Who are you, and what do you do? What do you like to do outside of work?

I began my career as an event manager for a leading global energy drink brand. Soon after, I spearheaded the design of a dedicated esports arena and a family entertainment centre. Over the next decade, I focused on building businesses, creating a few of my own while primarily working as a consultant for others. This journey took me around the world, allowing me to collaborate with Fortune 500 companies, funded start-ups, and national governments. Last winter, I decided to leave my role as COO of a large conglomerate in the Middle East and took some time off. I’m now shifting my focus from operations to finance, dedicating my time to gaining the skills and qualifications needed for this career transition. My aim is to work in venture capital or private equity for the next few years, ultimately aspiring to join a hedge fund or start my own.

Outside of work, I am passionate about training and competing in fencing. After a ten-year break, I resumed training in 2021 and won gold at the national championships, which led to my reinstatement on the national team. Competing against the world’s best athletes at the 2022 fencing Grand Prix was challenging, but I remain determined to compete at the highest level again. Thankfully, age isn’t a barrier in fencing, and at thirty-three, I plan to pursue this dream until I’m forty-five!

In addition, I spent many years playing the drums, mainly focusing on classic rock and heavy metal. Recently, I’ve transitioned to learning the flute, a more expressive instrument. As an absolute beginner, I embrace being a lifelong student of the flute, which brings me immense joy.

What hardware do you use?

My laptop is an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 with AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. Depending on what I’m doing, I control it with either the ASUS Raikiri Pro gaming controller or the ZSA Voyager keyboard.

I used to have an elaborate multiscreen setup that was quite enjoyable for a time. Now I prefer to keep things simple, using just the essentials. Everything is arranged on a manually operated sit/stand desk. In the photos, you’ll see a Mudita Harmony alarm clock and Mudita Stolp Faraday Cage.

I use the right side of my desk for reading and writing. You’ll always find a journal, a ballpoint pen for my left hand, and a fountain pen for my right.

Occasionally, I light a scented candle to create a relaxing atmosphere while I study.

And what software?

The basics are Brave for web browsing and Obsidian for note-taking. I’ve chosen to use the Proton suite of services, which includes encrypted email, password management, and cloud file storage.

I use Steam for my games library. Brain.fm helps me focus while I work, and I use TradeStation for online trading and brokerage.

Although it took some time, I have completely transitioned away from any services offered by FANG companies.

What’s your keyboard setup like? Do you use a custom layout or custom keycaps?

I use the ZSA Voyager exactly as it came out of the box, without any custom layouts or keycaps, and I don’t anticipate that changing.

Currently, I’m focusing on improving my typing speed and mastering keyboard shortcuts for Excel, as I spend a lot of time in between the sheets.

What would be your dream setup?

Ideally, I’d like to simplify my setup even further by replacing my G15 with a slim Asus Zenbook and eliminating my gaming controller.

Before that, I plan to complete a playthrough of the entire Resident Evil series.

I’ve chosen to minimize my use of technology, which is why I don’t own a TV, use music streaming services, or have any social media accounts, except for Twitter (@SavantZayne ).

My dream setup would be a workstation with a view of nature, where I’d spend no more than four to six hours a day.