By: Caleb Hellinger 

Ma Qing found her passion in entrepreneurship, marketing, and bridging the cultural gap between China and the U.S. and her journey to becoming a significant force in the fintech industry is a testament to her resilience and ambition. Graduating from New York University and beginning her professional career as an investment banker with JP Morgan, she worked on high-profile deals, including Snap’s $1.1bn convertible notes purchase and Uber’s $2.7bn acquisition of Postmates. Despite her success, Qing found herself yearning for more creativity and impact, leading her to leave JP Morgan and dive into the world of fintech startups.

In 2020, Ma Qing joined Public.com as the third marketing hire, where she played a fundamental role in the company’s growth by pioneering the entire Creator marketing division. Recognizing the untapped potential of creators, she secured partnerships with top influencers such as YouTube legend Phil DeFranco, TikTok money expert Erika Kullberg, and social media personality Emma Chamberlain. Her innovative approach resulted in viral campaigns, including a collaboration with Michael Reeves that garnered over 10 million views.

Qing’s efforts at Public.com led to a rapid user base growth from 250,000 to 1.5 million within a year. This hyper-growth, combined with exclusive deals with finance creators, helped Public.com secure $220 million in venture funding, boosting its valuation to $1.2 billion in 2021.

Reflecting on her journey, Qing says, “The biggest problem in personal finance is that people are intimidated by it. By partnering with creators, we can make financial literacy relatable and engaging, turning complex information into actionable insights.” This philosophy has been at the core of Qing’s approach and consistently delivered impressive results.

After Public.com, Ma Qing joined Republic as the Head of US Marketing and Digital Growth. At Republic, she furthered her mission to democratize the financial market by leading US marketing and digital growth efforts. Qing believes in the transformative impact of creators on the private investing landscape, outlining the evolution of the creator economy in distinct phases. “In the early days, or Creator 1.0, creators were like live billboards. Then came Creator 2.0, where they began to form deeper partnerships with brands. Today, we’re witnessing Creator 3.0, where creators launch their own businesses and allow fans to invest and own parts of these ventures.”

At Republic, Ma Qing developed a pipeline of 10 creator-led business fundraising deals, including potential venture funding raises for Mr. Beast’s venture, Hailey Bieber’s Rhode, and Emma Chamberlain’s coffee brand. She also helped strategize and execute the launch of Republic Note, resulting in a successful $2 million public raise in less than a month. “Republic is at the forefront of this new era of retail-driven private investment,” Qing notes. “By supporting creators in launching their own businesses and enabling fan investment, Republic is paving the way for a more democratized and accessible private market.”

Currently, Ma Qing is the CMO at Firstcard, an early-stage startup aimed at helping people build credit regardless of their background or credit history. Firstcard serves immigrants, international students, first-generation college students, and people of color who face barriers to accessing credit. Under her leadership, Firstcard has been growing rapidly and was featured as the ideal credit card for students in 2024 by major publications such as Forbes and CNN.

Qing’s decision to join Firstcard was deeply personal. “Joining Firstcard was a natural choice for me. My personal experience as an immigrant and the company’s significant social impact aligned perfectly with my values,” she says. Reflecting on her challenges in building credit upon arriving in the US, she is determined to provide inclusive credit-building products and financial literacy for all.

“A lack of financial literacy is the biggest barrier to achieving financial freedom. Without a solid understanding of how credit works, many people find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt and financial instability,” Qing explains. “To truly democratize credit building for everyone, we need to change the experience of many underserved communities.”

With her marketing efforts, Firstcard continues to innovate with budgeting tools, financial education and soon offering tools like an AI financial advisor. Firstcard’s commitment to inclusivity is also reflected in its $10,000 Student Scholarship program, open to international students. “When I was an international student, there were very few funding sources available,” Qing recalls. “By including international students in our scholarship program, we ensure that they are not left behind and have the support they need to succeed.”

As Ma Qing continues to innovate and disrupt the fintech space, her journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring marketers and entrepreneurs. Her ability to leverage the power of influencers and build brand awareness through creating authentic, educational content, continues to be a differentiator. With a commitment to inclusivity and education, Ma Qing is not just changing the way people interact with financial products—she’s changing lives.

Follow Ma Qing on LinkedIn: Ma Qing’s LinkedIn

Follow Ma Qing on Twitter: Ma Qing’s Twitter

Published by: Khy Talara