Lea A. Strickland, MBA, MA, CMA, CFM, CBM, GMC, CDE, is a distinguished business strategist, financial expert, and executive advisor with a proven track record of driving operational excellence and strategic growth. With a unique blend of advanced academic credentials, professional certifications, and extensive real-world experience, Lea guides organizations through complex financial landscapes, regulatory environments, and strategic transitions, empowering them to achieve sustainable success.
Education and Certifications
Lea holds an MBA in Accounting, Marketing, and Human Resources (with a focus on Change Management) from The Ohio State University and a BS in Finance and Management from the University of Charleston. She also earned an MA in Applied Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute. Her certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified in Financial Management (CFM), and Certified Business Manager (CBM). Lea is also certified in government grant and contract compliance (GMC). In 2021, she added the Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) credential from the Institute for Diversity, further enhancing her expertise in fostering inclusive business environments.
Expertise in Federal Funding and Compliance
Lea is a recognized expert in supporting SBIR/STTR recipients, helping innovators navigate the intricacies of federal funding compliance, program reporting, and commercialization strategy. She assists awardees in building robust infrastructures that meet stringent grant and contract requirements while positioning their innovations for long-term market success.
Empowering Startups and Early-Stage Companies
For early-stage companies and startups, Lea provides hands-on guidance to transform ideas into viable, scalable business models. Her expertise spans go-to-market strategies, financial forecasting, investor readiness, and the development of operational systems. By equipping founders with the critical tools and knowledge they need, she helps them accelerate growth and avoid common entrepreneurial pitfalls.
Right-Sizing Businesses for Success
Lea specializes in right-sizing businesses, helping organizations optimize their operations, resources, and strategies to align with their goals and market demands. Whether scaling up for growth or streamlining for efficiency, she provides tailored solutions to ensure businesses operate at peak performance while maintaining agility and competitiveness.
Turning Around Struggling Businesses
Lea has a strong track record of working with struggling businesses facing financial challenges, stalled growth, or operational breakdowns. Her analytical approach and strategic insights enable her to identify root issues, stabilize performance, and chart a clear path to profitability and sustainability.
A Trusted Advisor Across Industries
Throughout her career, Lea has helped startups, small businesses, and established enterprises enhance performance, secure funding, and achieve sustainable success. Her multidisciplinary expertise spans finance, compliance, operations, and leadership development, making her a trusted advisor to executives and emerging leaders alike.
Thought Leadership, Authorship, and Media Presence
Lea is a prolific thought leader, author, and columnist, with over 800 published articles in prominent publications such as Fast Company, AMA’s MWorld, MainStreet.com, TheStreet.com, Fox Business, and Sales and Service Excellence. Her books include 10 Minute Success: Goals, Out of the Cubicle and Into Business, ABC’s of Biblical Change: Lessons from the Pentateuch, SBIR Basics: The Numbers, One Great Idea, and Marketing Strategies, offering practical insights for entrepreneurs and business leaders. As a dynamic speaker, Lea draws on her real-life experience as an entrepreneur and consultant, sharing lessons from working with small businesses, university spin-outs, and multinational corporations to help organizations develop a competitive advantage.
Radio Talk Show Host
Lea hosts Lea Strickland’s Focus on Business. The program addresses the issues and challenges of starting, growing, and running small businesses, featuring discussions on legislation, regulations, entrepreneur success stories, and expert insights on topics such as accounting, law, taxation, marketing, website development, and human resources.
As the founder of F.O.C.U.S. Resources℠, Lea continues to inspire and empower organizations to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in a dynamic global market, leveraging her expertise to build strong business systems, concepts, and financial performance for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.