MASA GONG
POSITIVE COACH. FIGHTER.
Underdogs are the future. I help clients be who they were born to be and thrive.
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Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames. - Rumi

Professionals like you are working with me to flourish.

I have had some high highs and low lows. Let’s walk this journey together. I have coached and supervised over 1800+ C/E/S/VP/Director level leaders, managers, coaches, and teams to conquer underdog thinking, overcome fear, and manifest their innermost hopes and dreams. With 25+ years in business and 12+ years at Google, I’ve had the honor of supporting women leaders and leaders of color reclaim their power and achieve flourishing. I bring expertise in positive psychology, adult learning and development, race and gender theory, and an attitude of grit, hope, and play.

My calling is to unleash the Rocky Balboa IN YOU to occupy your birthright of power and possibility.

Naked and Afraid

Individual and Group Coaching

Existential Bootcamp

Leadership and Management Workshops

Agape Love

Building more than Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Positive Coaching + Experience + Science =
Be your whole self, transform, and thrive.
Custom Engagements Upon Request.

LEARN HOW

Positive Coaching + Experience + Science: Be your whole self, transform, and thrive.
Custom Engagements Upon Request.

LEARN HOW

Follow your nose.

Over the last few years I made a tremendous professional transition from media sales to learning and development.  I found my calling and purpose. Or was it so tremendous? Hindsight is 20/20 as they say. When I look back at the twists and turns of my career, I can see the through lines, the story arcs so clearly. You see, I always followed my nose. I followed my nose despite my face and despite the voices in my head – the voices of my always frightened single mother, the voices of my traditionalist siblings, and the voices of my competitive…

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Clients Say

Masa exceeded my expectations; I felt she was *actually* listening.

The session exceeded my expectations. Masa helped clarify ideas I had and actions I needed to take to achieve my goals. She brought to my attention the roadblocks I created for myself and gave me confidence to follow through on actions I knew I needed to take. She summarized key achievements and thoughts I had and understood my ambitions and challenges very quickly.

-- Tech Professional, San Francisco

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2020-02-04T21:22:37+00:00

-- Tech Professional, San Francisco

The session exceeded my expectations. Masa helped clarify ideas I had and actions I needed to take to achieve my goals. She brought to my attention the roadblocks I created for myself and gave me confidence to follow through on actions I knew I needed to take. She summarized key achievements and thoughts I had and understood my ambitions and challenges very quickly.

Sessions With Masa are impactful and powerful.

Masa helped opening my mind and making me see that I am in a good path to continue developing my skills and becoming a manager. She did a great job of bringing things to light that may be weighing on my mind subconsciously, that I don’t often think about consciously.

-- Manager, Chicago

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2020-02-06T03:35:14+00:00

-- Manager, Chicago

Masa helped opening my mind and making me see that I am in a good path to continue developing my skills and becoming a manager. She did a great job of bringing things to light that may be weighing on my mind subconsciously, that I don’t often think about consciously.

Managing Expectations

Masa was always really clear on how career coaching works, was always listening to me with extreme attention and was not there to simply give me answers, but actually to make me think better. As a coach, she empowered me by helping me realize that I know my own answers to my own questions.

-- Engineer, India

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2020-02-06T03:35:49+00:00

-- Engineer, India

Masa was always really clear on how career coaching works, was always listening to me with extreme attention and was not there to simply give me answers, but actually to make me think better. As a coach, she empowered me by helping me realize that I know my own answers to my own questions.

Masa made me a better coach

Masa created space for me to explore what was holding me back as a coach. She asked powerful questions that often uncovered some assumption or habit that was blocking me. She was incredibly supportive in identifying ways in which I was being effective as a coach (and as a person) and calling them out for my attention.

-- Engineering Chief of Staff, San Francisco

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2020-02-06T03:36:51+00:00

-- Engineering Chief of Staff, San Francisco

Masa created space for me to explore what was holding me back as a coach. She asked powerful questions that often uncovered some assumption or habit that was blocking me. She was incredibly supportive in identifying ways in which I was being effective as a coach (and as a person) and calling them out for my attention.

…smart, emotionally intelligent and spiritual…

A close friend recommended Masa to me at a time where I was struggling with how to manage everything life was throwing at me! I was breaking down with too much to do, to carry on my shoulders and oversee.


Masa gave me very concrete and practical tools to manage my life in a healthier way and also to understand the traps I was falling into and the root cause of my negative feelings.


She not only has a deep understanding of human psychology and emotions but she also has a very spiritual approach to life.


