An Inspired Chat with Kate Lingoni of New Orleans

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kate Lingoni. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Kate, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building is the community that lives quietly behind the work. Along the way, I’ve built real relationships (and some unexpected friendships) with other service providers who genuinely care about integrity, honesty, and doing right by their clients. None of it was intentional networking; it came from real conversations, shared values, and mutual respect. There’s a deep level of trust in my circle, and it’s incredibly grounding to know you’re surrounded by people who want to build good businesses without cutting corners or losing themselves in the process. In 2026, I’d like to bring that community together more intentionally to expand our collective impact.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kate Lingoni, founder of BonBon Strategic. We work with service-based business owners who’ve built real teams and real demand – and are now feeling the weight of being the bottleneck in their own business. What makes our work different is that we don’t just diagnose problems or hand over a plan; my team and I help founders see the truth of how their business is actually operating and then build the systems, roles, and ownership that create real relief. When a client’s internal team doesn’t have the bandwidth, we step in to support execution alongside strategy. As the work has evolved, I’ve also started building the BonBon Collective – an ecosystem where BonBon acts as the anchor, providing structure, project management, and oversight so other high-integrity experts can do their best work for shared clients. At the core, everything we do is about building businesses – and partnerships – that are thoughtful, aligned, and built to last.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed power meant authority – being tougher, louder, or more dominant than the people around you – and that being strong meant being in control. I was drawn to those ideas because I felt powerless in my own life and didn’t yet have words for what was missing. What I’ve learned since is that what I really wanted was agency – the ability to trust myself, make my own choices, and live with integrity and follow-through. Real power, for me now, is quiet and steady. It looks like autonomy, consistency, fairness, and building a life – and a community – grounded in shared values rather than force.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me how to be honest with myself in a way success never could. When things were hard, I had to get clear about my limits, my values, and what I was actually willing to tolerate. It showed me the cost of ignoring misalignment and the importance of boundaries, follow-through, and making decisions I could stand behind. Success can hide problems for a long time; difficulty forces clarity. That clarity is now baked into how I lead, how I work, and how I help others build businesses that don’t quietly burn them out.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
There are certain aspects of my personality and value system that I take for granted, and, on occasion, have to check my assumption that “everyone operates this way”. Integrity matters more to me than appearances, and clarity feels kinder than avoiding discomfort. I care deeply about follow-through – about people doing what they say they will do, and being honest when they can’t. I believe people do their best work when they feel trusted, supported, and aligned with what they’re building. Those values guide how I lead, who I partner with, and the kind of businesses and relationships I’m committed to creating.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
People can only show up as fully as they’ve met themselves. That’s true in life, and it’s especially true in founder-led businesses, where the company often reflects the inner world of the person leading it. You can’t really separate personal growth from leadership at that stage. Because of that, a meaningful part of my work is helping founders grow into the kind of leaders their businesses are asking them to become – not just by improving systems, but by gently addressing the mindset patterns that hold them back. When both the person and the business are supported, sustainable success becomes possible.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Sophie Berard

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Local Highlighter Series

We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and

Highlighter Series
Who taught you the most about work?

Society has its myths about where we learn – internships, books, school, etc. However, in

Highlighter Series
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?

We asked some of the wisest people we know what they would tell their younger