The co-founder of WafaGames on her childhood as a chess champion, her mental health issues at Columbia University and why fighting for female equality in tech is her greatest ambition
I am Generation T is a series of quick-fire Q&As with some of the extraordinary individuals on the Gen.T List.
She's a fierce feminist and a gentle creative soul. Kathy Gong is also one of China's brightest minds: a chess champion at the age of 10, she has gone on to create multiple startups, including the hugely successful WafaGames, which she co-founded with her partners Radwan Kasmiya and Wu Mingzhou.
WafaGames has made waves on the gaming scene thanks to its distinctive game experiences, cutting-edge technologies and well-rounded, realistic female characters in an industry still rife with misogyny. We speak to Gong about how her emotional turmoil at university set her up for success, and why 'being yourself' is never a good idea.
What’s non-negotiable for you?
The most important thing to me is creativity. As an entrepreneur, it’s everything. Even from a business perspective, you have an idea and create a life from it. Equally, financial independence is essential, as it gives you the freedom to be creative. Since I sold my last company, I’m more financially comfortable—I have choices now, and I don’t need to work for investors. I truly feel passionate and valuable; I finally like the world I live in.
What was your biggest "A-ha" moment in life?
There are two. When I started to play chess when I was a kid, aged eight, I became pretty good and was soon the youngest national champion in China. At the time, I didn’t categorise chess as a game, but it was. Chess is very beautiful for me; it has a simplicity to it because anyone can learn the rules in three minutes—and my love for it set me on the path I am on today.
The second ["A-ha" moment] was when I went to Columbia [University in NYC]. It was a real challenge to learn the language, make friends and succeed academically. I felt really lonely, and it was an emotionally and psychologically challenging time. I was losing confidence and getting bad grades and then I started playing Starcraft online. I became good and made real friends through the game and improved my English. It changed my life. In the mainstream, we have this perspective that gaming is addictive and for losers. But underneath it all, nobody is that strong—we are all humans and vulnerable in some ways. Find something that helps you, like gaming really helped me.