To summarize: she is smart, emotionally intelligent and spiritual and with these 3 tools she makes the perfect coach!

Rima Farah, Owner, Swissdiam New York LLC

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2023-04-21T14:48:11+00:00

Rima Farah, Owner, Swissdiam New York LLC

A close friend recommended Masa to me at a time where I was struggling with how to manage everything life was throwing at me! I was breaking down with too much to do, to carry on my shoulders and oversee. Masa gave me very concrete and practical tools to manage my life in a healthier way and also to understand the traps I was falling into and the root cause of my negative feelings. She not only has a deep understanding of human psychology and emotions but she also has a very spiritual approach to life. To summarize: she is smart, emotionally intelligent and spiritual and with these 3 tools she makes the perfect coach!

…her clarity and sharpness…

I have worked with Masa in different contexts for over 2 years. Masa is an exceptionally experienced professional, with a breadth of experiences that allow her to relate easily to very diverse clients. She is able to generate solid spaces for growth and reflection in her coaching and in her facilitation. She brings a wealth of experience and diversity of competences together with a a solid grasp of the context and a secure confidence in leading people through their journey of growth. I have marveled at how she creates opportunities for people to relate to complex and courageous concepts, engage in deep questions and further their growth, always with a dose of humor and lightness and a deeply rooted confidence. What strikes me always in Masa is her clarity and sharpness, she can organize complex topics into a simple flow and a crisp delivery, she executes with laser beam precision and can hold complexity without losing her orientation. I would recommend Masa in a heartbeat to anyone who is willing to bring their leadership to the next level and to anyone who is looking for reliable, courageous and rich collaborations.

Alessandra C. Marazzi, Executive Coach, Forbes Coaching Council

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2023-04-21T14:52:46+00:00

Alessandra C. Marazzi, Executive Coach, Forbes Coaching Council

I have worked with Masa in different contexts for over 2 years. Masa is an exceptionally experienced professional, with a breadth of experiences that allow her to relate easily to very diverse clients. She is able to generate solid spaces for growth and reflection in her coaching and in her facilitation. She brings a wealth of experience and diversity of competences together with a a solid grasp of the context and a secure confidence in leading people through their journey of growth. I have marveled at how she creates opportunities for people to relate to complex and courageous concepts, engage in deep questions and further their growth, always with a dose of humor and lightness and a deeply rooted confidence. What strikes me always in Masa is her clarity and sharpness, she can organize complex topics into a simple flow and a crisp delivery, she executes with laser beam precision and can hold complexity without losing her orientation. I would recommend Masa in a heartbeat to anyone who is willing to bring their leadership to the next level and to anyone who is looking for reliable, courageous and rich collaborations.

…a balm for the mind and the soul.

Masa Gong: a blessing! Forever grateful for you.

I started working with Masa during the pandemic. As a mother of two young girls, a tech executive, a coach, a wife, a woman, and everything my plate was full. I suffered from the isolation and the work from home. My spirit was down. I was consumed, lost, with no life appetite.

I remember our first session in a beautiful garden, looking at tree, I think I cried at that time. I just knew that I wanted my Nadia back.

Masa patiently and lovingly helped untangle my life: newly immigrants to New York I had lost my support systems yet I had many gifts and a lot to give to the world.

I love how Masa mixes positive psychology, coaching, spirituality, business and tech all in once. Her candid approach full of wisdom, her questioning, her drive really did wonders with me.

I was able to overcome a lot of my mind gremlins, to transform my thinking and to realize MANY of the goals that I was setting for myself.

Masa is now a firm component on my support system and I continue recommending her coaching to many as it is a balm for the mind and the soul.

Masa keep shining in this world! You are transforming many lives!

Nadia Carta, Head of Data Transformation and AI, Google Inc., Founder of Spark Your Zeal movement, Host of 99 Humans podcast

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2023-04-21T14:55:55+00:00

Nadia Carta, Head of Data Transformation and AI, Google Inc., Founder of Spark Your Zeal movement, Host of 99 Humans podcast

Masa Gong: a blessing! Forever grateful for you. I started working with Masa during the pandemic. As a mother of two young girls, a tech executive, a coach, a wife, a woman, and everything my plate was full. I suffered from the isolation and the work from home. My spirit was down. I was consumed, lost, with no life appetite. I remember our first session in a beautiful garden, looking at tree, I think I cried at that time. I just knew that I wanted my Nadia back. Masa patiently and lovingly helped untangle my life: newly immigrants to New York I had lost my support systems yet I had many gifts and a lot to give to the world. I love how Masa mixes positive psychology, coaching, spirituality, business and tech all in once. Her candid approach full of wisdom, her questioning, her drive really did wonders with me. I was able to overcome a lot of my mind gremlins, to transform my thinking and to realize MANY of the goals that I was setting for myself. Masa is now a firm component on my support system and I continue recommending her coaching to many as it is a balm for the mind and the soul. Masa keep shining in this world! You are transforming many lives!

