Ben Wong

Alumni background

Ben Wong boasts over 15 years of experience in business development and product management. His diverse background spans start-up open innovation platforms, B2B e-commerce marketplaces, technology conferences, crowdfunding services, manufacturing and cross-border trade.

Currently, Ben serves as the Chief Executive Officer of River Chain, a subsidiary of New World Group. River Chain is a digital-first supply chain financing solution specifically designed for the construction industry. It connects suppliers and subcontractors with lenders, offering a range of financial products before and after shipments to improve financial accessibility within the industry.

Previously, Ben held the position of General Manager of Technology and Innovation at New World Development. In this role, he spearheaded the company's property technology strategy, fostering collaboration between technology startups and New World Group to co-create innovative solutions. He also served as the Head of Open Innovation for Eureka Nova; a leading platform that allows startups to co-create withing the New World ecosystem. Through Eureka Nova's accelerator programs, competitions, and sandboxes, startups work with New World Group and its partners to develop solutions that address real-world business challenges.

Ben also co-founded Impact Kommons, the first UN SDG accelerator in APAC focused on accelerating impact with purpose-driven startups.

Ben has a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Management from Dickinson College in the US and earned his Master’s in Business Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong through the Hinrich Global Trade Leader Scholarship Program.

Entrepreneurial beginnings

As the former head of Global Sources Direct, responsible for developing cross-border 020 distribution channels for emerging brands and startups from the Asia Pacific region and Startup Launchpad, Ben helped connect hardware startups find distribution channels through B2B trade shows and tech conferences, showcasing at least 300 startups to more than 63,000 global buyers.

Ben talks about how corporations can better help startups scale up during a panel discussion at an event in Hong Kong in 2016

But everything did not come easy for him.

He took risks to come to China fresh out of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a BA degree in International Business and Management.

“After I graduated, I took a small risk and go to China, and the only way for a recent graduate to get a job there was to be an English teacher so I took the job, and about 4-5 months later, I found a job with Global Sources and that’s when I basically started my career.”

Raised in New Jersey, he recalled how at an early age, they were taught to be responsible for making things happen for themselves.

“I had a childhood that had a kind of self-made mentality so everything did not come into a silver spoon. It was more of hey, we have very little in our pockets and we have to make things happen, so having that chip on the shoulder, really helped us to always strive for something better, always strive to exceed the status quo.”

Ben’s continued pursuit of excellence led him to aim higher. About five years into Global Sources, he started looking for opportunities to support further studies, and that’s how the Hinrich Foundation, helped changed his life.

“I can’t thank the Hinrich Foundation enough for helping me through that process. I was the first Chinese University MBA scholar at that time. At my MBA, I met so many people that were just like me, who also strive to do great things in life, and we were able to sit in rooms, work together, solve problems, come up with business ideas, travel around the world to pitch our business ideas.”

Ben’s experience while in the MBA program of the Chinese University of Hong Kong includes a visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to compete for the Hult Prize award in 2014

Defining success

Success for Ben is about family.

“When I was young and aspiring, I would say I want to be a multi-millionaire, I want to run a big company, but I started realizing that what’s most important to me is my family. And I think being able to provide for my family a comfortable lifestyle, that is success for me.”

Eventually, he sees himself starting his own business “that actually helps people.”

“I want to help the elderly. I think that the elderly are forgotten around the world. I do want to find a way to help them so once I take care of my family, I want to take care of other people’s families.”

Read Ben's full profile here.

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