NICE TO MEET YOU!
Laura Azzalina Rigali
I'm an enthusiastic finance leader with two decades of experience building and leading startup and hyper growth companies. I began my career in public accounting as an auditor with Deloitte and moved into private accounting at venture-backed startups. I served in corporate controller, M&A, and CFO roles in startups across various industries, from travel, fashion, and lifestyle to renewable energy and technology.
Today I'm a strategic advisor, external CFO, and coach to startups, middle market growing companies, and executives, combining my expansive finance career with my love of people to help people and companies achieve their absolute best. I serve in part-time and project-based CFO roles, and coach entrepreneurs and CEO’s in financial empowerment - helping them step fully into their roles as financial leaders of their organizations, and embrace rather than fear finance. I also host finance workshops and executive roundtables, and I'm a speaker for events and seminars.
I graduated summa cum laude from Boston University School of Management with a degree in business, earned my MBA from Babson College with a focus in entrepreneurship, and I'm a CPA. I also hold Series 63 and 79 securities licenses for investment banking.
I'm an active member of the community, serving as an advisor to growing businesses as part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and Women's Economic Ventures, as a professor of corporate finance and strategy at Pepperdine University, UCLA, and California Lutheran University, and as a board member for several nonprofits. In 2018 I was honored to receive the Women's Business Award from Comerica Bank and the Los Angeles Lakers, for my contributions and leadership in business and entrepreneurship, as well as the San Fernando Valley Business Journal Trusted Advisor “Trailblazer Award” in 2018 and 2019 for my unique and empowering approach to coaching and advising.
My greatest joy is working with people to help them achieve their goals and live fulfilling, rewarding lives. I can't wait to meet you!
Contact me at illuminatecfo@gmail.com.