Lea A. Strickland, MBA, MA, CMA, CFM, CBM, GMC, is a seasoned business strategist, financial expert, and executive advisor with a distinguished track record of driving operational excellence and strategic growth. With a unique blend of academic credentials and real-world experience, Lea guides organizations through complex financial landscapes, regulatory environments, and strategic transitions.

Lea is a recognized expert in working with SBIR/STTR recipients, helping them navigate the complexities of federal funding compliance, program reporting, and commercialization strategy. She assists awardees in building solid infrastructures that meet grant and contract requirements while positioning their innovations for long-term market success.

For early-stage companies and startups, Lea brings hands-on experience in turning ideas into viable business models. From go-to-market strategy and financial forecasting to investor readiness and operational systems, she equips founders with the tools and knowledge needed to accelerate growth and avoid common pitfalls.

Lea also has a strong track record of working with struggling businesses—those facing financial challenges, stalled growth, or operational breakdowns. Her analytical approach and strategic insights help business owners identify root issues, stabilize performance, and rebuild a clear path to profitability and sustainability.

Lea has helped startups, small businesses, and established enterprises enhance performance, secure funding, and achieve sustainable success throughout her career. Her multidisciplinary expertise spans finance, compliance, operations, and leadership development.

She is recognized for her thought leadership, having authored numerous articles and delivered keynotes on financial management, business strategy, and entrepreneurship. Lea is the founder of F.O.C.U.S. Resources and a trusted advisor to executives and emerging leaders.

 

Education and Certifications

Lea holds an MBA in Accounting, Marketing, Human Resources (Change Management) from The Ohio State University and a BS in Finance and Management from The University of Charleston.  She also holds a MA in Applied Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute.

Her certifications include Management Accounting (CMA), Financial Management (CFM), and Business Management (CBM). She achieved certification in government grant and contract compliance (GMC). In 2021, Lea added the Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) credential from the Institute for Diversity.

 

Radio Talk Show Host

She is also the host of Lea Strickland‘s Focus on Business, a weekly talk radio show on WCOM-FM (Chapel Hill, NC) . Focus on Business covers the issues and challenges of starting, growing, and running small businesses. Topics include legislation/regulations, entrepreneur profiles in success, subject matter experts addressing accounting, legal, tax, marketing, websites, human resources, and more.

 

Author

Ms. Strickland authored multiple books, including:

  • 10 Minute Success: Goals;
  • Out of the Cubicle and Into Business;
  • ABC’s of Biblical Change: Lessons from the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy)
  • SBIR Basics: The Numbers,
  • One Great Idea, and
  • Marketing Strategies.

 Columnist

Lea is a recognized leadership expert, author, columnist and radio show host with over 800 published articles in publications including FastCompany.com, AMA’s MWorld, MainStreet.com, TheStreet.com, FoxBusiness.com, Sales and Service Excellence, and many others. She works with for-profit and non-profit organizations to build strong business systems, concept, and financial performance. As an entrepreneur and dynamic speaker, Lea shares her real life experience as an entrepreneur and consultant using life lessons and experience working with small businesses, university spin-outs, as well as multinational and international corporations on developing a competitive advantage through how you do business.

 

 

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