Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Ong.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Inclusion Connector in Cowboy Boots
Meet Lisa M. Ong, PCC, CPA—Wishing Out Loud LLC’s award-winning executive coach, consultant, President, and Founder. Known as “The Inclusion Connector” and “Talent Gardener,” Lisa blends heart, strategy, and an inclusive lens using AI tools to help leaders grow with courage, compassion, and confidence. From C-suite coaching to keynote stages, she’s helping Dallas leaders reconnect with their purpose and lead boldly—cowboy boots and all.
***********************************
I enter a room, and my “Spidey sense” instantly kicks in. I can spot the lost, the lonely, and the stuck. It is not a superpower, exactly, but an instinct honed over years of being the new kid, the outsider, and one of the few or only Asian-American students in my schools.
I am Lisa M. Ong, a CPA-turned-executive coach, and the President and Founder of Wishing Out Loud LLC. My firm’s name is not just a tagline. It is my registered trademark coaching approach. I guide leaders in recognizing their strengths and core values, building relationships that matter, and boldly dreaming beyond the limitations they once believed were in their way.
Back in elementary school, there were no “buddy benches” where a lonely student could sit, signaling they needed a friend to sit by them. You had to figure things out on your own. Having switched to over six schools between kindergarten and 9th grade, I had plenty of experience to recall. I remember that feeling—the uncertainty, the longing for connection, and the fear of rejection. I never want others to struggle to fit in if I can help. That is why I have dedicated my career to assisting people to anchor themselves in who they are and design the life they truly want. I ask them specifically what they wish for in terms of the kind of leader they want to be known for. Then we delve into what they need to get them there using what I call R.O.C.K.S.—Resources, Opportunities, Connections, Knowledge, and Support. But before they ask others for R.O.C.K.S., they must invest in meaningful relationships first and give R.O.C.K.S. to others.
Early in my career, I realized my true strength was connecting with people. I started my career in accounting because my father told me it was the language of business. However, I was drawn more to the part of the job of mentoring and coaching my team and connecting with clients on their struggles to uncover solutions. Luckily, one of the senior partners suggested I try a temporary rotation in Human Resources, where I quickly found my passion for helping people grow. At PwC’s U.S. National Office, I was a National Talent Management Director and internal executive coach, leading efforts to support career navigation, inclusive leadership, and belonging. Whether someone was a rising leader on the partner track, a new college graduate, or a future leader just getting started, I made it my goal to help them feel seen, heard, and valued.
After over 30 years in corporate leadership, I decided to double down in 2020 to start Wishing Out Loud LLC. I built this company around my coaching philosophy, now a registered trademark. My goal is to help people stay grounded in their strengths and values, build relationships that matter, and take bold steps toward their dreams. I often describe myself as a “talent gardener” because I love growing flowers and believe in planting seeds, nurturing growth, and helping leaders thrive and flourish.
Today, I’m honored to be a trusted advisor to CEOs, executives, and professionals at all stages of their careers. I work across generations and cultures, helping people find common ground and move forward together. I listen deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and create space where people feel safe to grow and stretch into their full potential.
My journey has been guided by my Christian faith, courage, compassion, and connection, and it’s been an honor to walk alongside others as they create lives and careers filled with purpose, belonging, and possibility.
I love to wear my cowboy boots when I travel or speak at leadership conferences, representing Texas or in Texas, because they are way more comfortable than high heels. It helps others find me at the large events when I say I’ll be the Asian woman in cowboy boots. I also found wearing the boots reduces the number of people who will ask me again where I am REALLY from, after I say I’m from Dallas,
Beyond one-on-one coaching, I create spaces where leaders and professionals can build connections and deepen relationships. For over five years, I have hosted “Inclusion Connectors” lunch meet-ups and “Lisa’s Lakeside Lunch-Bunch” gatherings, bringing together groups of 20 people at a time in a cozier setting where they can share their R.O.C.K.S. and ask for support, too. These groups have grown, so I have expanded the gatherings to reach even more people.
In addition to in-person meet-ups, I lead monthly virtual Zoom group mentoring sessions, including Career Transition support, Group Mentoring for Emerging Leaders, Lisa’s Inclusive Leadership Learning Lab, and Student “Ask Me Anything” mentoring sessions. These spaces allow participants to exchange wisdom, strengthen networks, and gain confidence in navigating their career paths.
Along this journey, I have been featured in several podcasts, publications, and speaking engagements. Some of my most highly viewed guest appearances include discussions on leadership, emotional intelligence, and creating inclusive workplaces.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I founded Wishing Out Loud LLC in early 2020, I had no idea how quickly the demand for inclusion strategy and coaching would grow. After the murder of Botham Jean in Dallas and the unrest after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, many companies finally began to acknowledge that inclusion couldn’t remain a check-the-box exercise. The pandemic only intensified the need for human connection, empathy, and values-based leadership. Almost overnight, my consulting business was flooded with requests for help from leaders navigating uncharted waters. Many had never built an inclusion strategy before, let alone implemented one in a crisis. The demand was so high during those first two years that I often had to refer work to trusted peers because we couldn’t serve everyone.
