Why this is worth your 5 minutes

Reese Wong proves that age doesn’t limit vision or impact. By 16, he had launched ISSIA Hong Kong, a youth-led nonprofit focused on global citizenship education and project-based learning. Over the years, he’s mobilized 500+ volunteers, launched 30+ projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goalss, and earned recognition from the NASDAQ, the Diana Award, and the Royal Society of Arts.

From Hong Kong to London, Reese has navigated new ecosystems, built communities, and scaled his influence. Intriguingly, he did so while staying true to his fundamental belief that leadership is less about status and more about intentional action and meaningful connection.

My conversation with Reese is a blueprint for anyone still figuring out their path in making positive social impact: how to transform curiosity into structure, ambition into action, and ideas into lasting impact.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

1. Start Small But Please, Just Start

Reese’s earliest spark for entrepreneurship wasn’t a boardroom or a startup pitch, it was a playground trading station in primary school. He organized peers, resources, and ideas without a strategy, purely driven by curiosity and initiative.

The lesson here? Impact begins with doing, even when you don’t have the full roadmap.

Reese’s first nonprofit, ISSIA, grew from small, tangible actions: inter-school magazines, projects on social issues, and volunteer coordination. These early, imperfect experiments built habits, networks, and resilience that would compound over time.

Try this:
Pick one small initiative this week, be it a project, conversation, or experiment, and commit to seeing it through. The act of doing is more powerful than waiting for clarity.

2. Embrace Rejection as Part of the Journey

From multiple attempts at the Princess Diana Award to navigating international networks as a young student, Reese experienced his share of setbacks.

Each “no” didn’t signal failure. He took it as a natural consequence of aiming higher, challenging yourself, and operating at new levels. He frames rejections as data points, not dead ends.

This perspective allows ambitious young people to persist without fear, cultivating resilience while continuing to grow.

Try this:
Reframe your next setback. Ask: What can this teach me? How does this move me forward? Keep the bigger picture in mind while handling the daily ups and downs.

3. Create Spaces and Magnets to Connect Authentically

Introverted and ambitious, Reese learned early that networking isn’t just about showing up but it’s about meaningful engagement.

Organizing events gives you agency; sharing your work and passions creates “magnets” that invite others in. Perfect for introverts!

This intentional approach transforms connections from transactional to meaningful.

Try this:
Host a small event, workshop, or discussion group around something you care about. Or share your projects publicly to attract collaborators. Take control of the environment to build authentic networks.

The Messy Truth Behind Reese’s Success

Launching a global youth network was never a straight path. Reese navigated:

• volunteer-led coordination with hundreds of contributors

• inter-school outreach and partnerships

• balancing academics, relocation, and cultural differences

• attempts to commercialize ISSIA that didn’t pan out

• the challenge of introversion in high-stakes, large-scale environments

None of these challenges stopped him but rather helped him to refine his approach.

The magic lay in simplicity: empowering volunteers, creating scalable but human-centered systems, and leaning into learning by doing.

Sometimes, Reese realized, the best model isn’t the most sophisticated one — it’s the one that amplifies passion, authenticity, and participation.

Annie’s Anecdote

What resonates most about Reese’s story is his relentless curiosity paired with intentional action. He models that leadership is not about perfection, age, or credentials, but about starting, learning, iterating, and giving back.

For anyone still figuring out life, university, or career direction, the key takeaway is clear:

You don’t need all the answers to start. You need initiative, curiosity, and the courage to create spaces for yourself and others.

ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: good work, light edits.