H. E. Wong Coaching & Consulting

Still sitting with what unfolded at SXSW today.

In a space filled with founders, business owners, builders, artists, writers, innovators, and storytellers, I had the honor of offering laser coaching sessions with ICF Austin Chapter—20-minute pockets of pause in the middle of all the energy and noise.

What struck me most was how quickly people dropped into what really matters. Beneath the projects, pitches, and performances were deeper questions:

What am I being called to create?
What needs to shift for me to move forward?
What does it look like to trust my voice right now?

Again and again, I witnessed the power of making just a little space—twenty minutes to reflect, to name what’s been sitting just under the surface, and to reconnect with clarity and momentum.

SXSW is known for big ideas. But this reminded me that transformation often happens in the quiet, intentional moments in between.

Grateful to hold space for so many brilliant humans navigating creativity, uncertainty, and possibility.

If you stopped by the coaching pop-up—thank you for trusting the process. And if you didn’t, consider this your reminder: sometimes all it takes is a pause to find your next step. 🚀

I’ll be back tomorrow if you missed today—join me at the Coaching Pop-Up at the SXSW Emerging Tech Expo (Fairmont Hotel).
ICF Greater Austin is partnering with SXSW to offer free, one-on-one coaching sessions right on the Expo floor. If you’re moving fast and need a space to think clearly for 20 minutes, this is for you.

Reserve a session in advance or stop by during Expo hours: https://tinyurl.com/sxswcoachingpopup

(Available to Platinum, Innovation, Film & TV, and Music badge holders.)

If you’ll be there, send me a note—I’d love to connect in person.

I’ll be at SXSW this year and would genuinely love to connect.

March 16–18, 2026, I’m volunteering with the Coaching Pop Up at the SXSW Emerging Tech Expo (Fairmont Hotel). The ICF Austin Chapter is partnering with SXSW to offer free, one-on-one coaching sessions directly on the Expo floor.

If you’re a founder, executive, or builder moving fast and needing a place to think clearly for 20 minutes, this is for you.

These are short laser sessions. Focused. Direct. You bring a real decision or tension point. We work it.

If you’ve been carrying something that feels heavier than it should, come use the space.

You can reserve a session in advance or stop by during Expo hours.

Sign Up Here! https://tinyurl.com/sxswcoachingpopup

Access is available to Platinum, Innovation, Film & TV, and Music Badge holders.

If you’ll be there, send me a note. I’d enjoy seeing you in person.

Excited to be one of the ICF Austin Chapter coaches volunteering at the inaugural SXSW coaching pop-up at the Fairmont Hotel!

🚀 ICF Austin at SXSW 2026: Coaching in Action

For the first time, ICF Greater Austin is bringing ICF-credentialed coaching directly to SXSW.

🌟 Complimentary Laser Coaching at the Emerging Tech Expo
The heart of our programming: complimentary 20-minute Laser Coaching sessions for innovators, founders, creatives, and leaders who want clarity and momentum, and want it fast.

📍 March 16–18 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fairmont Hotel
High-impact. Focused. Built for leaders on the move.

Reserve a Laser Coaching session in advance or stop by during Expo hours. Link to sign up ⬇️ Note: Access available to Platinum, Innovation, Film & TV and Music Badges

🌟 Workplace Track: Core Conversations
We’re also presenting two Core Conversations as part of the Workplace Track:

📍 Friday, March 13 | 10:00 AM | Hilton, Room 410
Innovation Under Pressure: A Coaching Approach to Getting Unstuck, Fast

📍 Tuesday, March 17 | 4:00 PM | Hilton, Room 412
Creative Teams, Real Risk: Coaching Teams for Courageous Innovation

Note: Core Conversations access is available to Platinum and Innovation Badge holders

SXSW is where bold ideas surface. Coaching is how they gain traction.

Austin ISD turns to land sales in response to budget gaps, fueling community pushback Some trustees cited community concerns about the Brooke Elementary site’s future, the intentions of the developers and the fate of current tenants.

Written by a teacher in Minneapolis: "They’re learning the lesson we’re teaching, even if it’s not the one we claim to be giving. They understand the message we’re sending when we demand their labor and their silence and their gratitude, all while treating their existence as conditional and their families as disposable. How can we expect them to love their country when those in power have made it clear their country doesn’t love them back?" - By Italia Fittante — January 23, 2026

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-what-sort-of-nation-terrorizes-children-a-teachers-view-from-minneapolis/2026/01?utm_source=bs&utm_medium=soc&utm_campaign=edit&fbclid=IwY2xjawPjTcNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEemxOrRCgveUxLSEckS1YZjFUHzstXO0JSJAt3W4__phuHY7XxHI3XFVksReg_aem_aPQ6MKyqX4q2oJHpzq5Tsw

‘What Sort of Nation Terrorizes Children?’: A Teacher’s View From Minneapolis (Opinion) My students live with the knowledge that anyone they love could be taken by ICE at any moment.

