不到支持者，再深刻的洞察也難以被採用。這就是為何人際網絡不是職涯中的錦上添花，而是支撐一切的底層基礎設施。

我們常常追求舒適，希望它能帶來穩定。然而，舒適很少孕育偉大。事實上，從舒適到失去掌控之間的距離，往往近得令人驚訝。職涯會轉變、組織會更迭、策略會重寫。唯一能保持穩定的，是我們的人際網絡，是那些支持你、挑戰你、替你開門的人。在架構領域，我們強調韌性與備援；而在職涯中，你的關係網就是你的個人高可用性架構。當工作變得艱難、當組織政治升溫、當機會變少時，你的網絡就是你的復原機制。

要建立影響力與取得共識，往往需要面對不舒服的對話，包括協商優先順序、挑戰假設，或堅持長期價值而非短期補丁。這些時刻都可能帶有情緒風險，例如害怕被拒絕、被忽視或不被認同。然而，每位企業架構師都必須學習在溝通上建立韌性，因為清晰、影響力與進展都是在這些對話中產生的。而人際網絡正是鍛鍊這種能力的最佳方式。它迫使我們更自信地表達觀點、更深入理解他人的動機，也更能在不確定中保持鎮定。隨著時間累積，我們會越來越懂得哪些方式能建立信任、形成合作並產生真正的影響。

對企業架構師而言，建立人際網絡不是寒暄或交換名片而已，而是深入理解領域專家，讓架構建立在真實需求上；是贏得高層信任，讓策略建議更具分量；是與工程團隊合作共同創造，而不是自上而下強行推動；是積極與更廣的生態系互動，包括供應商、跨產業架構師與思想領袖，以掌握新興實踐。更重要的是，它能在組織變動或職涯轉換時，成為你的支持系統。人際網絡可被視為「人的系統整合」，它是資訊如何流動、決策如何傳遞與價值如何產生的關鍵。

要設計出卓越的企業，必須有意圖、有紀律、有投資。同樣地，要打造卓越的職涯，不能依賴運氣或保持舒適。人際網絡是你最值得投入的資產，因為它會隨時間持續複利成長。每一段對話都累積你的理解；每一段關係都擴大你的影響；每一個連結都是你個人架構的一部分，是你的職涯資本。在一個永遠在變動的世界裡，人際網絡是唯一在不利情況下仍能持續增值的系統。

所以，向前踏一步。打聲招呼。開始對話。培養韌性。以謙遜與勇氣建立影響力。因為對企業架構師而言，我們最偉大的設計從不是系統本身，而是透過人所建構出的價值。