Life and Work with Lindsey Head

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Head.

Lindsey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It all started when I was a little girl… kidding, but kind of serious. Born in the small town of Truckee, CA to amazing hard-working parents – a devoted special education teacher and a director of public works. My parents were committed to providing the best life they could for me and my sister.

Growing up in Truckee, I learned to be grateful for parents who believed in me and trusted in a community who kept me accountable. I was always an athlete (soccer, basketball, softball, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and more), which taught me the value of teamwork, dedication, and cultivated a work ethic in me that has directly shaped the habits I have today.

All of my athleticism paid off when I became a walk-on Division I softball catcher at Santa Clara University. Learning how to balance the demands of being a collegiate athlete with carrying a full course-load while working on-campus (and having a social life), required me to be impeccable with my schedule. Some days were much better than others, but during college, I learned a lot about myself and my capacity.

In college, I thought I would pursue a professional career as a computer programmer. However, after 1.5 yrs of coding in college, I learned it was not for me and that a business degree would serve me better. I always felt I had a gift to see the big picture. I wanted to do more than just learn how to do things, I wanted to understand how things worked – so I could make them work better. It’s as if I was born with part engineering mind paired with a creative mind.

From a young age, I’ve had a passion for business and technology. When I learned that I could pair this with my passion for finance, I began to realize that the opportunities were endless. After graduating college and completing a short summer internship in private wealth management, I decided to buy a one-way ticket to Europe to begin a journey that turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I spent nearly five months on a solo backpacking trip around Europe, Morocco, and the Greek Islands (visiting 13 countries in total).

With a single backpack, two pairs of shoes, no set agenda, no cell phone, and no computer… I relied primarily on a guide book and a tight budget to navigate my journey. I met people from around the world and learned more about myself than I could have ever imagined. From navigating a few dicey situations to finding my way to the coolest destinations, my heart was full and the entire journey was incredible.

While traveling, I received a call from a mentor offering me an opportunity to join her company in San Diego. Not knowing what was in store professionally, I decided to return to the states, packed my bags and drove to Southern California.

Fast forward… First and most importantly, I am now a proud wife and mother of two boys under the age of four. Professionally, I am award-winning CFO and financial and visionary leader, providing entrepreneurs and business owners with proven financial guidance and operational strategies to facilitate exponential business growth. I have always been passionate about business and entrepreneurship. I thrive and find purpose in developing business ideas and helping companies succeed. I am a business finance expert who has demonstrated my expertise over the course of my career helping a variety of businesses succeed and operate efficiently.

In 2018, I was recognized as the Chief Financial Officer of the year by the San Diego Business Journal. I have been invited to lead numerous professional speaking panels and facilitate business financial workshops. I currently serve as the Co-Chair for the San Diego chapter of the CFO Leadership Council (a nationwide organization) and was featured on the cover of Vision Magazine (a magazine dedicated to entrepreneurialism). I’ve collaborated with clients ranging from startups and small businesses to large corporations.

I have served as the CFO for a successful money management firm (AUM = $250M), where I managed all financial and business operations, as well as compliance and investor relations. Most recently, I was the executive Chief Financial Officer for an award-winning PR Agency where I was instrumental in managing their financial growth from $750k to nearly $12M in annual revenue while growing headcount from 7 to 75+ and expanding the business from San Diego to New York, Santa Monica, and London.

I also led business and financial operations for a mobile tech startup that was acquired by Yahoo! I am an Intuit Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor®, a licensed California real estate agent, and eligible to sit for the California CPA Exam. I received my B.S. in Operations Management and Information Systems from Santa Clara University with a minor in Information Technology & Society (ITS). In 2020, I will walk the stage and officially complete my MBA in digital entrepreneurship.

