On Demand Executive Mentor, Transformation Director
+61 432 683 130
SuetKoon.Lai@LeadersOnDemand.com
Koon is a sought-after coach for C-suite and executives who find her coaching insightful, pragmatic, and authentic. Her 28,000 followers on LinkedIn are attracted to her daily thought leadership, sharing leadership lessons and personal stories, with a gender and cultural diversity lens.
Clients value the warm and calm space she creates for thoughtful reflection which enables them to gain clarity and alignment over some of the most complex and high-stakes issues they face.
It is evident to them that Koon comes from a space of deep expertise with 20 years of diverse leadership experience at PwC, primarily focussed leading transformation projects. Her leadership impact was also recognised by PwC when they presented her the Edwin Flack Award and the University of Sydney Business School as the Chapter Honouree of Beta Gamma Sigma.
Her clients say it’s a weight off their shoulders to have Koon by their side and she is described as their “trusted sounding board”.
Career History
Koon has over a decade of experience leading and operationalising enterprise-wide target operating model transformation which added 30% highly skilled workforce capacity to PwC’s Assurance business through offshore delivery centres. This led her to being the go-to person for many in the firm including her last stint in PwC as the trusted advisor to the newly appointed Finance Transformation Director.
In the earlier half of Koon’s career, she was an auditor and a program management consultant. She partnered with the executives of a high-profile client that went from being the largest listed energy generator through rapid acquisitions to being a steady hand during rapid asset sell-off that came out of a significant debt restructuring. She was also described as the glue for a Blockchain consortium across 3 countries which resulted in a MoU being signed and witnessed by the Minister of Trade in Parliament House.
Key strengths are influencing diverse stakeholder groups and bringing alignment.
For over 3 years, Koon shared her leadership experience on LinkedIn every weekday. This has evolved into executive coaching where Koon works with many of her clients to achieve their aspirations.
Leadership Highlights
A trusted advisor to the CEO of a technology company where she acted as a sounding board to accelerate the growth of the company
Coached a Head of Business of one of the largest Australian financial institutions which elevated her influence amongst the C-Suite
Supported a Managing Director of a +10,000-employee delivery centre to gain clarity to navigate complex multi-territory stakeholders
Provided cultural awareness insights to a Director of a global professional services firm that enabled him to foster greater collaboration with the leadership teams spread across Asia.
Qualifications
IECL Organisational Coach, CPA Australia, BCom/LLB University of Melbourne
Sectors
Professional Services, Financial Services, Technology, Automation, Shared Services, Energy, Logistics and Scale Up
Functions
Strategy, Transformation, Technology Change Management, Operations, People & Culture, Risk, Finance and Social Media
Situations
Cross-cultural Awareness, Multi- territory Stakeholders, Authentic Leadership, Team Culture and Development, Executive Presence
Favourite quotes
“I can’t change the world. But I can cast a stone across the waters to create ripples” Mother Theresa
“Every mistake we make is wisdom knocking on our door” Unknown
“I joined Leaders on Demand...
... because their values especially around unselfishness align with my belief that the hallmark of great leaders is their generosity of spirit to lift all”
“When I'm not at work...
... I’m hanging out with my 3 boys for as much as they would have me. We also like to go to various restaurants and as a rule order something new. Does not always work out but at least we would have a laugh and expand our palate”