Masa Gong had an immense impact on my team and the $1.5 billion of business for which we are responsible.

If it wasn’t for Masa, I really don’t think that our team would be in the place we are now: inspired, trusting, envisioning, and working towards transformation in ourselves and our clients.  It’s hard for one person to capture the far reaching impact that Masa has had but I wanted to share it with you all to the extent that I’m able.  We need more leaders like Masa, especially as we evolve to the next phase of who we are becoming as a company.

-- Director at Google, New York City

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2020-02-04T20:23:01+00:00

-- Director at Google, New York City

If it wasn’t for Masa, I really don’t think that our team would be in the place we are now: inspired, trusting, envisioning, and working towards transformation in ourselves and our clients.  It’s hard for one person to capture the far reaching impact that Masa has had but I wanted to share it with you all to the extent that I’m able.  We need more leaders like Masa, especially as we evolve to the next phase of who we are becoming as a company.

Many of the things we are taught as Asian women…

Many of the things we are taught as Asian women — to defer, be humble, let the work speak for itself — do not serve us in the workplace, where we are competing against folks who have been taught the opposite. Masa helped me identify and challenge many of my limiting beliefs about myself and show up more authentically for my team.

-Stacey Wang, Senior Director of Marketing, Ironclad

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2023-11-08T12:46:25+00:00

-Stacey Wang, Senior Director of Marketing, Ironclad

Many of the things we are taught as Asian women — to defer, be humble, let the work speak for itself — do not serve us in the workplace, where we are competing against folks who have been taught the opposite. Masa helped me identify and challenge many of my limiting beliefs about myself and show up more authentically for my team.

Masa is worth every penny!

Working with Masa was a true gift and exactly what I needed in the middle of a transition. Masa's coaching is the perfect balance of encouragement and accountability and most importantly, she works with you to tackle the pervasive internal barriers you face in order to make progress sustainable after coaching concludes. What I found most helpful was the way she supported me in identifying my strengths so that I could learn how to operate in my optimal zone. I was able to expand my thinking around what joy in my professional journey meant while being tactical about how to reach my goals in the timeline that best fit my family and working realities. Masa is worth every penny!

Senior Leader, Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2024-02-16T13:04:20+00:00

Senior Leader, Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Working with Masa was a true gift and exactly what I needed in the middle of a transition. Masa's coaching is the perfect balance of encouragement and accountability and most importantly, she works with you to tackle the pervasive internal barriers you face in order to make progress sustainable after coaching concludes. What I found most helpful was the way she supported me in identifying my strengths so that I could learn how to operate in my optimal zone. I was able to expand my thinking around what joy in my professional journey meant while being tactical about how to reach my goals in the timeline that best fit my family and working realities. Masa is worth every penny!

Masa helped me to find my boundaries

Masa is the best coach! I can’t say enough about how she helped me discover my better self. I worked with her for a year prior to the pandemic. The work we did has propelled me in the most challenging moment of my career. The experience was transformational but has also proved to be foundational.


During shutdown of the pandemic and in the wake of George Floyd, I was promoted to senior director. I went from individual contributor to team leader in a phone call. I’m grateful for the coaching! To step into a leadership role at this time would have felt overwhelming beforehand. However, Masa helped me to find my boundaries and establish well being as a way of life. I built confidence to not only be present in a room but to have a voice in the room. I learned the importance of framing on your mindset and how it impacts actions. In the process of developing myself, I discovered my own leadership principles, which guides how I lead my team on daily basis. Despite the challenges of working from home and our polarized society, I have never felt more ready.


Best of all I learned to embrace me. I am a young black female executive in Finance and I’m cool with sticking out.

-- LaNisha Bodley Senior Director, Stores Finance at Macy's

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2021-01-29T20:06:41+00:00

-- LaNisha Bodley Senior Director, Stores Finance at Macy's

Masa is the best coach! I can’t say enough about how she helped me discover my better self. I worked with her for a year prior to the pandemic. The work we did has propelled me in the most challenging moment of my career. The experience was transformational but has also proved to be foundational. During shutdown of the pandemic and in the wake of George Floyd, I was promoted to senior director. I went from individual contributor to team leader in a phone call. I’m grateful for the coaching! To step into a leadership role at this time would have felt overwhelming beforehand. However, Masa helped me to find my boundaries and establish well being as a way of life. I built confidence to not only be present in a room but to have a voice in the room. I learned the importance of framing on your mindset and how it impacts actions. In the process of developing myself, I discovered my own leadership principles, which guides how I lead my team on daily basis. Despite the challenges of working from home and our polarized society, I have never felt more ready. Best of all I learned to embrace me. I am a young black female executive in Finance and I’m cool with sticking out.

