Louise Ing

How do you define success?

Having a purpose-driven life, staying engaged, being relevant, and using one’s powers for good—at home, in our work, in the communities where we work, and play.

One way I’m currently trying to live that definition is by serving a second stint as Chair of the Child & Family Service board. My first stint was 31 years ago when I was reportedly the first woman board chair and probably considered a “next generation” board member. Now, I am the opposite of “next generation” but I’m glad I have still been called upon to support CFS’ important work in strengthening Hawai‘i’s families in need.

What do you hope to see in your industry in the next 10 years?

I want to see law firms and organizations achieving, embracing, and taking the lead in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and beyond.

A pandemic-era housecleaning reminded me that achieving such a goal is a lifelong pursuit. When travel quarantines kept us at home for 10-14 days, my son Kurt Zwald found my really old, forgotten, handwritten law school application essay drafts. I wrote about my reasons for wanting to pursue a legal career: “[m]y personal experiences as a female and Asian in American society at a time when basic changes in social attitudes and opportunities for fuller participation in society are occurring, . . . at the same time, subtle and not-so-subtle biases still exist” plus having worked post-college in a male-dominated field “remind me that it is my generation which will introduce a significant number of women into the decision making processes in society.” And we did! One example: our Honolulu office, formerly Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing and now part of the global law firm

Dentons, has always enjoyed a genderbalanced and diverse legal team and ownership structure. Dentons' most recent class of new lawyers and new partners in the U.S. have been the most diverse ever. Yet, the legal profession in general has a ways to go. A 2022 Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms, notes that “[w]hile the legal industry continues to make measurable gains in the representation of women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals in the associate and summer associate ranks” the data shows law firms have not made “the progress one would expect from an industry that has been focused on the issue of diversity for over 3 decades.” Work is still needed to break down “systemic barriers that prevent these individuals from” rising to partnership and leadership positions in law firms.”

What do you love most about your job?

As a business and employment litigation lawyer, there is never a dull moment. Even though I’ve been in practice for over four decades, there is always something new to learn, a new problem to solve for a client, a new personal and professional challenge in being an advocate. True, there are long hours and stressful situations but what keeps me going in working are the people I encounter: Colleagues I respect, like, and learn from and clients who need help solving a problem or righting a wrong. Every encounter is an opportunity to learn, build a network, and develop connections.

What do you do for fun?

Spending time with family and friends, finding a neat dining experience, seeing the world and learning about other cultures and communities, dancing hula with my YWCA hula sisters on Sundays, enjoying the beauty of Hawai‘i, catching up with our children at opposite sides of the globe, son Kurt and wife Kim Ang in

Boston where Kurt works for the Red Sox and Kim is a physical therapist in a Boston University neurology program, and daughter Julia Sitch in Korea, teaching English and pursuing her passion for dance.

Describe your ideal day.

• Always be in a learning mode.

• Be visible, speak up, advocate for others who could use the help, amplify their voices.

• Have support networks for inspiration, empowerment, getting energized, staying humble.

• Strive to make every interaction or encounter count.

A few years ago, the board member Carol Isozaki presented a mini “Plan to be Amazing” session at a board retreat for Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream nonprofit directors. Carol’s Plan to Be Amazing teachings, reminded me of the importance of striving to be visible, adding value and bringing energy, positivity, empathy, and one’s best self to every meeting and communication—not just “phoning it in.”

“Through mindfulness and deeper selfawareness of how they make others feel, leaders can create higher-performing teams and partnerships that are more fulfilled and engaged with their work.”

Carol recently hosted an online book talk with Deb Liu, author of “Take Back Your Power – 10 New Rules for Women at Work.” It’s still on my nightstand, but one of my favorite takeaways from the talk is to choose a word and live it for a year. My word for 2023 is “amplify.” I am making that public to remind myself to live that word for 2023.

PRESIDENT & CEO

ADVANTAGE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER (AHCP)

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I-MANOA

NANCY ATMOSPERA-WALCH SCHOOL OF NURSING

How would you introduce yourself to a stranger?

