Tommie’s background is quite unconventional. He was born into a fishing family on Po Toi Island in Hong Kong, and from a young age, he often did his homework on the deck of fishing boats. Without being bound by formal schooling, he developed a mindset that is outside the traditional framework. He has worked at J.P. Morgan. Additionally, he served as an aide for the former U.S. President Barack Obama’s election campaign team. These rich cross-disciplinary experiences have given him a unique perspective in the fields of education and technology.
In 2017, Tommie founded Preface, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong. The company gradually expanded to London, Tokyo, Singapore and more. He integrated artificial intelligence, big data, and educational platforms to offer personalized tech education courses. One of its most distinctive features is Preface Coffee & Wine, a café in the bustling city that transforms into an AI and coding learning space, embodying the concept of a “mobile classroom” where learning can happen anywhere and anytime. He stated, “ I believe knowledge is fascinating, but as the world accelerates, tech cycles have shrunk from ten to fifteen years to just three or less. This makes learning feel like a fast-moving consumer good—what’s new today may be outdated in a few months. It has inspired us to rethink education and AI applications.” In addition to innovations in education, Tommie leads his team in providing digital transformation and corporate training for Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Microsoft, AWS, Meta, and Deloitte. Their efforts have earned Preface the distinction of being the first company in Asia to receive the EdTechX Global Award, demonstrating its strength and influence on the international stage.
“Wealth is not just money but inner assets— knowledge, health, and confidence.”Making AI Accessible
When discussing his personal experience, Tommie specifically mentioned the situation in 2016: “I successfully sold my first company that year, and that experience taught me that to create the greatest impact, a project must be based on a global vision. If it’s about education, then it needs to speak a universal language. At that time, I believed AI technology or programming languages were the universal languages.” This experience prompted him to rethink the essence and original purpose of education. It was this persistence and reflection that led him and his team in 2016 to venture into a new field of tech education, ultimately founding Preface. Interestingly, besides collaborating with many international companies, Tommie also established a foundation to teach young students about AI. He added, “That said, my oldest client is 81 years old, and he’s a successful entrepreneur. I believe truly successful people have a strong desire for knowledge, are willing to continuously learn, and never stop. In this era, having the right mindset is the key to success.”
When discussing wealth, Tommie said, “Wealth is not just money but inner assets— knowledge, health, and confidence. As technology advances rapidly, learning must be natural and convenient, allowing everyone to absorb new knowledge anytime, anywhere.” He believes that in the AI era, a mindset open to continuous learning is the true key to wealth. He also emphasized his company’s humble and adaptable culture, which helps them keep growing amid change. This spirit of humility and innovation is at the heart of wealth and progress.
Photography: Ivan Wong
Photography Assistant: Sun Wu
