Guest: Tien Wong

There are patterns we see for successful CEOs. The underlying factor for true success, meaning that the company grows, people want to work there and want to give it their all seems to be grounded in gratitude. Deborah is focusing on four successful CEOs in this episode with highlights of the gratitude that was loud and clear in their full episodes. Today she is highlighting Tien Wong, Lena Petrova, Amy Bielski, and Charles Dobens. We hope you enjoy this short commentary, "Gratitude Sets the Tone for Success."
Here are the links to the full episodes with each of these guests:
TIEN WONG EP38: Organic Relationship Building Over Forced Initiatives
LENA PETROVA EP36: AI Ignites a Creative Content Renaissance
AMY BIELSKI EP32 Keep People at the Center and Your Company Will Grow
CHARLES DOBENS EP28: LEGACIES CREATED - Multi-family Triumphs and Reimagining Hotels
 

Last week on Success Beneath the Surface, host Deborah Fell spoke with Tien Wong about the power of connections. Wong started ConnectPreneur over a decade ago to facilitate more regular forums for investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals in the DC/Mid-Atlantic area to connect and collaborate. A key insight Wong shared is that an engaged, diverse network structured for open interaction has emergent value - it can catalyze growth beyond what any individual could design. ConnectPreneur has enabled over 500 companies to receive funding through its community. As Wong emphasized, leveraging networks is not about personal gain, but enabling collective growth. Thriving innovation ecosystems arise from diverse people coming together, not closed circles.
Links from this episode:
Full episode
CONNECTPreneur
Tien Wong on LinkedIn
Deborah Fell on LinkedIn
Chief Outsiders

What's the secret sauce behind winning over employees and customers for the long haul? Our guest today, seasoned entrepreneur Tien Wong, believes it comes down to community.
Having built several companies from the ground up, Tien shares how human connections and nurturing an interconnected community have been his competitive edge time and again. Whether it's obsessive customer experience or organic relationship building, he provides invaluable insights for leaders seeking to foster belonging in the modern workplace.
Tien shares how he builds thriving communities across ventures as diverse as startups and pickleball. You’ll hear unconventional strategies like shared interests, value creation over extraction, and an emphasis on human connections that technology can’t replace.
The episode provides valuable insights for leaders seeking to boost loyalty by moving from transactions to relationships. Tien stresses that community requires constant nurturing, not one-off initiatives. Join us for this episode: INSPIRING - Organic Relationship Building Over Forced Initiatives.
Links from this episode:
CONNECTPreneur
Tien Wong on LinkedIn
PSuite
Deborah Fell on LinkedIn
Chief Outsiders