Wendy Nguyen: Building Success Through Passion, Profit, and Purpose

Wendy Nguyen is a dynamic figure in the April issue of WomLEAD Magazine, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), entrepreneur, investor, and coach whose story weaves together determination, expertise, and a deep desire to help others succeed. Based in Houston, Texas, Wendy has built a multifaceted career, founding businesses like NCTP CPAs, the American Business Academy, and Tincom Media Global, Hawaii Fluid Art Houston Heights, Leven Bakery & Cafe, Artistic Grace Academy, Savvy Space Organization, and more while also guiding aspiring entrepreneurs through her coaching philosophy. Her mission? To inspire over a million people to get paid doing what they love, a goal she pursues with every venture she undertakes.

Building a New Life Through Numbers

Wendy’s path began far from the Texas skyline. At 17, she arrived in the United States from Vietnam with limited English and a drive to succeed. Encouraged by her mother, a serial entrepreneur, Wendy chose accounting as her foundation, seeing it as the universal language of business. She excelled quickly, finishing school in three and a half years as an international student and earning her CPA license by 22 years old. “I had to hurry up,” she recalls, balancing the pressures of education and financial independence.

Her early career took her into auditing, a step above accounting that demanded sharp skills and adaptability. Working in California during the dot-com boom of the early 2000s, Wendy audited startups, non-profits, and tech companies going public. A self-described bookworm, she found herself thrust into a role requiring constant communication. “I had to meet three to five new people every week,” she says, a shift that opened doors and broadened her perspective across industries.

Turning Setbacks into Strategy

Despite her success as an auditor, Wendy felt a pull toward entrepreneurship. In 2012, she launched her first CPA practice, but the journey was far from smooth. Struggling to attract clients in a male-dominated field, she faced doubts about her fit in the auditing world. “I didn’t look like the typical auditor,” she admits. After two years, she returned to public accounting, taking on partnership responsibilities at a mid-sized firm to refine her skills.

A turning point came in 2017 during a trip to Shanghai. There, Wendy met a man who had gone from picking plastic bags on the street to owning a manufacturing facility supplying Apple. “If he can do it, why can’t I?” she thought. Inspired, she relaunched her CPA practice with a clear vision: to create a boutique firm serving international clients, not for profits, and small businesses. This time, her confidence and experience paid off. By 2020, amidst the challenges of COVID-19, she scaled NCTP CPAs to over seven figures, proving her knack for turning vision into reality.

Leading with Vision and Purpose

Today, NCTP CPAs thrives with over 25 staff members and a partnership structure that allows Wendy to focus on strategy rather than daily operations. “I’m more of a visionary and cheerleader,” she explains, crediting her partners for executing the day-to-day work. This delegation stems from her philosophy of efficiency. She jokingly calls it laziness but it’s really about improving processes and empowering her team.

Wendy’s success as an entrepreneur led to an unexpected role: business coaching. Clients, inspired by her growth, urged her to share her insights. Initially hesitant, she embraced coaching in 2020, developing her 3P formula: Passion, Profit, and Purpose. “It’s not just about loving what you do,” she says. “It has to be profitable and tied to a greater purpose.” This framework guides her coaching and underpins her own businesses, from the American Business Academy, which equips entrepreneurs with practical knowledge, to ventures like Hawaii Fluid Art, a creative studio she recently opened in Houston.

Practical Wisdom for Business Owners

Wendy’s financial expertise shines in her advice for business owners. One key tip? Distinguish between expenses and investments. “When you spend money, know if it’s gone or if it’s bringing a return,” she advises. For example, hiring staff is an investment but only if they enhance the business’s value. “Hire slow, fire fast,” she adds, a lesson drawn from her own experience managing teams.

For those turning a passion into a business, Wendy stresses three steps: solve a market need, be an expert in your field, and understand the difference between self-employment and a true business. “A business needs systems, location, and people,” she says. “If it’s just you, it’s a job, not a company.” This clarity has guided her own ventures, ensuring they grow beyond her individual efforts.

For women starting companies, Wendy offers guidance rooted in her 3P formula: Passion means building on your strengths and being an expert with a solid track record; Profit involves calculating profitability from day one and valuing your time; and Purpose is knowing why you’re doing it and who you’re helping, whether it’s your family, community, or the legacy you want to leave.  

Wendy Nguyen’s story is a reminder that passion, profit, and purpose can shape not just a business, but a fulfilling life. Through NCTP CPAs, her coaching, and creative ventures, she leads with clarity and heart. Her book How to Get Paid Doing What You Love captures her mission to help others do the same. Whether she’s supporting clients, developing new ideas, or exploring art and travel, Wendy continues to grow and give back. She encourages others to know their why, embrace their strengths, and never stop learning. A message that reflects both her journey and the impact she hopes to leave behind.