Get ready to meet a BeyondID team member who’s as comfortable tackling tech challenges as they are mastering the latest video game. Ben Chan is not your average problem-solver. Within the virtual halls of BeyondID, Ben thrives on challenges, relishing the opportunity to craft innovative solutions tailored to meet the needs of his clients. Whether he’s immersed in exhibiting our core values or lost in the world of “Lord of the Rings,” his enthusiasm shines. Join us for a Q&A with Ben as we uncover what drives his love for music, strategy, and delicious zhajiang!
What do you do to de-stress?
Getting lost in a good story, whether that’s playing video games or watching TV or movies. I watch a wide variety of shows and movies, but some recent highlights were “Better Call Saul” and rewatching of the “Lord of the Rings” Trilogy (Extended Editions, of course).
Would you say you are more of an extrovert or an introvert?
I’m more of an introvert. I have no problems spending time on my own.
What is something (big or small) that you are really bad at?
Even though I’m a gamer, my hand-eye coordination for certain activities like sports is terrible. Don’t ask me to catch a ball! I like to play story-based games like Dragon Age or The Legend of Zelda and strategy games like Fire Emblem and Civilization. I also play online games like League of Legends with my friends sometimes.
If you could only eat one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A Chinese dish called zhajiang, served over rice. It has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. It’s a dish that my mother would make quite often.
What is your go-to karaoke song?
“L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole.
What was your favorite subject in high school or college?
I really enjoyed studying physics. Getting to see the concepts I learned in math applied practically was satisfying.
I remember one project, we had to make a bridge out of balsa wood strips and see how much weight it could hold. I don’t think I did too well on the project though, because even though I enjoyed the practical application of math to theoretical physics problems, I wasn’t very skilled at translating that further into real world practical applications.
What do you enjoy most about your role at BID?
I enjoy tackling difficult problems and figuring out solutions that fit the customer’s needs and requirements. It’s like solving a puzzle!
What is your go-to work productivity hack?
Turning on some music really helps me lock in and focus. Sometimes it’s a playlist of soundtrack music, other times it’s just one song on repeat. Recently I’ve been using soundtrack music from video games to help me focus. Usually, the tracks are already designed to provide atmospheric backgrounds anyway so it’s not too distracting.
What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute to your success and why?
I have always been a quick learner which has helped me pick up new skills and concepts. Prior to BID I was completely new to the IT security field!
What is the career highlight you are most proud of?
Being selected for President’s Club 2022! It was my first ever President’s Club and an amazing experience. I was incredibly honored to be selected so early in my professional career and honestly a little surprised. It wasn’t really a goal of mine to be selected since I knew that there were many well-deserving candidates at BID and I prefer to focus on the tasks at hand and doing the best job I can, so my selection was quite unexpected (but welcome, of course!).
Which one BeyondID Core Value do you exhibit the most in work and life?Can you provide an example? (Integrity, Innovation, Raving Fan Culture & Growth)
I believe I exhibit Growth the most, over the past 5 years at BID I feel like I’m constantly learning new skills and concepts and being pushed out of my comfort zone. A recent example would be when I took over as the architect on the OAG Migration and LUX projects at Northern Trust, these projects were already underway, and I needed to catch up quickly and start leading the teams on OAG – a technology that I wasn’t super familiar with. Thankfully, I had great support from the Solutions team and the project team members were amazing as well!
When it comes to BeyondID Principles, which one(s) resonate with you the most and why?
When I think of the principles: “obsess over customers”, “measuring what matters and question what’s measured” and “apply long-term thinking” resonate the most with me. My time at BID has taught me that our greatest key to success is to constantly be thinking about how to bring value to our customers, even if it isn’t something that the customer is thinking of or asking for right now.
