From time to time, a brief pause for reflection reveals the threads that weave our lives together. For me, this week felt like the perfect moment to do just that.
After a much-needed and entirely voluntary (aka friends asking “are you crazy?”) break to prioritize health and family, I have started in the role of COO and partner at Hitech Advisors. The excitement I felt driving to the office echoed the thrill of my first job decades ago—a young engineering graduate eager to start a new chapter.
That first role at United Technologies Corp (UTC), an iconic US manufacturing conglomerate, was a defining moment. Tasked with evaluating and standardizing on the best-in-class 3D solid modeling MCAD system to replace outdated 2D drafting tools, I couldn’t fully grasp the scale of its impact at the time. My work reshaped how tens of thousands of engineers, designers, and drafters at Carrier (HVAC), Otis (elevators), Sikorsky (helicopters), and Pratt & Whitney (jet engines) built products that were “Made in USA”. Transitioning from 2D to 3D design wasn’t just a technical upgrade—it was a seismic shift for the company and its workforce, streamlining processes and boosting innovation. Reflecting now, I was fortunate to stumble into a role that transformed a major manufacturing powerhouse and launched my career.
Since then, my business cards have had many titles: Application Engineer, Systems Engineer, SE Manager/Director, VP of Solutions Consulting, VP of Customer Success. Each role marked a new chapter of growth. I’ve lived and worked across North America, Oceania and Asia, navigating personal and professional transformations—from a student in China to an IT expert and leader in the U.S., from a technology consumer to a provider of customer-focused solutions at Compaq. My career evolved alongside technology itself: from “systems of record” ERP ecosystem (DellEMC, Opentext) to “systems of engagement” prioritizing user experience (Opentext, Contentsquare), from on-premise infrastructure EMC to cloud (Opentext), and from enterprise software (Opentext) to SaaS (Contentsquare, Eartheye Space), from Pre Sales Engineering/Consulting to Post sales Customer Success (Contentsquare) Each shift focused on delivering more measurable value to clients.
The common thread through these changes has been my drive to step beyond the comfort zone while cherishing enduring relationships. Building and nurturing connections—with family, neighbors, teammates, and clients—has been my greatest source of joy. As management guru Peter Drucker once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Helping clients transform their businesses with innovative technology has been my way of creating that future, one relationship and one win at a time.
Today, we stand at the cusp of another revolution: the age of AI and intelligent agents. Historian Yuval Noah Harari has called AI “arguably the most disruptive technology in human history.” Its potential to transform knowledge work spans every sector, geography, and business size. Organizations with a clear AI strategy and strong execution will thrive, while others risk falling behind. McKinsey & Company projects that AI could add $13 trillion to global GDP by 2030, but it also estimates that 30% of current jobs could be automated by then, raising urgent questions about workforce impact.
As a technologist, I’m exhilarated by AI’s potential to supercharge productivity. As a seasoned leader, I’m deeply mindful of its human toll—layoffs are already accelerating, with 2024 seeing a 40% spike in tech sector job cuts compared to 2023. This duality fuels my excitement to be at Hitech Advisors, a consultancy renowned for delivering business results with empathy at its core. Our expanding expertise in Agentic AI Customer Experience, global On-Demand resourcing, and Technology Lifecycle Management positions us to guide organizations through the “what” and “how” of AI-driven transformation, balancing innovation with human impact.
This week, as I begin my new role, I feel the same spark I did at United Technologies decades ago. The difference now? I fully appreciate the potential impact of this work—its power to transform businesses and lives. At Hitech Advisors, we’re ready to shape a future where technology and empathy drive meaningful change.
Partner and Chief Operating Officer
Lan Wang is the Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Hitech Advisors, where he leads operations, delivery excellence and client strategy. With more than two decades of experience across North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, Lan has held senior leadership roles at Dell, EMC, OpenText, Contentsquare and Eartheye Space. He has managed diverse technical teams to support revenue portfolios exceeding $1.4B. Lan specializes in scaling enterprise operations and aligning technology strategy with business outcomes—especially in cloud, SaaS, AI and customer success domains. He is also a recognized speaker and guest lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School. At Hitech, Lan is focused on helping clients innovate, unlock business values through operational clarity and trusted execution.
Lan Wang joined Hitech Advisor’s on June 8th, 2025 as a Partner and Chief Operating Officer. Read the full Press Release here.
Hitech Advisors
