Mike Ching
Managing Partner
Ernst & Young LLP
Mike Ching is a Mentor Hawaii Cohort 10 mentor. Learn more about the program here.
About Mike
Career History and Experience
Mike is the EY – Honolulu Office Managing Partner and a partner in the firm’s Banking & Capital Markets group. With over 28 years of experience with the firm, Mike serves both assurance and advisory clients in both Hawaii and the US Mainland. Mike began his career in 1993 with EY in the Honolulu office, and in 2002, he transferred to Phoenix, Arizona where he led the firm’s efforts to develop a financial services practice amongst the Phoenix, Denver, and Las Vegas offices. Mike returned to Honolulu in 2005 and became the Office Managing Partner in 2012. Mike left the firm in 2015 to become the Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer at First Hawaiian Bank, playing a critical role in the bank’s journey through an initial public offering and transition to an SEC-registered company. Mike returned to EY in June 2018 and re-assumed the Office Managing Partner role in Hawaii.
Education and Professional Qualifications
Mike is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Hawaii and Guam. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Service Organizations and Personal Interests
Active in the community, Mike currently serves on non-profit boards such as the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaiian Humane Society, Aloha Council – Boy Scouts of America, Diamond Head Theatre, Hawaii Softball Foundation, and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Question and Answer with Mike
What is your preferred communication style when mentoring (in-person, video conference, phone, informal check-ins, structured meetings, etc.)?
Usually in-person over a meal (i.e., breakfast, lunch, pau hana)
Why do you want to become a mentor in this program?
When I was younger in my career, I was blessed with having a mentor who was instrumental in my career progression; so, I hope to pass this along to others.
What specific skills, knowledge or experience can you share with your mentee?
Networking, building one’s brand, mainland work experience, etc.
What are your expectations for a mentor-mentee relationship?
I hope to be helpful to my mentee’s personal and professional development; and I also look to learn from my mentee from their perspectives.
How do you approach problem-solving and conflict resolution?
Depends on the situation and counterparties involved. There are times when being very tactful is the right solution, and there may be other times when a more direct approach may work better.
How do you envision success for your mentee, and how will you measure it during the program?
Success would be measured by the mentee’s conclusion that participation in the program was worthwhile for them; and hopefully, I’ll be able to measure this through the periodic meetings that I will have with my mentee and an assessment of how engaged they are throughout the program.
