Little Guiding Light

Helping professionals in Australia, Singapore and Asia navigate challenges and transitions and turn varied experiences into sources of learning, growth and resilience.

Ling McDonald

Coach & Learning Facilitator

ICF Member Badge - International Coaching Federation

Once a Guide, always a Guide…

Thanks for stopping by! Being a Brownie and a Girl Guide during my formative years has been pivotal in shaping my values, including love of learning, creative expression, appreciation of nature, and service to others.

As a secondary school teacher in the early days of my career, I saw first-hand how individuals can succeed and flourish when they are seen and heard, supported and inspired.

Today, I bring my values, eclectic interests, two decades of professional experience across borders, sectors and cultures, and multi-disciplinary qualifications to my coaching.

I’m here to be your thinking partner and sounding board; a guiding light as we explore your world together, finding your strengths and uncovering insights to help you navigate life and work in these times of accelerated change and upheaval.

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Qualifications

  • Professional Certificate in Coaching from Singapore Management University in conjunction with TPC Leadership
  • Graduate Certificate in Social Impact from Swinburne University of Technology (Melbourne)
  • Master of Environment from the University of Melbourne
  • Post Graduate Diploma of Education (Singapore)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Singapore)

Experience

I bring a rich and multi-faceted perspective to coaching from two decades of professional experience in diverse roles and organisations, across the business and not-for-profit sectors in Australia and Singapore.

Prototyping an indoor cat cubby designed for circularity and made from recycled plastic, setting up and running an online store, and piloting a business model to address the plastic waste problem and to support animal rescue.

Managed Australian Red Cross programs and partnerships within the Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement, focused on building community resilience and organisational capacity to respond to and recover from disasters and emergencies.

Undertook PR consulting and media relations for clients in the funds management, pharmaceutical and FMCG industries.

Taught Geography and English in a secondary school before becoming an environmental and public health educator in the public sector.

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  • Helped me stay focused and make steady progress

    Ling has a wonderful ability to create a safe, non-judgmental space where I felt comfortable exploring my thoughts and ideas. She supported me to work through priorities and challenges with clarity, while also keeping me accountable with regular check-ins. Her balance of encouragement, structure, and genuine care made the experience both productive and enjoyable. I’m grateful for the guidance Ling provided, which helped me stay focused and make steady progress on my business ideas
    Carol
    Founder & Owner, Seeds of Wonder

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