Coach, Mentor, Entrepreneur & Digital Marketing Specialist
Hello! I’m Alicent (Ali) Wong, a Singaporean-born and bred who migrated to Australia in 2004.

I’m a digital marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in business, marketing and digital, a professional speaker who thrives on inspiring and empowering others, and a professional business, mindset and marketing career coach.

However, my journey hasn’t always been easy. Having worked through adversities within my life, from working as a migrant woman in a male-dominated corporate world to navigating societal and cultural pressures, to navigating the challenges faced by  women, I’m now passionate about helping others like me to do the same. Through my one-to-one coaching and mentoring, I’m dedicated to helping other WoC achieve success in their own professional and personal endeavours.
My one-to-one coaching and mentoring programs are designed specifically for WoC to help shift those limiting beliefs so that they can harness their personal power to succeed in life. There’s a big mindset component to all of my mentoring and coaching, because I truly believe that there is a huge amount of power you can unlock within yourself by first doing transformational mindset work. 
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Why I started mentoring and coaching Women of Colour

As an Asian female immigrant working in an Anglo-Saxon country and trying to make my way up the ladder in a male-dominated industry, there were many challenges that I had to overcome. I had to work on finding my ‘voice’ (both in the literal and figurative sense). 

This became more pronounced as I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey and even in management positions in my corporate career.

I struggled with self-doubt and confidence for years. This then rippled onto my career and I made bad decisions when it came to money and relationships. As much as those experiences were painful, I’m incredibly grateful for them, as they have led me onto my journey of personal development. Along my journey, I've uncovered and learnt tools and techniques such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) for powerful self-transformation. I've had to face my demons, un-useful limiting beliefs that I thought were my identity. Shifting those beliefs and adopting a completely new take on how I see myself and the world are what helped me to finally step comfortably into accepting who I really was.

Having had the privilege to cross-paths with so many amazing female founders and professionals, I know that the challenges I've faced are not uncommon. It's my purpose to support other professional women so that they can unleash their full potential without being held-back by sabotaging self-talk and un-useful limiting beliefs.

I'm now a business success coach, business and career mentor with the Queensland and Victoria Governments helping my peers get out of the '80/20' trap so they can focus less on hustling and more on 'Being'. 

My experience at a glance

I have over 20 years of experience as a digital marketing specialist (9 years in Singapore and 11 in Australia), and have worked with big brands such as Apple, MIcrosoft, Johnson & Johnson’s, CBA and Tourism Queensland. 
I’ve founded several businesses, including co-founding a boutique digital marketing agency with my husband in Sydney, which we ran for 6 successful years before selling our share of the agency to do direct consultancy work and spend more time with our children. 
I am the founder behind The Women of Colour Founders Network and a certified NLP Practitioner.
I’m a volunteer business mentor with the Queensland Government’s ‘Mentor for Growth’ program.
I’m a career mentor with the Victorian Government’s ‘Mentor Match’ program coaching people in mature stages of their career and are transitioning to a career in digital marketing.
I’m a professional speaker and panellist, having spoken at several events such as The Multicultural Small Business Expo 2022 and 2023, “Multiculturalism in Entrepreneurship’.

My Story

The beginning

Singaporean born and bred,

I started working in Marketing in Singapore straight out graduating from the University of Canberra in 2002 and worked in marketing agencies there for about 2 years before moving to Australia.

The move to Australia 

I migrated to Australia in 2004 to follow my dreams of crafting a career and life for myself. I did my Bachelor’s at the University of Canberra, fell deeply in love with this wondrous country and made a promise to myself that I would move here at the first opportunity.

So, from 2004, I continued my career in marketing here. Shortly after starting my new life in Australia, I worked with some of the world’s most recognised brands such as Apple, Microsoft, CBA, Tourism Queensland and Johnson and Johnson’s. 

My Sydney marketing agency

After 1 1+ years of being in corporate marketing in Australia (and my previous 9 years in marketing in Singapore), my husband and I then jumped at an opportunity to co-found a digital marketing agency in Sydney in 2010  After 11+ years of being in corporate marketing in Australia and having worked with some of the world’s most amazing brands, my husband and I then jumped at an opportunity to co-found a digital marketing agency in Sydney. 

