In a candid interview, Dr Catherine Wu shares the journey from music education to cybersecurity and her early interactions with CDL’s Kwek Leng Beng.
Dr Catherine Wu, who became prominent in connection with City Developments Limited (CDL), recently opened up about her journey in a November 2024 appearance on the Taiwanese talk show Da-win Dining, hosted by Paul Lee. In the interview, Dr Wu shared personal insights, including her upbringing as the only daughter among six brothers. Her mother, who ran a kindergarten for over five decades, instilled a strong emphasis on education in the family.
Dr Wu revealed that her eldest brother, Wu Ching-kuo, a prominent figure in the sports world, had an influential career as the former president of the International Boxing Association and a former member of the International Olympic Committee. Dr Wu herself holds a doctorate in music education, and alongside her siblings, she is one of six family members with a doctoral degree.
Raised in a household that valued intellectual and cultural development, Dr Wu shared that her parents were keen on her pursuing music education to develop a more composed temperament, especially considering she grew up surrounded by six brothers. She explained that her parents were concerned she might grow up too “boyish” and hoped that music would help nurture a more feminine character.
Her passion for music began at a young age, even though she initially struggled with the piano. After attending music classes at a Catholic school, she moved to the United States at the age of 15 to further her education at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Despite almost giving up at one point, she persevered and later gained acceptance to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.
Dr Wu later ventured into the music industry in Taiwan, where she made her debut with a piano album in 1990. She also hosted a popular TV show called Music From The Heart, featuring Taiwanese musicians and helping to promote classical music. In 1994, she was honoured as one of Taiwan’s “Ten Outstanding Young Women.”
In 1992, Dr Wu’s career took an unexpected turn when she met CDL’s executive chairman, Kwek Leng Beng, at a gathering of family friends. She described their first encounter as feeling like a job interview. Mr Kwek asked her various questions and eventually invited her to consider relocating to Singapore, where she could assist him with property research and later get involved in hotel management.
Dr Wu’s relationship with Mr Kwek evolved, and she went on to play a key role in his various ventures, including helping to evaluate potential hotel acquisitions. In recent years, Dr Wu shifted her focus to cybersecurity, an interest sparked during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, she took the opportunity to work in this field and successfully brought the GeekCon cybersecurity conference to Singapore in May 2024. She serves as the secretary-general of GeekCon International, with Mr Kwek as the honorary adviser.
Dr Wu’s recent rise to prominence also stems from a public dispute involving CDL’s younger Kwek Leng Beng, Sherman, who accused her of overstepping her advisory role. He alleged that her influence within the company was excessive and had caused significant internal friction. Dr Wu holds an advisory position with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (M&C), a key subsidiary of CDL Group.
