Kate Lingoni
Kate Lingoni is a systems thinker, emotional strategist, and sharp observer of human behavior — known for her ability to transform friction into forward motion.
She earned her degree in Biology and spent the first chapter of her career immersed in oceanographic and coastal research at Louisiana State University. Her work included consulting with NOAA on the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), many research cruises in the Gulf of Mexico, and managing data and lab operations for complex environmental studies. These experiences grounded her in systems, interdependence, and the reality of large-scale impact — lessons she carries into everything she builds.
But it was stepping away from science — and into motherhood, identity loss, and eventually entrepreneurship — that reshaped how she thinks about growth and sustainability. As part of that personal evolution, she studied acting, using it as a tool to reconnect with her voice and develop a deeper understanding of presence, emotional intelligence, and human behavior.
That nonlinear journey now defines her work.
Kate brings a rare mix of strategic clarity and emotional depth to her partnerships. She helps high-performing founders and teams untangle what’s not working — operationally, culturally, or interpersonally — and rebuild in ways that are more aligned, sustainable, and effective. Her ability to meet complexity with calm and catalyze change without chaos makes her a sought-after partner to purpose-driven leaders.
She is the founder of BonBon Strategic, a Fractional COO firm supporting service businesses across the U.S. and Canada, and an advisor to emerging startups in New Orleans and across the climate tech ecosystem. Her approach blends systems, strategy, and soul — with a clear belief that infrastructure is what allows vision to scale, and emotional intelligence is what makes it worth following.
BonBon Strategic is a Fractional COO firm that helps service-based businesses escape operational chaos and scale with clarity. Founded by Kate Lingoni, BonBon blends strategic planning, systems design, and people-first leadership to transform operations from the inside out — so founders can spend less time in the weeds and more time leading with purpose.
The firm partners with founder-led businesses earning $2M–$10M in annual revenue, often in sectors like law, engineering, construction, property management, consulting, and skilled trades. These companies typically have teams in place but lack dedicated operational leadership — creating bottlenecks, communication breakdowns, and decision fatigue at the top.
Every engagement begins with a structured Business Assessment to surface inefficiencies and uncover hidden opportunities. From there, BonBon delivers a blend of high-level strategy and hands-on support — helping clients prioritize goals, implement scalable systems, manage cross-functional projects, and stay accountable through weekly operational check-ins and monthly strategy sessions.
As the firm continues to grow, BonBon is expanding its reach into climate tech, ocean tech, water innovation, and clean energy — bringing its proven operational frameworks to purpose-driven companies solving urgent global challenges. Whether in legacy industries or future-focused markets, BonBon’s work is rooted in clarity, alignment, and execution — not just advice.
Bryan McDonald - Executive Coach for EOS Implementers
“Kate was the missing piece I needed to get to the next version of my business and scale. It’s amazing what she can see or simplify that I don’t see or think I can simplify.”
Testimonials
Howard Finkelstein - Owner, HJF Law
“she is 1000% committed to making our business work efficiently, confronts every problem fearlessly and knows how to get results. Kate proactively looks for our inefficiencies and the problems that are holding us back. She is a delight to work with.”
Leah Valian - Owner, Couple Health
“I am blown away by Kate's hard work, technology smarts, and creativity. She has an uncanny ability to capture the essence of my voice and values which are incorporated into our projects and client communications.”
Gallery
podcasts & Articles
Questions for the Media
Can you walk us through your journey from science to entrepreneurship?
What did acting teach you that now shows up in how you lead and advise?
How has your personal evolution shaped your approach to business and growth?
What are the most common operational mistakes you see founder-led businesses make?
How do you help overwhelmed leaders get out of the weeds and back into vision?
What does emotional intelligence in operations actually look like?
What changes when a business hits the $2M–$10M revenue stage?
How do you create systems that support scale without killing flexibility or culture
What’s your take on work-life alignment versus traditional balance?
What do you wish more founders understood about delegation and burnout?
What’s one operational hill you’ll die on?
What kind of founders or businesses are you most excited to work with right now?
