8 successful female entrepreneurs you need to know in Hong Kong

Women around the world continue to make significant strides in business and Hong Kong is no exception. At such a significant time in history, Hong Kong Living is tipping its hat to the city’s own trailblazing women who serve as a constant reminder to us all that anyone can go after their passions in life and overcome daunting challenges, both personal and professional.

Karena Belin

Co-founder and CEO of WHub and AngelHub

Karena Belin is Founder & CEO of Hong Kong ‘s biggest startup platform WHub and AngelHub

“The reason I left my corporate career is the same as why I stayed in it for so long – to make a positive impact on the community. We launched WHub with to help startups get access to great talent and scale. I love working with like-minded, passionate people making a positive impact on the communities they live in. They are unstoppable and get involved with multiple initiatives to better communities and the society at large.

“I am proud to say that WHub is now the largest startup community in Hong Kong. We have over 3,500 startups and 500 partners globally. AngelHub is Hong Kong’s first and only SFC-licensed startup investment platform for investors. We help startups looking to scale up and can play a role in making a difference on their fundraising journey.”

Leigh Powrie

Co-owner and CFO of Double Haven Brewing

Leigh Powrie is co-owner and CFO of Double Haven Brewing

“Apart from time spent slinging drinks in college, most of my professional life has been in manufacturing. My partner and I wanted to create a beverage that complimented Hong Kong and the lifestyle lived by many. We wanted a drink we could come home to and enjoy, that was light, refreshing and health-conscious. This is how Dragon Water was born. It’s a drink for those seeking a healthier alternative to heavy beers and mixed cocktails.

“Our brewery Double Haven is located outside of the city in Fo Tan. Named after an inlet in the geopark at Plover Cove, I am proud to share that our brewery is made up of an incredible mix of 14 talented brewers, operators and liquid magicians and are excited at releasing new beers and beverages this summer. We are, at heart, a family business – if not by blood then by trust and shared experiences. As an alcohol brand, what we are really selling is an experience, whether it is sharing time with friends and family, a post-race celebration or a quiet drink at sunset. Our job is to infuse those memories with a splash of energy and a twist of fun.”

Edwina Barrington

Founder of Rupert & Bird

Edwina Barrington is the visionary behind Rupert & Bird, an eco-friendly beach towel that doesn’t cost the earth

“When our daughter Birdie was born in 2019, it became evident conservation was key in order to keep our oceans and backyard for the generations to come. Plastics are a huge threat to the environment and our wildlife. It is unfair to leave this problem for the next generation to fix. This is when Rupert & Bird was born. I found a creative outlet to fuel my passion in creating an eco-friendly product that would further drive Hong Kong’s movement towards conscious consumerism.

Rupert & Bird is a vibrant collection of eco-conscious towels. Each towel consists of fabric made primarily from recycled plastic bottles, equal to twenty-two bottles saved from the ocean or landfill. We recycle single-use plastics through the creation in our towels. Our first range is inspired by Hong Kong – majestic black kites soaring the harbour, multi-hued shipping containers and the beauty of Chinese calligraphy seen across the city.”

Julianna Yau

Founder of Ampla Education

Julianna Yau started Ampla Education in 2016, specialising in after-school tuition and admissions consulting services for students applying to boarding schools and universities

“I established Ampla Education with the goal of helping children achieve their academic goals through speciality mentorship programmes that cater to the needs of each child. Our mission is to make quality education more widely accessible by implementing projects such as free university application workshops for under-resourced students and girls literacy programmes.

“We have a unique model in Hong Kong for providing all-inclusive services. We combine the best teaching methods worldwide through our speciality consultants, all of who graduated from top boarding schools and universities worldwide. Our aim is to inspire and empower the next generation, while understanding the gaps of education through experience. Tailor-made classes are developed to individual student needs, optimising their performance inside and outside school.”

Amy Kwan

Founder of Good Wills

Amy Kwan is founder of will writing and consulting services Good Wills

“It was always my dream to become an entrepreneur doing what I love. I felt empowered because of my belief that every person has the right to follow their dreams. Good Wills strives to provide the best will writing and consulting services for our clients. More importantly, we understand the significance of having a will ready at all stages of life, it is our mission to educate people that a will is for everyone, not just older generations or the wealthy.

“In Asia and across Hong Kong, people avoid talking about death. It’s taboo and may bring misfortune. However, we all know that this is not the case because death is a stage that we all go through in life. It is unfortunate that people seem to only realise and appreciate the necessity of a will only after death occurs. This is why I work hard to educate people that your loved ones will appreciate designating and assigning all matters prior to death. A will significantly reduces grief and stress, from carrying out their funeral wishes to avoiding conflict about valuable assets.”

Debbie Wong

TV, YouTube and IGTV producer and host

Best known as producer and host of Wok & Gong, Debbie Wong is an actress and TV host on the Asian Food Channel

“I never went to culinary school. I learned on the job and was obsessed with cooking shows growing up. In 2012, I began Wok & Gong, noticing a huge gap in the market for non-Caucasian chefs in media who cooked with a global approach. As a child of immigrants raised in an urban, multicultural environment in Canada, I knew this was my chance to showcase food that would resonate to many who grew up like myself in this age.

“Four years later, I was able to bring my culinary passion to Asian Food Channel and was announced their ‘Food Hero’ in 2015. Since becoming a TV host, I have seen my social audience grow organically. I got to travel across Asia with unimaginable opportunities. I am grateful daily for all the opportunities that TV has brought me.

“It’s important to keep adapting and changing in a fast-moving world, especially in this modern age. I’m focused on making content for my Instagram account, based on my understanding that people want raw and real content.”

Alethea Bleyberg

Founder and director of The Learning Curve

Alethea Bleyberg’s education consultancy The Learning Curve specialises in IB Diploma, tutoring services and university admissions

“As both my parents were IB educators, I had the privilege of growing up on the campuses of international schools. I’m a graduate of the IB Diploma Programme myself. After graduating from Cambridge University, I moved to Beijing for my first international school teaching position, before spending 11 years at international schools in Hong Kong and Singapore. Currently, I am also a doctoral student in international education at the University of Bath.

“At The Learning Curve, students form the core of my focus. So much of my time is spent delivering one-on-one support in the core components as well as individualised guidance through the university application process. My work also involves more generalised consulting for students and families about a wide range of academic matters, from advice on choosing curricular pathways through secondary school and selecting appropriate IB diploma subjects.”

Dr. Emilie Berthet Clairet

Nutritionist at Vitality Centre

Dr Emilie Berthet Clairet works as a nutritionist and holistic practitioner at the Vitality Center in Central

“While holistic nutrition is recognised in Canada and the US, there are few practitioners in Hong Kong. Holistic nutrition is a health approach that is often part of a comprehensive healthcare plan. It can be understood as a more conscious and comprehensive approach to your diet, taking into account all the factors that can influence what you eat and how you live your life.

“I am lucky to work at the Vitality Centre, which is a well established medical centre in Central. The most rewarding part is I can enable people to live a healthy lifestyle and eat well. These are not short term solutions, but life-long habits you can incorporate into your daily practice.”