Working with Masa was an enriching experience for our facilitators and senior leaders.

Throughout the engagement and training our internal facilitators, Masa fostered an environment that encouraged active participation. The content was not only relevant but delivered in a way that resonated with adult learners.

Communication with Masa was seamless. She was responsive, approachable, and receptive to feedback. This open line of communication contributed significantly to the success of our collaboration.

Working with Masa was an enriching experience for our facilitators and senior leaders. We recommend her services to any organization seeking a learning expert who puts the client first.

Becky Rogers
Director Leadership Development, mosaicinfo.org

 

Robin Westfall
Vice President Talent Management, mosaicinfo.org

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2023-12-04T18:45:08+00:00

Becky Rogers
Director Leadership Development, mosaicinfo.org

 

Robin Westfall
Vice President Talent Management, mosaicinfo.org

Throughout the engagement and training our internal facilitators, Masa fostered an environment that encouraged active participation. The content was not only relevant but delivered in a way that resonated with adult learners. Communication with Masa was seamless. She was responsive, approachable, and receptive to feedback. This open line of communication contributed significantly to the success of our collaboration. Working with Masa was an enriching experience for our facilitators and senior leaders. We recommend her services to any organization seeking a learning expert who puts the client first.

Her energy is just magic

I am always impressed by Masa's breadth and depth of knowledge in the Learning & Development space, it is extremely comfortable to work with someone who is as professional and responsive as she is. Not to mention that she is incredible as a training facilitator, her energy is just magic.

--Alexandra Brun, CEO of Sacred Mission, Former Head of Talent Development at Stuart.com

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2021-01-29T20:04:57+00:00

--Alexandra Brun, CEO of Sacred Mission, Former Head of Talent Development at Stuart.com

I am always impressed by Masa's breadth and depth of knowledge in the Learning & Development space, it is extremely comfortable to work with someone who is as professional and responsive as she is. Not to mention that she is incredible as a training facilitator, her energy is just magic.

Unrelenting warrior for social justice

Masa is a curious and unrelenting warrior for social justice. I appreciate her approach that is grounded in experience and the rigour of academics. My favourite Masa quote? "Do you want cosmetic surgery or open-heart surgery because I don't have a lot of time for cosmetic surgery. There are much more important issues in the world that need our attention and energy.

--Lily Seto, MA, CEC, PCC,ESIA

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2021-01-29T20:05:10+00:00

--Lily Seto, MA, CEC, PCC,ESIA

Masa is a curious and unrelenting warrior for social justice. I appreciate her approach that is grounded in experience and the rigour of academics. My favourite Masa quote? "Do you want cosmetic surgery or open-heart surgery because I don't have a lot of time for cosmetic surgery. There are much more important issues in the world that need our attention and energy.

Smart as hell, she can apply her knowledge in a practical, value-driven, and intentional way

If you are serious about your DEI &B efforts or wanting a professional coach to strengthen your resolve than Masa is your woman. She is insightful, thoughtful, well-humored, and wise. I choose wise over intelligent because while she is smart as hell, she can apply her knowledge in a practical, value-driven, and intentional way. She helped us with some programming in the Air Force and was a featured speaker on the immunity to change at an annual Air Force conference. Exhausted woman, add Masa to your tribe!

--Denise Cooper, Managing Director at Project Chapman and Retired US Air Force Colonel

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2021-01-29T20:04:22+00:00

--Denise Cooper, Managing Director at Project Chapman and Retired US Air Force Colonel

If you are serious about your DEI &B efforts or wanting a professional coach to strengthen your resolve than Masa is your woman. She is insightful, thoughtful, well-humored, and wise. I choose wise over intelligent because while she is smart as hell, she can apply her knowledge in a practical, value-driven, and intentional way. She helped us with some programming in the Air Force and was a featured speaker on the immunity to change at an annual Air Force conference. Exhausted woman, add Masa to your tribe!