We worked with clients like ING Direct, Tropfest and Pizza Hut, and ran the business successfully for a good 6 years.

After 6 successful years in business, we decided that it was time to sell our share of the agency to pursue other opportunities, and create more time to spend with our two young daughters.

Even though starting a business was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, it helped spark my entrepreneurial spirit. Once you’ve had a taste of being your own boss, let’s just say life will never be the same again. 

The move to direct consulting

After 6+ successful years in business running that marketing agency, we decided that it was time to sell our share of the business to pursue other opportunities as a direct consultant. A large part of this decision was to create more time to spend with our two young daughters.

I then became an independent marketing consultant in 2017, working with startups and SMBs.

The Sunshine State 

We relocated from Sydney to Brisbane in late 2019, just before the pandemic hit. At the same time, I had also lost my Mum to ovarian cancer, so 2020 was an extremely challenging year.  Much as I was very hesitant going back to corporate, it was something that I had to do whilst we settled into a new city.

But this turned out to be a good move, I soon started work as an Account Director with a leading digital marketing agency in Brisbane. I’ve remained within that digital marketing agency ever since, using my experience and strategy to help businesses across all industries to achieve their marketing and business goals, from the big name brands to new start ups.

I am very fortunate to be working with an amazing team in my current role.

Going back to full-time employment hasn’t put a standstill to my entrepreneurial dreams however. It has actually helped to light a fire up my bum and got me focused on pursuing my purpose.

I've also recently completed my certification in NLP and Time Line Therapy in 2024 and looking to continue my education in this space in 2025.

Mentoring, speaking and awards

I'm also a volunteer business mentor with the Queensland Government’s Mentor for Growth program, a career mentor with the Victorian Government's 'Mentor Match' program, and a mentor with Assisterhood to champion women in the advertising, marketing and creative industries.

I was shortlisted as a finalist for the B&T 2022 Women in Media awards, and selected as one of 35 participants for the first Cohort of the Anyone Can Entrepreneurship program for BIWOC founders.

Outside of work and mentoring

Outside of work, volunteering and mentoring, I’m a foodie, Mum to two beautiful girls and a smooch feline called Tilly, and wife to my best friend. I’m also a huge lover of sci-fi and fantasy movies (Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Lord of The Rings being some of my top favs). I have an obsession with indoor plants and I love strolling through the weekend markets for plants (of course!) and flipping through interior design coffee table books and magazines.

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My professional speaking 

  • Panel speaker - Multicultural Small Business Expo 2022 and 2023
  • Panel speaker - Multiculturalism in Entrepreneurship 2022 and 2023
  • Guest Speaker - ‘Step into Failure’ - Women of Culture in Business Event 2022
  • Guest Speaker - ‘Brisbane Young Club’ Event Jan 2024

Awards & accolades

  • 2022 B&T Women in Media Awards Finalist - Client Services
  • 2016 ESOP AWARD
  • 2016 GEO AWARD GEO Communications Awards
  • 2016 GOOD DESIGN AWARD GOOD DESIGN Australia
  • 2015 aWWWards - Brambles MyShare Microsite Award

Certifications

  • 2024 Certified NLP & Time Line Therapy Practitioner - Evolve & Relaunch

What people I’ve worked with have to say about me

Ali’s knowledge of digital marketing is extensive, and her abiiity to stay ahead of industry trends has greatly benefited our organisation. She consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of the ever-evolving digital landscape, implementing strategies that not only meet but exceed our marketing objectives.

I wholeheartedly recommend Ali to any organisation seeking a knowledgeable, capable, efficient, optimistic and positive individual to elevate their digital marketing endeavours

Karen Prestedge, Company Director,  Mother Duck Childcare

Working with Ali has been an absolute pleasure. Her warm and approachable demeanour makes her incredibly easy to work with. She creates an environment where questions are welcome, discussions are open, and learning is enjoyable.

Her mentorship has been transformative, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from her. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking a mentor who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, encouraging, and always available.

Jana Bhonsle, Mentee, Mentor Match

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