DR
KATHLEEN
ONG

DR. KATHLEEN ONG is a Senior Director (Global Learning & Development) at ITD World in charge of Asia-Pacific. This provides her with an excellent platform to learn the latest Leadership trends, practices and developments. She travels widely to this region and this provides her the perfect setting for the observation of and participation in the large-scale upgrading of intellectual human capital. Since year 2006, she has been working closely with Professor William J Rothwell, the World’s No 1, HRD Guru from Pennsylvania State University. On 2nd July 2013, she founded The Women Leaders Mentoring Community (WLMC). WLMC’s vision is to raise the level of women’s leadership through effective mentoring. This is a community service based project on the ‘Pay it forward’ principle. Kathleen is a life member for Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) and also a volunteer trainer for JCI Malaysia. Apart from that Kathleen is also one of the founders of the KamPri (We Care) life coaching community which is a CSR initiative for coaching B40 students in Universiti Sains Malaysia. Today the group has about 70 volunteer certified life coaches.

Kathleen received her formal education at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), where she was conferred a Bachelor’s degree in Economics . Subsequently she completed her Msc in Training & Human Resource Management, University Of Leicester in July 1996. Some of the researches done by Kathleen are as follows; ‘Top Management’s attitudes towards Training through the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) – The Case of the Manufacturing Industry in Johor’, ‘Role of Corporate culture in Human Resource Management’ and ‘Globalization-It’s Impact on The Work of HRD Professionals’.

Prior to that, Kathleen served the Asian Regional Training and Development Organization (ARTDO). ARTDO was founded in the early 1970’s as an umbrella organization for the various groups and organisation interested in the advancement and coordination of HR development in the Asia-Pacific region – a cause to which she still subscribes. Kathleen received her formal education at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), where she was conferred a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Subsequently she completed her MSC in Training & Human Resource Management, University Of Leicester and her Doctorate in Business Administration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Kathleen has been extensively involved in EQ work with Dr Leonard Yong, the author and originator of the Leonard Personality Inventory (LPI). She serves as a Mentor-Coach for the Heart of Coaching (HOC) practice and as Coach to Leaders in assisting them in increasing their EQ level in the Workplace. Kathleen is also a co-facilitator of the “Power Speaking” program led by the author and the originator of the program, Edwin Johnson.

She believes that all leaders should INSPIRE THE VISION as well as ENCOURAGE THE HEARTS of the people. Kathleen’s Vision is to INSPIRE & EMPOWER LEADERS to lead a life of love, joy & freedom. She does this through her facilitation, coaching and mentoring practice. She has coached leaders from the following organizations: Schneider Electric, Motorola Technology/Motorola Solutions, Osram, Intel Technology, Western Digital, Agilent Technologies and etc.

Kathleen was Vice President of the Johor Bahru Toastmasters Club and was awarded Competent Toastmaster (CTM), Advance Toastmaster (ATM-B) and Competent Leader (CL) from Toastmasters International, Mission Viejo, California, USA (Public Speaking). She had conducted workshops in Bangkok for Toastmasters on “Powerful Presentation Skills”, “Powerful Evaluation Skills” and “Train the Trainer“. She had facilitated the Train The Trainer for Celestica Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Motorola, Seagate, Eastern Garment, DHL, UMW , Zhulian Jewellery, Genting Centre for Excellence, Amadeus Asia Ltd and etc. Kathleen also facilitated sessions for The Central Bank of Malaysia, Great Eastern, American Embassy, Intel Technology, Motorola Technology, Siam Cement Group, Schneider Electric, Petronas, Osram Opto Semiconductor, Western Digital and etc. Having met and worked with the Leadership Guru, John C Maxwell personally in June 2008 was a milestone for her. She is certified to conduct a number of world-class programs including John C. Maxwell’s Laws of Teamwork, Winning with People and Thomas G. Crane’s Heart of Coaching program. Kathleen is also one of the facilitators for the ARTDO-International ITD Certified Training Professional (CTP) program and the Mentor Coach for the Certified Coaching & Mentoring Professional (CCMP) program.