HONORS & AWARDS:
* CFO of the Year Award Winner San Diego Business Journal (2018)
* Co-Chair of the CFO Leadership Council (SD Chapter)
* Featured on the Cover of Vision Magazine
* Invited to Lead Numerous Speaking Panels & Workshops
* Finance Committee Member – Startup San Diego
* 2019 Connected Women of Influence: Woman to Watch Award Winner (San Diego, 2019)
* Named as 2019 Women to Watch nominee by the California Women’s Leadership Association

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has definitely not been smooth and easy. I think my journey was rather challenging, but toughened me up and taught me many things about myself, the professional world, and the true character of people.

Throughout my life, I have been forced to make difficult decisions. From having to stand up for myself against sexual harassment in the workplace to testifying in front of the SEC when a prior employer was being investigated, to following my heart to leave a position to launch my own business, the road has not been easy. I’m definitely stronger and much wiser having gone through what I have.

One thing I know for certain is that when you are put in difficult situations and forced outside your comfort zone, you have two options… give in or grow through the experience. I chose the latter and educated myself extensively through the process, made the best decisions I could at the time and tried to remind myself that I would be stronger in the end.

The biggest advice I can offer to other women is to trust your gut and remember that how your life goes is 100% up to you. If you allow your circumstances to define you and hold you back, then that is your choice. If you allow those same circumstances to push you and motivate you to create a life bigger than you’ve ever imagined, then that is your choice. Good or bad, it’s how you choose to react to experiences that will dictate your journey.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Head Consulting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I’ve ventured out on my own to launch a business consulting practice, Head Consulting, Inc., in addition to developing a few different business ideas: Curls Poppin’, PlanSecurely.com, and Game Changer Women.

What I believe: Founders should be visionaries and dreamers who profoundly guide the direction of their companies… and that is where they should stay… out front and at the helm, not in the back office.

The need: Every business owner may find themselves needing high-level support in finance, operations, technology, legal, and HR strategies. We know because we’ve been there supporting some of the best companies in the country. With a proven track record helping fast-growing businesses establish their foundational financial operations, I know how to help.

What am I known for: I am a big-picture strategist helping founders lead from the top…

When your company is growing fiercely and you don’t necessarily have the funds to allocate to assembling a full executive team (especially with non-billable employees), count on Head Consulting, Inc. to guide you. With team members specializing in all aspects of business operations, we can provide all-encompassing consulting services working hand-in-hand with busy founders and their executive teams.

Imagine an experienced business strategy advisor at the top with multiple pillars of expertise (operations, finance, legal, HR, and technology). I can provide advice covering many aspects of your business and more importantly, I can offer guidance to streamline your efforts, automate your systems, to ensure your company is operating at its best.

How we work:
1. We conduct a free introductory consultation to gauge if we would be beneficial partners.
2. We will ask you a series of questions to evaluate the current state of the business and future goals.
3. Once we decide to move forward, we’ll get the legal stuff out of the way with a proposal, short contract, and scope of work. Then, we’ll be off and running.
4. My team will work off of a proven framework to help you with all identified areas to ensure you and your business are operating at your best.
5. We’ll have regularly scheduled check-ins to report on the status of our efforts and ensure that we always remain aligned.
6. Nine months is a true indicator of success and progress, so we require engagements to be no less than 9-months in length.

What I’m most proud of:

• I love seeing the results of my work make a profound difference in the strategic direction of a growing business.
• Seeing the lightbulb go on for a founder when they first grasp a financial concept that I’ve been educating them about.
• When a business owner sees how their decision making impacts their financial bottom line and they make adjustments that positively impact the business and their people.
• When I can help business owners make sound hiring decisions when the time is right financially.
• Encouraging owners to ask the question: “how can we work differently?” instead of feeling like more people is the only solution.
• When I can help business owners adopt powerful value creation compensation plans that align the goals of the business with the performance of their people so everyone wins.
• When business owners allow me to implement technology and systems that decrease manual/repetitive work, eliminate errors, and improve efficiencies.
• When I see everybody winning. The employees, the owners, and the clients they serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.headconsultinginc.com
• Phone: 6193007754
• Email: lindsey@headconsultinginc.com
• Instagram: @iamlindseyhead
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/lindseyllb
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseylhead

Image Credit:
Tim King (for the personal photo/headshot)

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