Esther Wong: Shaping the AI Revolution with Vision and Tenacity

Esther Wong, Managing Director, SenseTime

In the realm of technology and artificial intelligence where innovation knows no bounds, it takes extraordinary individuals to push the boundaries of what’s possible. One such trailblazer is Esther Wong, a visionary leader who has charted an exceptional path from Wall Street to AI. Esther is the Managing Director of SenseTime, a leading AI software company headquartered in Hong Kong. Esther’s story is not just one of professional ascent, but a narrative that encapsulates the essence of overcoming limitation and seizing opportunities in this ever-evolving world.

From Shanghai to Switzerland to New York: A Journey of Self Discovery

Born in Shanghai and raised in Hong Kong, Esther’s first passion was food and beverage, which led to her first degree in Hospitality in Switzerland. 

However, as she embarked on a journey of self-discovery, she realised that being a chef is not what motivate her to wake up every day. After getting a scholarship for Women in Science from the States, she uplifted herself to New York, and eventually earned her degrees in Political Science and Economics with minor study in Physics, all completed within a two-year time frame. Her willingness to go out of her comfort zone and challenge herself remains a theme throughout her career.

Steady Career or Taking Risks?

Esther’s remarkable journey towards a career in artificial intelligence was not without its pivotal moments. Her first job out of college was a technical support manager for a network developer based in Rhode Island. It was a promotion nine months into the role, with her boss saying, “If you keep your pace, you can have my job in a few years,” that served as a wake-up call. She pondered whether she wanted a stable corporate life in a quiet county like her boss in a decade. The resounding answer was no.

She resigned, packed her belongings, and drove 170 miles south to New York City. Even the future was unknown, one thing was for sure, she wanted a life that would constantly challenge her, a job where she would feel out of depth, working with people smarter than her, and push her to be stronger version of herself. She eventually landed herself one the most competitive jobs, on a Wall Street trading floor. Even these days it was uncommon to see Asian female in this role, back then it was a true rarity. She thrived for the next two decades as she took on various posts on Wall Street. It was as rewarding as she first imagined it could have been. But changes always happen in the least expected moment. 

It was 2017, Esther read a research paper and met with the author, Professor Tang from Chinese University of Hong Kong. He recently founded a startup called SenseTime with 150 people focusing on computer vision. Even after the first meeting, she realised the team’s different from any companies she has met before, their vision and insight had a profound impact on her; AI revolution was right at the doorstep, and great companies would be emerging from this part of the world. To her the question was simple yet complex, would it make sense to join the revolution and be part of the change? Or would it make more sense to stay at a lucrative and stable role in a bank? By then she was a first-time mom with a nursing infant, to give that up to join a startup was almost unthinkable, but in the end, the girl who quitted her tech support job in Rhode Island won, this was too alluring a challenge to be passed. Esther was responsible for capital market fund raising and strategic investment, building ecosystem and collaborations. Seven years later, her bet seems to pay off; SenseTime is now a famous home-grown unicorn and a listed company, with 5,000 employees and offices in 12 cities around the world. That left us with one question, why did she seem so comfortable to take career risks compare to others? “Everyone is replaceable in a corporate world, the only security is your own ability and your confidence, this you can take it with you anywhere you go.” 

Balancing Act: Urgent vs Vital

Esther is no stranger to the weights of a demanding career. However, she understands the importance of maintaining a balance between her personal and professional life. “There are things that are urgent, such as last-minute projects, and there are things that are vital, like spending time with your loved ones, don’t confuse the two”.

Esther’s leadership style is marked by a strong commitment to an open platform to foster and lift talents. Her first boss on Wall Street was a strong female role model who was extremely stern, disciplined yet giving, she was as good a mentor as any young women could have hoped for. Esther strives to pay it forward. “It is not so much about getting top students at top schools, but giving hungry and determined people a platform so they can thrive.”

Advice for Aspiring Women in Tech: Embrace Versatility

While studying STEM would be a good entry way to land a role in a tech company, Esther believes one can also benefit from the latest AI revolution by looking introspectively. AI is going to be an ubiquitous tool that permeates into every aspect of our lives, from education to health to social life etc. Just like any tools, some people are better users than others, and the future belongs to those who can adopt quicker than their peers. Esther believes career choices will be more segmented and more individualised, your voice and your strength will be infinity enhanced in the era of AI 2.0. Therefore, there was never a better time to not to follow the norm but to find a true passion and dwell very deep into it. You will find your product, audience, and monetization pathway much quicker with the use of AI. The key is to be a lifetime learner and be willing to embrace changes, let AI be your personal genie.

A Word of Advice

Esther has three pieces of advice for her daughter that might interests our readers;

1) Make your choices based on hopes, not fears.

2) Greatness come from mundane; tenacity and grit trumps with any day.

3) Surround yourself with strong female role models, and always be supportive to other girls.