Aloha! I am Dr. Nance, a proud mom, a happy wife, a loving sister, a doting grandma, and a magnificent friend. My stress reliever is shopping, and I love going out —this keeps me forever young! Ultimately, I identify myself as a creator —from my family to my business and to experiences with nonprofit organizations and friends. How about you?

In the next 10 years, what do you hope to see in your industry?

My short-term vision is that more nurses decide to become Nurse Entrepreneurs. I believe nurses have the skill set to be some of the best entrepreneurs—from being able to diagnose pain points, determine and create solutions, being able to lead during incredibly challenging life and death situations, being able to triage and make decisions and act quickly.

Nurses are inherently trained to become powerful entrepreneurs and I believe nurses can do so much more to help people after their clinical bedside experience or an employee. My longterm vision is that we will see those same women nurse entrepreneurs and nurses in leadership, c-suite and executive roles on boards of healthcare companies and organizations making sweeping strategic decisions that impact the industry at large.

What do you love most about your job?

I am gifted with the opportunity to make a direct positive difference in so many people’s lives. My clients (patients and caregivers) are the most kind and generous people I have had the chance to work with and are constantly letting me know how appreciative they are of the work my team and I are able to do for them. They will drop off food at my office, hug me so tightly, and tell me that they are going to church to pray for me that I will live a long life.

I also love that I am able to make that impact on my client’s lives through my decisive actions and independent thinking. Having my own company, I can determine what is best for my clients and not have to fight with bureaucracy and unnecessary barriers to quality patient care.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry?

Nurses are constantly underestimated and undervalued in the healthcare professions. Doctors often will not view us as their peers even when we may have several years if not decades more experience than they do. This can negatively impact patient care when our opinions are not heard or ignored, especially when nurses spend the most time with patients.

The issue is compounded by the overarching shortage of nurses across the world. Nursing is incredibly hard work and while it is an extremely rewarding profession it can be difficult to want to enter or stay in the profession if you don’t feel seen, heard, or valued. When there is a lack of skilled nurses this results in inadequate care for patients and ultimately patients’ overall experience and health outcomes.

What has been the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your career?

I have been blessed more than most to have two loves of my life. My career and my family. There have been times where I have had to choose one over the other and those have been difficult decisions for me, especially when the other feels neglected or not like the priority. When I have had to choose, I make sure the time I spend with each is quality over quantity and I work hard to be fully present and engaged.

What has been the biggest reward?

I am incredibly grateful to the nurses who have guided and mentored me throughout my life. At this point in my career, I truly enjoy being able to pay that mentorship forward and to have the ability to philanthropically support other aspiring nurses and organizations that support nursing.

What failure taught you the biggest lesson?

There was a time early on in my career when I was burnt out from the long hours and lack of appreciation for the incredibly hard work I did as a nurse. I decided to leave the nursing profession and bought a travel agency because of my love for travel. While I was successful at running the agency, I learned quickly that nursing is my true calling and I always say that if I were born again, I would choose to become a nurse again because the skills I have learned from being a nurse translates into any other profession.

What makes you stand out as a leader?

I am Chief Executive Officer for a reason. I am able to execute on any project I choose to take on and I will deliver it better and faster than was expected of me. I lead with my heart and act with my brain—bringing compassion, kindness, and empathy to my decisive actions. As a nurse, one of your main roles is to be the patient’s advocate, and I carry that responsibility through to everything I do. My staff and clients know that I will always put their best interests first and will fight for them. I also believe everything is a learning opportunity, especially our mistakes, which are opportunities for us to better ourselves.

VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL & BOARD SECRETARY HAWAI‘I

In the next 10 years, what do you hope to see in your industry?

I hope that students will select problems to tackle and solve in life, caring about the generations to come as if they are caring for their own family and friends. I hope they persevere through difficulty, attempting to use their knowledge and values-based experiences to take on tough challenges. In Hawai‘i, that could involve the formulation of strategies to prevent brain drain, ensure affordable housing and fair wages, and instill accountability as stewards for our precious land and other resources.

