Lihong Hicken’s career reflects a modern American dream. Raised in a poor village in China, she immigrated to the United States and went on to become a successful entrepreneur, building four startups with major exits — including three acquisitions and one IPO. She is a graduate of the Haas School of Business at University of California Berkley, one of the nation’s top MBA programs.

A sought-after speaker, Lihong regularly presents at professional conferences, business schools, and industry events. She has spoken at International Women’s Day events, addressed MBA students and entrepreneurs at business schools, and served as a keynote speaker for Utah Women in Sales, where she shared insights on building and advancing a career in sales.

Lihong speaks candidly about entrepreneurship, career growth, and leadership—drawing on her experience founding and scaling multiple companies. She is especially passionate about supporting people early in their careers, particularly women and individuals who did not come from privilege. As an immigrant and non-native English speaker, her career has been defined by breaking ceilings, and she enjoys speaking about resilience, confidence, and expanding what people believe is possible for themselves.

In addition to entrepreneurship, Lihong frequently speaks about motherhood, work-life balance, fundraising, company growth, and navigating the demands of leadership while building a meaningful life. Her talks are grounded, practical, and deeply personal—connecting career growth with life growth in ways that resonate across industries.