Episode 11: Transitioning from Corporate to Coaching｜Lisa M. Ong

In this episode of Girls and Finance, we dive into the world of accounting and auditing with Lisa M. Ong, President and Founder of Wishing Out Loud, a coaching and consulting business. Lisa opens up about her journey into accounting, inspired by her father’s advice that accounting is “the language of business.” She highlights her passion for auditing, explaining how the profession combines her love for investigations, talking to people, and exploring policies.

Lisa shares her career path, starting as an audit intern at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after graduating from college. She admits that she didn’t fully understand the role of auditors when she first began, but quickly learned on the job. Contrary to the public perception of auditors as intimidating IRS agents, Lisa describes corporate auditors as professionals who ensure that companies’ financial controls are accurate and reliable. She emphasizes the critical role auditors play as gatekeepers in the financial markets, ensuring that audited financial statements are credible.

Reflecting on her career, Lisa explains why she chose auditing. She loved the diversity it offered—every client presented a new environment, and she enjoyed the challenge of following audit plans and verifying controls. For those who appreciate structured work, interviews, and learning about different businesses, Lisa suggests that auditing is an excellent career choice.

Lisa also describes her transition from auditing to human resources (HR) after deciding to reduce her travel commitments for the sake of her family. When a partner at PwC offered her a temporary HR position, Lisa took the opportunity to gain new skills, even earning her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. This shift allowed her to stay engaged with her colleagues and apply her mentoring abilities, aligning her work more closely with her passions.

After a successful 30-year career at PwC, Lisa decided to launch her own business, Wishing Out Loud. She explains how her experience at PwC equipped her with the tools to set up and run a business quickly and efficiently. Lisa now leverages her extensive experience in leadership development and coaching to work with corporations outside of PwC, avoiding conflicts of interest while pursuing her passion for helping others grow.

Throughout the episode, Lisa emphasizes the importance of investing in relationships, building on one’s strengths, and staying open to new opportunities. She encourages listeners, especially young women, to explore careers in finance and accounting, reminding them that curiosity and problem-solving skills are often more valuable than pure mathematical ability. Tune in to hear Lisa’s insights on how her passion for learning and developing people guided her from audit to entrepreneurship.