What’s the Hidden Layer?
The Hidden Layer is a bi-monthly post from me, Neil Hawke (霍寧), an everyday supply chain integrator embedded in the advanced materials, semiconductor, and electronics world in Hong Kong.
I write with a layman’s curiosity and a technical edge, unpacking complex, world-shifting systems for a wider audience.
Semiconductors- and the vast ecosystem that supports them -are among the most intricate technologies humanity has ever created. Their supply chains are even more convoluted. Yet, for most people, this entire layer of the modern world remains invisible.
From the chips in your dishwasher to those guiding missile defense systems, The Hidden Layer aims to surface the stories, risks, and realities behind microelectronics and frontier technology.
Who’s Neil?
I’m a global supply chain strategist whose path has taken me from America’s industrial heartland of Michigan to manufacturing hubs across Asia. I work for an OEM navigating the shifting terrain of geopolitics, microchip sourcing, and supply resilience.
I hold a BS in Engineering Management (2022) and an MBA (2025) from Michigan Technological University, and I’m currently pursuing the MITx MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management. Along the way, I’ve built several niche startups and research projects across education, sustainable apparel, and data tools.
This publication is where I think in public, a bridge between the technical systems that shape our world and the people who steer them.
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