Eva Wong is the Co-Founder & COO at Borrowell
What sparked your passion for entrepreneurship and financial technology (FinTech)?
I’ve always been interested in personal finance. I read The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton when I was in high school, and was always helping my friends with their taxes. And starting a business was always in the back of my mind. When my co-founder Andrew Graham approached me about the idea for Borrowell, it really piqued my interest. It was a bonus when we got David Chilton to come on as an investor!
Tell us about your experience navigating Canada’s fast-growing technology sector. What obstacles did you face and how did you overcome them?
It’s been amazing to be part of the growth of Canada’s tech sector. The biggest obstacle I needed to overcome was my own self-doubt. I’ve found the tech community to be very supportive and people are generous with their time and knowledge.
If you could say anything to your 20-year-old self, what would it be?
Do something that scares you. If you fail, learn what you can, pick yourself up and try again — you’ll build resilience. If you succeed, you’ll build confidence to tackle the next challenge that’s ahead of you. I believe both resilience and confidence are muscles you can build.
The FinTech industry has made some amazing strides to bridge the gender gap, but work still needs to be done. How do you hope to see the industry continue to improve and evolve?
More women and more diversity! Across the board, from founders to technical and non-technical roles, and at all levels – we need more representation and diversity of thought. With more diverse founders and leaders, we’ll tackle more problems and find better solutions.
What advice can you offer to women who want to succeed in FinTech?
Don’t look at your differences as a disadvantage – see them as what makes you distinctive. Share your unique perspective and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way because you have a different lived experience than those around you. Use your voice!
