In Episode 76 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, host Bryan Eisenberg sits down with Michelle Ly, a City Council member, entrepreneur, and mother, to explore the realities of balancing public service with private enterprise. Published June 2, 2026, the conversation comes as Ly enters her third term on the Round Rock City Council and continues to manage a diverse portfolio including Hall Roofing & Construction, The Rock Sports Bar, The Flats, and Alcove Cantina. The episode offers a candid look at servant leadership in a rapidly growing Texas city that, as the mayor recently noted, can afford to be "picky" about new arrivals.
Ly shares the challenges of her relentless schedule, running on just three to four hours of sleep most nights and time-blocking between meetings for payroll, phone calls, and roof inspections. She discusses the decision to rebuild The Rock Sports Bar after losing its original lease, recalling her husband's determination: "This is not the way we end the Rock Sports Bar. Our landlord doesn't get to tell us the end of our story. We are in it for the long haul. We want to see downtown thriving." This resilience reflects her broader commitment to Round Rock's downtown revitalization, which she remembers as "a ghost town" anchored by a funeral home and Round Rock Donuts.
The episode explores Ly's background as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who moved to Round Rock for the semiconductor industry, and her board service with the Round Rock Chamber, Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center, and Rotary. She also discusses stepping off the YMCA board after two three-year terms when she felt less effective, and her practice of leading by example—such as donating a roof after hearing nonprofit leader Philip Golden speak and doing trash duty at her bars. Ly expresses hope to one day take her daughter Reagan to Vietnam to immerse her in the family's culture.
Rock Solid is produced at Round Rock Studio and profiles the entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and civic leaders shaping Round Rock, Texas. Episode 76 with Michelle Ly is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
