AWE Hong Kong Final Pitching Day: 3 Unexpected Lessons at the Intersection of Parenthood and Entrepreneurship
- Lena Wong
- Jun 20
- 2 min read
The energy was electric at The Chelsea on June 19 as AWE Hong Kong's inaugural cohort prepared for their Final Pitching Day. In her opening address, Lena Wong, Managing Director of Womentors, shared a refreshing perspective on entrepreneurship - through the lens of parenting.
Lesson 1: The Midnight Epiphany Test
Lena recounted those bleary-eyed 2 a.m. feedings with her newborn that led to unexpected "brilliant" ideas - like her infamous note-to-self: "Buy all the bananas. Why? Don't ask."
"Entrepreneurship, like parenting, means operating on 3% battery while still believing you can change the world," Lena reflected. "Those messy, exhausted moments often contain our most creative sparks - if we're brave enough to nurture them."
Lesson 2: The Art of the Pivot (Or How Burnt Toast Became Chocolate Toast)
The crowd erupted in laughter as Lena described rebranding her daughter's "too toast-y" breakfast as "chocolate toast" - a masterclass in entrepreneurial reframing.
"When my first startup failed, I didn't quit - I pulled a full 'chocolate toast' pivot," she shared. "The skills became Womentors. The lesson? Success isn't always about changing the product - sometimes it's about changing the story."
Lesson 3: It Takes a Village (and a Hot Pot)
Lena's most poignant moment came when recalling how her Hong Kong friends welcomed her home to Canada with a hot pot feast, embodying the village mentality.
"AWE Hong Kong is your entrepreneurial hot pot," she told the fellows. "Your mentors, peers and supporters are all here to add their unique ingredients. Your job isn't to cook alone - it's to keep the broth simmering with collective wisdom."
A Call to Collective Action
As the standing ovation faded, Lena left the audience with a challenge: "Today isn't about perfect pitches - it's about showing up with your version of chocolate toast energy. And to our supporters - what ingredients will you bring to the pot?"
The speech perfectly set the tone for a day that saw 20+ women founders pitch groundbreaking ideas, proving that the most powerful business insights often come from life's most unexpected classrooms.