I also hope to see a higher education environment filled with students from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and interests. In higher education, diversity furthers the values of academic freedom and equal protection. A diverse student body can help to enhance critical thinking skills and self-confidence, promote integration, diminish stereotypes, hone leadership skills, improve the ability of students from all backgrounds to participate in an educational community, and prepare students to work in an increasingly diverse society.

Specifically, for Gen Z (aka, “Coronials”), I hope these students will dig deep, step up to civic responsibilities, show some grit, and thrive. Gen Z has normalized their feelings of anxiety; the long-term repercussions of this have yet to be seen.

What do you love most about your job?

I love that we are educating generation after generation and that we are doing so intentionally with the values of aloha, pono, kuleana, and ‘ohana in mind. I welcome the weight of this responsibility. Our students will need critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and grit to navigate, and we are farmers to that potential.

I also love that I am surrounded by lifelong learners and that student success is at the heart of everything we do.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry?

Our emerging adults are questioning the return on investment for a degree when the need for post-secondary education has never been stronger. In an era of innovation and digitalization, with vast amounts of information literally at their fingertips, our students still need mindful interpretation of information and safe places for discourse.

Today’s youth must catalogue and consider so much more information, often from less-than-credible sources. There is a mass of problems and tension weighing on their shoulders; in an educational environment we are here to help shoulder that weight, act as interpretive guides and mentors, and help set high expectations while communicating our belief that our students can accomplish those expectations. In the higher education environment, our students learn to solve real life problems, build lasting relationships, have ownership and accountability, make connections, and acquire a-ha moments through experiences.

What has been the biggest sacrifice you've made for your career?

Nothing comes to mind. For everything I do in furtherance of my profession— whether in education, the law, or public service—I look through the eyes of my own children. I think about what impact an action may have on them, on Hawai‘i, and on the world. I will follow my true North and strive to add value in life. I am so grateful that this path has not involved feelings of sacrifice on my part.

What has been the biggest reward?

Paying it forward and empowering learners has been the biggest reward. I can contribute to learning directly as a lecturer and a mentor. I can also contribute as an administrator by way of programs and policies. Either way, my soul is fed when I see moments of realization, traction, and progress. Whether it was contributing to the creation of a STEM conference for women of color and a corresponding camp for girls, or coordinating a compliance education program for nonprofits during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been rewarding to know that through education we can overcome challenges, improve lives and systems, and leave a habitable and hopeful world for our children.

What makes you stand out as a leader?

I am not sure that I stand out. There are so many quality leaders at all levels of an organization, with everyone doing so much for our collective well-being. I tend to lead from the back but will be out front in the face of confrontation or criticism.

If I had to lean into the premise of this question, I suppose I would say that I appreciate the unique gifts everyone can bring to the table and I enjoy drawing out these strengths. If you speak in Strengths Finder terms that is dubbed, “individualization.” I appreciate our innate differences, styles, and motivations and believe this will lead to enhanced discourse and problemsolving. I also look at long- and shortterm goals simultaneously, and love to envision and map out better futures with others. Practically speaking, that means I like to draft future annual or multi-year reports in past tense so the acquisition of these goals is as vivid and as hopeful as possible while still leaving room for interpretation.

I also have hope that we can create a better future. Giving up is not an option.

What failure taught you the biggest lesson?

During law school, I accepted a summer internship at a federal agency in Washington, D.C. I recall going to the cafeteria and needing to get back to the office right away. A pair of employees were walking slowly up a set of stairs so I ascended to the left of them and took the stairs two at a time. I recall a man muttering, “You know, in this country we walk on the right.” His female colleague—about a generation older— said, “Shh, don’t say that.”

It may have been the immediate chastising given by the female colleague. Or perhaps it was my green disposition in the face of perceived authority figures. I swallowed my objection and moved on.

This is not the worst example of discrimination that I have faced in life, but I did regret my silence. I learned that sometimes you need to find courage to speak up in the moment. Sometimes your voice will help another. That single moment also taught me about internal locus of control versus external locus of control; sometimes silence can give the upper hand to an external factor when you need to control your own destiny.