An expert leadership and team coach

I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with and learned from Masa during our time together at Google. I had the chance to work with Masa not just in her capacity as an expert leadership and team coach but also when we both had roles leading the growth and development of internal peer-to-peer coaching "Guru" communities at Google. She generously shared and created learning initiatives based on her deep knowledge of organizational development to develop and inspire the coaching community.


Her voracious passion for organizational development and learning & development in both academic and applied fields means she brings a broad and deep knowledge of frameworks, theories and applied expertise.She has a unique ability to spark inspiration and courage in others and an unrelenting focus on integrity, sensing what is left unsaid, what needs to be said and doing what's right.

--Anna Pinsky, Strategic HR Business Partner and OD Consultant & Executive Coach at Google APAC

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2021-01-29T20:05:39+00:00

--Anna Pinsky, Strategic HR Business Partner and OD Consultant & Executive Coach at Google APAC

I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with and learned from Masa during our time together at Google. I had the chance to work with Masa not just in her capacity as an expert leadership and team coach but also when we both had roles leading the growth and development of internal peer-to-peer coaching "Guru" communities at Google. She generously shared and created learning initiatives based on her deep knowledge of organizational development to develop and inspire the coaching community. Her voracious passion for organizational development and learning & development in both academic and applied fields means she brings a broad and deep knowledge of frameworks, theories and applied expertise.She has a unique ability to spark inspiration and courage in others and an unrelenting focus on integrity, sensing what is left unsaid, what needs to be said and doing what's right.

Expert speaker… mission driven…

I've had the benefit of partnering with Masa Gong on Yale Alumni events on Career and attending her Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop. Having seen Masa in action on these occasions, I can honestly say she is an expert speaker on these topics and deeply mission driven. Masa spoke with large grad and post grad audiences on career, and connected in particular with the women and students of color in the audience with her sage insights. She also skillfully led an engaging unconscious bias workshop with a packed room of high profile Yale alumni during homecoming week. I cannot recommend Masa more highly for coaching, DEI initiatives, and speaking engagements.

-- Vinod Lala, Chief Strategy Officer, Vonage

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2021-01-29T20:05:50+00:00

-- Vinod Lala, Chief Strategy Officer, Vonage

I've had the benefit of partnering with Masa Gong on Yale Alumni events on Career and attending her Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop. Having seen Masa in action on these occasions, I can honestly say she is an expert speaker on these topics and deeply mission driven. Masa spoke with large grad and post grad audiences on career, and connected in particular with the women and students of color in the audience with her sage insights. She also skillfully led an engaging unconscious bias workshop with a packed room of high profile Yale alumni during homecoming week. I cannot recommend Masa more highly for coaching, DEI initiatives, and speaking engagements.

Radiates support, while also challenging me

Masa is an amazing coach. She radiates support, while also challenging me multiple times each session with a fresh perspective on how I might be contributing to whatever issues I have brought that day. She is making me a better coach by modeling what great coaching can be, and by helping me identify the ways in which I am holding myself back e.g. I hear her reminding me that "Self-care is ethical work in coaching!" when I feel myself grinding a bit. I whole-heartedly recommend Masa to anybody who is ready for her fierce commitment to challenge and support you in your journey of development.

--Eric Nehrlich, Executive Coach

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2021-01-29T20:05:24+00:00

--Eric Nehrlich, Executive Coach

Masa is an amazing coach. She radiates support, while also challenging me multiple times each session with a fresh perspective on how I might be contributing to whatever issues I have brought that day. She is making me a better coach by modeling what great coaching can be, and by helping me identify the ways in which I am holding myself back e.g. I hear her reminding me that "Self-care is ethical work in coaching!" when I feel myself grinding a bit. I whole-heartedly recommend Masa to anybody who is ready for her fierce commitment to challenge and support you in your journey of development.

… Masa’s ability to deeply listen and challenge me

What I have appreciated is Masa's ability to deeply listen and challenge me. I also really liked that she rarely brought up her own personal experiences with a specific issue we were addressing because it showed she was coaching me based on methods and tools and not on her lived experience alone. I also really appreciated the optional readings she provided and it was obvious that they were carefully curated to connect with what we discussed in each session. I learned a lot from the readings.

Claritza

Clients Say on Masa Gong
2022-10-10T13:58:34+00:00

Claritza

What I have appreciated is Masa's ability to deeply listen and challenge me. I also really liked that she rarely brought up her own personal experiences with a specific issue we were addressing because it showed she was coaching me based on methods and tools and not on her lived experience alone. I also really appreciated the optional readings she provided and it was obvious that they were carefully curated to connect with what we discussed in each session. I learned a lot from the readings.
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Clients Say on Masa Gong