We recently connected with Wence Wong and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Wence thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
Given the importance of finance in modern society, lacking financial literacy can be very damaging to an individual’s long-term financial success. Having said that, I would incorporate financial literacy into the school curriculum to ensure students are prepared for a more fulfilling life and career.
When you are financially literate, you have the essential foundation of an intelligent relationship with money, and it will serve you as a starting point to a lifelong journey of learning about financial matters that are more advanced. A strong foundation of financial literacy can help support various life goals, such as saving for education or retirement, using debt responsibly, and running a business.
Previously, as a Manager of Residential Mortgages at TD Canada Trust I also volunteered at George Brown College through their ABC Life Literacy Canada Money Matters program to help adult learners reach their goals and become more confident in dealing with personal finances.
With my previous experience working in the lending sector, I know how important it is to have knowledge of how to make smart decisions with money. I believe that the earlier you start, the better off you will be financially, because education is the key to success when it comes to money. By better understanding how to budget and save money, individuals can create plans that set expectations, hold them accountable to their finances, and set a course for achieving seemingly unachievable goals such as starting your own business.
Though someone may not be able to afford that dream today, they can always make a plan to better increase their odds of making it happen. In addition, imagine making a life-changing decision without all the information you need to make the best decision. By being armed with the appropriate knowledge about finances, individuals can approach major life choices with greater confidence realizing that they are less likely to be surprised or negatively impacted by unforeseen outcomes.
Wence, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
It all begins with an idea and a real love for interior design. Growing up in a household with a real estate background, I was always fascinated by the interiors of the homes I got to visit and see. Each home was a reflection of the homeowners’ personalities, tastes, and their lifestyles. Every corner of a house tells a unique story, and I believe your home is an extension of your personal style.
After leaving the banking industry many years ago and following my passion for design, I had to start from the ground up and began my journey by honing my skills at top interior firms and boutique studios, mentoring under some of Canada’s leading design minds and developing years of hands-on industry experience specializing in high end residential homes, commercial spaces, and hotels across Canada.
With a keen eye for detail, experience in the business world, a love for servicing clients and making something from nothing, my company House of Devon was established in 2020. Creating a space that feels authentic to you and your own personal style can often feel like a challenge, and it takes a skilled professional to bring those stories to life. That’s where I step in. With my artistic vision, attention to detail, and expertise in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces, House of Devon plays a pivotal role in transforming houses into homes.
Beyond materializing my client’s vision into a reality, I work to understand my clients’ needs and provide the finest solutions to improve the aesthetic of a space. Along with overseeing the entire design process: from meeting the client to understanding their lifestyle and wishes, to developing design concepts, space planning, sourcing materials and putting together the final touches, I believe interior design is not just about aesthetics, it’s about combining beauty and functionality. It’s ensuring the homeowner’s wishes and visions come to life.
Outside of work, I love spending quality time with my husband and our 3 dogs, travelling, practicing yoga, and exploring new culinary experiences.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Back in 2016, I made what I call a career pivot. It started during my undergraduate years at Ryerson University (now what is known as “TMU”), I studied Business Management and Marketing in addition to working as a part-time teller during my undergraduate studies. From there, it led to a full-time banking career with TD Canada Trust for 8 years. Business and banking were all I had ever known, but 8 years ago I asked myself, was this all I was made for? I felt I had lost my identity as an adult.
After my last position at the bank as a Manager of Residential Mortgages, I thought I had finally hit the ceiling at work. I completed a SWOT Analysis of myself by noting my strengths; knowing what drives me, what makes me “tick” was critical to my career pivot. Your strengths, once known, may lead you to an entirely different place then where you are today. For example, one of my greatest strengths was being a creative problem solver. I also knew I was fascinated with interiors.
Secondly, understanding my personal brand was essential to make my career pivot successful. I had to figure out how my personal brand conveys to others who I was, what I was known for and how I add value to any situation. Personally, I loved styling outfits and adding stylish details to my home space, so I used that and transitioned to styling rooms to reflect my clients’ style and lifestyle starting with my own home.
From there, I applied to interior design firms using skills I’ve gained throughout my career, such as managing people. With no prior design experience, I started out as an Office Manager at a reputable design firm but the skills I gained from that position taught me everything I know about owning and managing my own firm and these are skills that can be used in your next job or career without any further refinement.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
I started my side hustle at the insistence of my friends and family who supported my new career path in interior design. As I was honing in on my new skills and learning everything I could about design and managing your own business at the design firm that I was working at, my loved ones gave me opportunities that ultimately would lead me to where I am today.
While working at a hospitality design firm, I spent my evenings and weekends learning design and working on smaller side projects for friends and family. After doing this for almost a year, I felt I had built up the confidence, skills, experience, and clientele needed to start my own design firm. However, that push didn’t come until March of 2020, where I was temporarily laid off from my full-time job due to our hospitality projects being put on hold due to COVID-19. It truly was a wake-up call, and as I was fearful of the future and losing the steady salary that I was accustomed to. I felt apprehensive about starting my company and didn’t know where to start but I spent the next few months working on the capital needed and registering my business. By June the same year, everything fell into place, and I had launched House of Devon and have never looked back!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.houseofdevon.ca/
- Instagram: @houseofdevoninteriors
- Facebook: @houseofdevoninteriors
Image Credits
Forster Chan, Shot by Nyks