The Harmony of Work, Life & Community Engagement - Ray Wang
Ray Wang
Meet this busy and driven entrepreneur who serves and gives generously to his community.
Intro by Tania Reitsma
Originally from Taiwan, Ray Wang moved to Steveston, Richmond BC with his family in 1997 when he was eight years old. Why am I featuring Ray on Steveston People? Because he’s a busy and driven entrepreneur who serves and gives generously to various non-profit organizations in Richmond BC. I was curious to learn more about this guy, including his contributions to local community organizations and how he maintains a healthy harmony, balancing work, life and volunteering.
In this Q&A you’ll hear from Ray about:
His ties to Steveston and why he loves this area
His community engagement in the city of Richmond and tips on where to find volunteer opportunities
What he learned from starting his own digital marketing business and his advice to new founders for maintaining a positive and productive work environment and preventing burnout
Q&A with Ray Wang
When did you move to Steveston?
It was in 1997. I moved here with my family—my parents and my sister—from Taipei in Taiwan.
I was eight years old, just finishing the 3rd grade in school, and I remember saying goodbye to my friends and relatives and the next thing I know, I'm on this neverending flight to what would become my new home.
What was the main difference between moving from Taipei to Steveston?
I think what struck me the most was the difference in size and population. Taipei was a busy city with lots of commercial buildings and traffic at the time, while Steveston seemed more tranquil with friendlier people.
Why do you love Steveston?
The Steveston community is incredibly friendly. People will walk by you and say “hi” or “good morning”—even if you don’t know each other. I really enjoy the warmth and support of this community. It’s definitely a superb place to work and live in.
A huge plus for me is the beautiful water view. Whenever I feel stuck at work, it’s always refreshing to take a stroll around Steveston Village and by the dyke along Steveston Harbour to clear my mind.
I also love good food and you can definitely find remarkable restaurants in Steveston—two of my favourites being Ichiro Japanese Restaurant and Toast to Coast Brunch Bar.
What do you do for work?
I am the Principal of a digital marketing agency, RW Digital. We focus on web analytics and digital advertising for mid- to large-sized organizations. I started working at digital marketing agencies and made the leap to start my own about four years ago.
I’m proud of the work we do at RW Digital and what we’ve accomplished in the last few years. Just last month in November 2023 we were named as one of the finalists for the Richmond Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and we were previously also finalists for the New Business of the Year Award in 2020. Our agile and nimble team of four has worked with organizations such as Anthem Properties, Richmond School District, Gateway Theatre, Audi Richmond and more.
2023 Richmond Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist
What do you love most about your job?
Both marketing and technology are industries that are constantly changing and evolving, but they are also constantly influencing, affecting and building on each other. I think this collaboration or relationship is one of my favourite things—I’m always excited to learn new things in the technology space and learn about new creative ideas in the marketing field. It certainly never gets boring!
For example, we work quite a bit with Google Analytics 4, a web analytics tool, and other services related to Google products. These products are constantly updating and changing to keep up with the latest consumer landscape. So while it’s a necessary thing for me to stay on top of the latest, it’s also very interesting for me to learn about these tools and how they can best be used to serve our clients in a more effective way.
What have you learned from starting your own business?
In the last few years, I have learnt that business is like a marathon and staying positive is integral in starting and maintaining a business. Many times, we don’t see the fruition of our hard labour right away, and when this happens, it’s easy to feel discouraged or lose motivation. That’s why I think it’s important to constantly remind ourselves that business is a long-term effort and we should keep going towards achieving our goals.
Tell us about your community involvement.
Supporting our community is very important to me, personally, and it is also one of our core values in business. I often participate in volunteering positions to support our local charities—everything from toy drives to delivering groceries for seniors, to serving on boards.
I currently serve on three boards of directors in Richmond: Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives, Gateway Theatre and Richmond Addiction Services Society. I advocate for the organizations, bridge connections, and provide strategic planning for their growth. I also engage in governance of the organizations to ensure that the organizations are financially healthy and working towards the right direction.
I think it’s so important and necessary to help our own community and give back to all the organizations that do this amazing, essential work to improve it. I try to make monetary donations to various charitable organizations in Richmond within our means. Most recently, RW Digital donated $2,000 to the Richmond Christmas Fund this year to support low-income families this holiday season. This is a great fund that supports families and individuals in need every year!
For me there’s no question that helping each other leads to a happier, healthier and thriving community.
In addition, RW Digital has donated $1,000 this year to provide a low-income family with 14 weeks of fresh, organic vegetables, ensuring nutritious meals from July to October in 2024.
Earlier in 2023, I was a recipient for the Richmond Centre Outstanding Constituent Award given by Wilson Miao, Member of Parliament for Richmond Centre, for the community and civic work that I have done for the Richmond community.
2023 Richmond Centre Outstanding Constituent Award for community and civic work.
Where and how can someone get started on finding volunteer opportunities within Richmond that align with their skills and values?
Richmond is a beautiful community and it’s important for us to give back when and where we can. There are lots of fantastic charitable organizations in Richmond that need your help. Whether it’s the Richmond Food Bank, Richmond Addiction Services Society, or Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives, there are volunteer opportunities for you.
You can find volunteer opportunities at https://www.rcrg.org/VolunteerNow. This volunteer hub lists volunteer opportunities from various organizations in Richmond and you can find one that most fits your interest.
As an entrepreneur, how do you maintain a good harmony between work and personal life?
Before I started my own agency, I had worked in an agency that wasn’t particularly productive so team members had to work long hours to complete projects and tasks. This inefficiency created an unhappy work environment which really took a toll on me. When I started an agency, I made a mandate to myself to foster a healthy work environment, for myself, my team members and clients.
To achieve this harmony or healthy work environment, one of the key things I worked on was specializing in our marketing services. This helped us have a clear focus, which led to better quality and efficiency, and this in turn led to positive relationships with our clients.
I think this has contributed to better work output without burning late night oil. This leaves enough time for me to take part in social and leisure activities that energize me to keep that harmony between work and personal life.
Any tips for new founders or business owners?
I would say to new founders or business owners out there to make it a “must-do” to create and maintain a personal life outside work. This can look very different for each person—it could be volunteering at an animal shelter, going for coffee and shooting the breeze with peers, going to a concert, or just taking a walk in the park. These activities and the relationships involved are just as important as work—and just as important to maintain and foster.
How do you prevent burnout?
Honing your craft helps you improve your efficiency so that you can deliver a good amount of output without spending a ton of energy or time on the deliverables. This way, you can work a healthy number of hours (anywhere between 40 to 60 hours a week) and spend time on leisure activities to create some sort of “balance” in your life. Also, it’s ideal to pick a career that you enjoy. While this doesn’t completely prevent burn out, it can help you stay motivated or work longer without feeling fatigued.
My days are generally very productive and full, so I sleep very well at night. Sleeping well really helps me restore my energy and health.
A message to Ray from Steveston People:
Thank you Ray for taking the time to share your thoughts, examples of how your community work, and useful advice for new founders and business owners.
Want to connect with Ray?
You can get in touch with Ray Wang at:
Email: raywang@rwdigital.ca
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theraywang/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digital.rw/