As organizations gained momentum and developed internal strategies, the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion also shifted. In 2023-2024, many people misused or misunderstood the term “DEI”, creating confusion or even resistance, While manay organizations have cut back their public advertising of their internal culture of inclusion and belonging work, the heart of the work—creating workplaces rooted in belonging, kindness, fairness, respect, well-being, and high engagement—has never changed. Many companies have quietly pivoted to reinvest in their people and the future of work, primarily through leadership development. That’s allowed me to bring my HR, culture change, and coaching background to the forefront again, working with individuals, teams, and audiences nationwide.
As you know, we’re big fans of Wishing Out Loud LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Wishing Out Loud LLC, the heart of our work is simple: we help people and organizations grow into their full potential. Founded on the belief that small wishes can lead to significant breakthroughs when spoken aloud and supported with intention, our firm has been honored to receive national recognition for our impact in inclusive leadership, coaching, talent development, and culture change.
We serve many clients—from Fortune 500 executives and small business CEOs to rising professionals and emerging student leaders. Whether it’s one-on-one coaching, strategic advising, or delivering keynote talks that spark change, our goal is always to create welcoming, inclusive, and accessible spaces where people feel safe to explore, stretch, and lead with authenticity and courage.
Clients often describe my speaking engagements as both uplifting and actionable. My talks combine heartfelt stories, real-world wisdom based on evidence-based research, and practical tools people can apply immediately. One client shared that I “made them feel empowered to stretch their comfort zone with new leadership techniques,” while another said my keynote gave their team “a much-needed mindset reset rooted in empathy and belonging.”
In CEO and executive coaching, leaders often turn to me when they need a trusted, confidential sounding board. I’ve coached C-suite leaders through culture shifts, talent strategy, and times of crisis. One CEO said I was “the only coach who made me feel seen as a whole person, not just a title.” Another shared, “Lisa has a gift for listening between the lines and helping me get unstuck without judgment.”
The company’s brand colors, blues and greens, illustrate our goal of positively impacting the world. The circle around the peony represents our inclusion, connecting the circles of relationships. The peony flower is the Chinese flower for wealth, prosperity, honor, and good fortune, which we wish for everyone.
I bring strategy and heart to professionals navigating career transitions or aiming to grow their leadership presence. My clients appreciate that I focus on the future and their legacy while helping them clarify their values, build confidence, and take steps toward roles that truly align with who they are and their true wishes. Many say it’s the first time someone has “clearly envisioned their dreams as much as they do.”
At Wishing Out Loud, we don’t just deliver services—we build relationships. Every engagement is designed with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping people lead with purpose, connection, and impact.
Wishing Out Loud LLC stands out because we don’t just coach leaders—we grow them. As an award-winning firm, we blend business strategy with heart, helping executives and teams lead with courage, compassion, confidence, and unique strengths.
Clients choose us because we listen deeply, ask the right questions, and deliver real results. From keynote speaking to CEO coaching and career guidance, we create space for honest growth, better connections, and lasting impact.
Through keynotes, workshops, and group coaching, I’ve had the joy of teaching on a wide range of topics, including The Power of Wishing Out Loud, Leading Through Change: Grounded in Purpose; Networking Like a Natural (Even If You’re an Introvert), Authentic Bold Confidence, Five Strategies for Inclusive Leadership, You’re Not an Imposter, So Why Do You Feel Like One?, Networking for Lasting, Meaningful Connections, Maximizing Mentors and Sponsors, and Communicating with Impact: The Art of Storytelling. More than ever, investing in adaptive, transferable leadership skills—especially those anchored in purpose—is critical for senior leaders as they learn to lead through change and uncertainty.
If you’re ready to grow your people, your business, and your leadership impact, we’re here to help you lead boldly and authentically.
Any big plans?
On September 9, 2025, I am deeply honored to receive the North Texas Disability Chamber’s Cynt Marshall Catalyst for Inclusion Award, recognizing the impact of my work in fostering belonging and driving meaningful change. I hope everyone joins us for this luncheon to congratulate all the awardees and learn about their significant resources for disability inclusion.
Looking further ahead, I’m excited about the future. I plan to focus on my superpowers as a talent gardener and inclusion connector. For the remainder of this year, we will launch new group mentoring cohorts and virtual coaching circles to meet people where they are and grow our reach as a guest on several podcasts.
An active community volunteer, I am also open to new opportunities to serve on more corporate and advisory boards that can use a risk management CPA, HR, Coach, and workforce culture business experience.
I will continue writing my book and sharing leadership insights through podcasts and conferences.
I encourage readers to follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram and visit my website to sign up for the monthly email blog. We share leadership tools and resources and where to find me to connect in-person for learning and networking that month.
Please click “Inquiry about Membership” in one of the mentoring groups, leadership teaching labs, or lunch-meet-ups and schedule a breakthrough call with me to get started.
I look forward to continuing to live by faith, grow in grace, and walk in love as we build stronger communities and adaptive, inclusive leaders. As a lifelong learner, I will still listen to podcasts, read, join webinars, and attend events to grow my network and ability to connect across our community.
Pricing:
- Keynote speaking from $8,000-$15,000
- Custom Workshops from $5,000-$8,000
- Individual Coaching from $12,000-$35,000
- Panel Design & Moderation from $2,000-$4,000
- Specials for nonprofits and multple sessions booked together. Fees subject to change
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wishingoutloud.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wishingoutloud/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.hom.3
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onglisam/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wishingoutloudllc/
