Margaret Wong

Margaret Wong has been identified by The Sacramento Bee as the “Business Empress” based on her success in linking multi-milliondollar businesses between California, the U.S., and China. For the past 40 years she has served as Sacramento’s “Unofficial Ambassador” to China in her quest to promote better business and culture understanding between the U.S. and China. Her goal has been to enhance economic opportunities between both countries she calls home. Margaret’s personal story represents the classic American dream from the time she immigrated to the U.S., to working with U.S. companies,  to becoming one of the most successful U.S.-China entrepreneurs in California and the U.S.

A Hong Kong native, Margaret received her B.S. degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Hong Kong. Margaret founded McWong International in 1984, and since that time she has used her extensive network and experience in doing business with China to create multiple companies in manufacturing, electrical design, electronics, environmental engineering, IOT smart lighting systems, and consumer related ventures in the fields of the culinary arts, sports, education, and hospitality.

Margaret was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2017 as Commissioner of the California Citizens Compensation Commission. She, is a current Board Member of the California Chamber of Commerce, a Board Advisor of the California Asian Chamber of Board, a Member of the Committee of 100, a Vice Chair of the Hong Kong Association Northern California, a Co-Founder of the U.S.-China Railroad Friendship Association, a  Fellow of the Culinary Institute of America, a China Institute Culinary Center Goodwill Ambassador.

Previously, Margaret served as a Board Member of the Themed Entertainment Association, a Board Member of the Community Advisors of California State University, a Dean Advisor of the Peking University School of Environmental & Energy, the President of the U.S.-China Trade & Business Coalition, the President and a Board Member of the Sacramento Jinan Sister Cities Association, a Board Member of the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, a Board Member of the YMCA, and as founder of the John & Margaret Wong Foundation.

Margaret has won numerous industry and community awards including the Presidential “E” Award for Excellence in Exporting, the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Woman of the Year & Export Firm of the Year Awards; the Edison Reports Lighting Lifetime Achievement Award; the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Exporter of the Year Award; the Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurship Award; the Sacramento Business Journal Fastest Growing Companies Award; the YMCA Outstanding Woman of the Year Award; the Coopers & Lybrand Vanguard Award for International Trade; and Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Margaret is not only a powerhouse in U.S.-China trade and entrepreneurship, but also a philanthropist, community leader, business investor, and a devoted mother of two children and three grandchildren. Most importantly, Margaret is founding a new Mandarin English Dual Immersive School in Sacramento in memory of her late husband’s legacy.