The Entrepreneurial Edge: Turn Ideas Into Action with Cynthia Pong, JD

Success rarely follows a straight line. Sometimes the career you thought was your “forever” doesn’t feel right once you’re in it. Sometimes an internship, first job, or life event makes you question the direction you’ve been heading. And sometimes the spark of a side hustle makes you realize you want more than the traditional 9-to-5.

But here’s the good news: you can always recalibrate, reinvent, and build something new.

Join Cynthia Pong, JD—award-winning executive coach and CEO of Embrace Change, Forbes Leadership Strategy contributor, CNBC career change expert, and author—for an energizing, hands-on workshop on how to apply entrepreneurial tools to chart your own career path.

Whether you’re an undergraduate exploring options, a business student testing an idea, an alum looking to pivot, or a community member curious about your next step—this workshop will give you practical strategies and renewed confidence.

Through a series of interactive exercises, you’ll explore:

• Who you want to reach with your ideas
• What problem you want your product or service to solve
• How your approach stands out from the crowd

Cynthia will share her journey from burnt out lawyer to entrepreneur leading a thriving, purpose-driven business, and guide you through these crucial questions. You’ll experience the same approach she’s used to coach entrepreneurs who’ve scaled past half a million in annual revenue, hit major milestones months ahead of schedule, spoken on international stages, and won global innovation prizes.

You’ll leave with:

• Clarity on how to move your entrepreneurial idea and career forward
• Confidence from applying proven tools and frameworks
• Connections across Adelphi’s student, alumni, and community networks

All participants will receive a complimentary copy of Cynthia’s entrepreneurship guide.

A reception will follow the workshop—your chance to connect with Cynthia and your fellow workshop attendees in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

This event is sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Conference Fund and Advancement and External Relations, part of the Insights from Experts Series and the Leadership Certificate Program. For more information about this event, please contact events@adelphi.edu.

About the Speaker

Cynthia Pong, JD

Founder and CEO, Embrace Change

Cynthia Pong, JD, is an award-winning executive coach and sought-after speaker who empowers women of color leaders to advance their careers and claim positions of power. A Forbes Contributor for Leadership Strategy and a LinkedIn Top Voice for Job Search and Career, she is frequently called upon for her expertise on career advancement, negotiation, and thought leadership, with features in HBR, The Atlantic, and on NBC, CBS, NPR, and more.

As Founder and CEO of Embrace Change, Cynthia leads a team of elite BIPOC career coaches in providing specialized coaching and training programs for women of color, from high-performing individual contributors to C-suite executives.

Her flagship leadership program, the Leadership Accelerator (link), won an Anthem Award in 2023 for its unparalleled success in accelerating the careers of women of color leaders. Graduates have gone on to secure prestigious fellowships (White House, Harvard, Stanford), promotions, raises, speaking opportunities, and admission to top graduate programs (NYU, Berkeley).

Her business coaching programs for women of color are a one-of-a-kind space for mission-driven WOC entrepreneurs to cultivate their leadership skills as CEOs, access valuable resources and tailored strategic support, and build thriving businesses that align with their values.

Cynthia’s book, Don’t Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color, has resonated deeply with countless women of color across industries looking to make bold career shifts, cementing her role as a foremost voice on the career advancement of women of color seeking positions of influence.

Cynthia also founded the Embrace Change Speakers Bureau, the first and only speakers bureau dedicated to amplifying the voices and perspectives of women of color speakers and experts.

With over a decade of experience negotiating––first as a public defender, now as a CEO––Cynthia has coached her clients to negotiate salary increases as high as 67%. Collectively, she has empowered her clients to bring in over $750K in raises. Her unique coaching methodology is calibrated to empower women of color leaders with precisely what they need to break down barriers, claim their worth, and lead with authenticity.