Understanding How Schools Are Labeled What goes into the process of labeling schools, and how reliable are those labels — especially when a school is labeled as “failing”? This is the second of three articles on public schools as a common good, which explore the possibilities and threats to public education.

I joined my former colleagues on the Education X podcast to break down TAPs in Austin ISD — what’s happening and what’s at stake. Educator voice matters. Thanks to Education X Podcast for giving us the opportunity to reflect on a challenging chapter in our district’s history.

“Yeah, it's hard for me to talk about what it feels like now. It feels like it totally gutted the campus, the heart and soul of Dobie.”

On Thursday, the board will vote on 24 Turnaround Plans for campuses across the district. Hear what the TAP transition was like last year for three teachers at Dobie Middle School in this episode.

Dobie’s TAP was a district-managed restart, and was triggered by 4 consecutive unacceptable state ratings. The school was one point away from successfully pausing the accountability chain last school year.

From “The TAP Experience” on Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/education-x-podcast/id1524499446?i=1000735165152&r=977

From “The TAP Experience” on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mnrmYqhbpmuXOdkKR54Z0?si=3SQ49kLtSvq-Au2-shfSsw

📷: Dobie students walk out in May over proposed changes at their school. Austin American-Statesman photo

🌟 Proud to be a sponsor for Blanton Elementary! Grateful to support our neighborhood school and the amazing educators, students, and families who make it shine. 💙🐾

Just published a new op-ed: Whose Schools Matter?

As AISD moves closer towards school closure decisions, I’m asking whose voices and histories are centered—and whose get overlooked. If we want equity, we can’t just save “my” school; we have to strengthen all schools.

Read here:

Whose Schools Matter? Centering History, Equity, and Community in Austin ISD’s Consolidation Decisions — H. E. Wong Mayor Kirk Watson recently marked August 27th with a City of Austin proclamation naming it “Bryker Woods Elementary Day.” The celebration coincided with the Bryker Woods Elementary PTA honoring U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett with its first Alumni Achievement Award. I have deep respect for Congre...

I held this reflection a little longer out of respect for the flooding that devastated Central Texas, especially for the students and families we lost in our community.

And because I believe honoring our communities means grieving with them and holding systems accountable, I’m sharing this now.

This piece is about what happened to Dobie, Burnet, and Webb under Austin ISD’s Turnaround Plan—from my experience as a displaced coach and educator. It’s about who gets called “qualified,” and why that question still matters.

For those holding grief, complexity, and a deep love for public schools, I hope this resonates.

https://www.hewong.me/blog/who-gets-to-lead-in-a-broken-system

Who Gets To Lead in a Broken System — H. E. Wong What does it mean to be “qualified” in a system that undervalues relationships, context, and community? This firsthand reflection from a former Dobie Middle School Instructional Coach exposes the human cost of Austin ISD’s turnaround policies, and calls for equity, transparency, and leadership...

What a beautiful gathering! Heartfelt thanks to for graciously hosting, opening your lovely home, and sharing your thoughtful contributions. Your vision for this retreat—gathering as a community to prepare for winter through nourishment, nurturing, and rooting—set the tone for a truly magical experience.

The retreat was so grounding and transformative that no photos were taken during the event itself. Instead, here’s a post-retreat photo of the lovely flowers used in our centerpiece 💐. Words can’t fully capture the magic, but if I had to choose one, it would be grounding. ✨

Thank you to everyone who showed up, participated, and embarked on deep soul journeying with us.

As many of you know, I’m in the process of expanding my practice into a collective to better serve our community. This event marked one of the first wellness gatherings of its kind. The incredible feedback has inspired me to host more customized experiences.

When powerful women come together, powerful things happen. This is just the beginning—to be continued.

Special thanks to Chandra for trusting me to curate this meaningful experience.

Practitioners:
✨ Yours truly led a restorative and balancing community yoga session, along with 1:1 presence-based coaching sessions.
✨ Endless gratitude to .suerte for guiding us through enlightening and transformative tarot readings.
✨ Big love to for facilitating our wintering-themed community sharing circle.