Hi Karl, tell us about yourself!
I’m a family man in my forties originally from Vietnam. I have a passion for solving technical challenges and a deep appreciation for the moment they are overcome. I thrive under healthy pressure and genuinely enjoy engaging with people from diverse backgrounds to learn from their experiences and perspectives. I find that these interactions not only enrich my understanding of the world but also inspire my work.
What do you do as a senior product manager?
As a Senior Product Manager, I serve as the Product Owner for our Passive Optical Network (PON) software, a core technology in the fiber-to-the-home sector. My responsibilities include guiding three software teams at Genexis by defining the project scope, prioritizing tasks, and providing direction on key technical issues.
A significant part of my role involves acting as a central point of contact. I engage regularly with product managers, technical teams, company leadership, and the sales department to ensure a clear understanding of market priorities and customer needs. This cross-functional collaboration is crucial for delivering customer-centric products that meet deadlines, stay within budget, and maintain high quality standards.
How did you get started in this industry?
My journey began after completing my PhD research on advanced PON techniques at Eindhoven University of Technology, when I joined Genexis. At that time, the company was exclusively focused on Point-to-Point (PtP) products. We made a strategic move to enter the GPON market, a decision that led to the launch of our first GPON Optical Network Terminal (ONT) in 2013.
The market for third-party ONTs was virtually nonexistent, as operators typically procured both the ONT and Optical Line Terminal (OLT) from a single vendor, with little belief in interoperability. I was tasked with leading extensive interoperability tests across Europe, often at the few operators willing to open their labs to us. Through a determined, step-by-step approach, we built technical and commercial expertise in the PON market. We successfully established ourselves as a strong, independent ONT vendor, providing network operators with greater choice and flexibility. Today, PON is a cornerstone of Genexis’s technology and product portfolio.
You have been working at Genexis for more than 10 years. How have things changed here?
When I joined Genexis, it was essentially a startup with a team of fewer than 20 people. Over the past decade, the company has grown significantly, now employing over 200 people. Despite this dramatic increase in size, we have successfully maintained our core culture. The work environment remains open, flat, and flexible, with a notable lack of hierarchy. This ensures that every team member remains approachable and that communication flows freely across the entire organization. This continuity in culture has been a key factor in our sustained success.
What is your favorite part of working at Genexis?
My favorite part about working at Genexis is the culture. It’s a perfect fit for me because the company fosters a high degree of autonomy. While we operate as a cohesive team, everyone is empowered to define their own role and determine how their contributions best align with the company’s broader objectives. This environment of trust and flexibility is something I deeply value and believe is key to our success.
What is something you have accomplished in your work and are you extra proud of?
The proudest accomplishment of my career is being instrumental in building Genexis’s PON business from the ground up. This was a challenging endeavor, as we tackled the technical obstacle of achieving interoperability with major Optical Line Terminal (OLT) brands—something few others in the industry were willing to attempt at the time. I’ll never forget one occasion where I spent an entire night in an operator’s lab, seizing the chance to work with equipment that wasn’t available in our own facility. My colleagues’ recognition of my work, and the nickname “interop king” they gave me, is a testament to our shared success and holds more value than any official title.
