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I recently spoke with Guita Sharifi, the CFO of Lifelong Learning Administration, part of the Learn4Life network of public schools. Sharifi is a highly accomplished CFO, having won numerous awards for her financial leadership, including recently being honored by the Orange County Business Journal who recently nominated Guita for its Lifetime Achievement Award. She has dedicated her career to the non-profit sector, serving as CFO to some of Orange Countys most important human service organizations.

Sharifi is unique among CFOs. She was born in Iran and escaped one week before the 1979 revolution. She also holds a PhD and is a licensed IRS Enrolled Agent, and is one of the most active networkers I have ever met!

Jack McCullough: Your journey to the C-Suite is fascinating. Can you share some of your early life experiences?

Guita Sharifi: I was Born in Iran and fortunate to have been culturally diverse. I speak four languages and have attended schools on three continents. In my youth, I attended Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, one of the oldest and most prestigious boarding schools in the world known as the School of Kings. In 1979, due to Irans unrest, my family and I fled right before the revolution, planning to stay in London until things stabilized. Unfortunately, things got worse, and I had to enroll at American Community School in Wimbledon, England. After two years, we returned when the transitional government was in its preliminary stages. I enrolled in a private school but transferred to public school when the government closed international schools .

Due to the ongoing instability, I immigrated to the US and attended university. After graduating, I moved to California and launched my career with a global advertising agency, FCB. I later married and had four children and started part-time tax representation. When I was ready to return to work full-time, I discovered a finance role with a non-profit. I was initially unsure if this was the right fit for me as I enjoyed the corporate world. Still, I became increasingly engaged with the cause, serving children & youth with mental health problems through integrated services. 20 years later, I am still dedicated to the non-profit sector!

McCullough: Why did you choose finance as a career?

Sharifi: Because of my background, I thrive in ambiguity and chaos, empowering me to act quickly and decisively. Finance can be a rewarding career with growth opportunities and exciting challenges.

McCullough: All successful leaders have had mentors who made a lasting impact on their careers. Can you share one who did so for you?

Sharifi: Professor Wayne Strom was my Presidential Key Executive MBA professor at Pepperdine University. He helped me to be more self-aware and become a better leader. Professor Strom always believed, "It is not necessary to react. I have stickers on my workstation to constantly be reminded of that phrase!

McCullough: What do you enjoy most about being a chief financial officer?

Sharifi: I enjoy being the right hand to my CEO and president, enabling growth and managing uncertainty.

McCullough: You have served as CFO to many leading philanthropic organizations. Tell us about your current role.

Sharifi: Having been CFO for the past 20 years mostly in healthcare, I transitioned about four years ago to my current role in an education industry, at Lifelong Learning Administration Corp (LLAC) a supporting organization for Learn 4 Life network of public schools, Flex high school and Stanza International Academy.

LLAC as a supporting organization offers a comprehensive suite of administrative and educational services so that educators can focus on their students. We serve schools across the country with our unique blend of support and expertise to deliver high quality K-12 education.

McCullough: What are your biggest ongoing challenges today?

Sharifi: Economic uncertainty is a big challenge for any CFO, especially for a non-profit. I am also faced with federal and California State budget uncertainty as it impacts funding for education. I also report to and attend meetings for 28 different boards of directors.

But, as I mentioned, I thrive in chaos and ambiguity!

McCullough: What are some of the most important and not obvious metrics that you track, financial or otherwise?

Sharifi: In the education industry we track Average Daily Attendance of students as it directly correlates with revenue.

McCullough: You have won numerous awards for your work as a financial leader, including recently being nominated for a lifetime achievement award by the Orange County Business Journal. What are some traits that make for a Rockstar CFO?

Sharifi: CFOs who enable growth, adhere to strict ethical standards, work collaboratively and have a high emotional IQ are often the most successful.

McCullough: If you could have a conversation with your 20-year-old self, what advice would you give?

Sharifi: Start your career in a big five as an intern to gain understanding of the field of finance and find your passion. Though if I could go back even further my dream was working for United Nation.

McCullough: I follow you on social media and have developed great admiration for your social activism. What can you share with us about current causes you support?

Sharifi: In the past 20 years I have served on numerous charitable boards. However, in the past five months, I have been deeply involved in humanitarian causes impacting my home country of Iran, primarily the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. According to Human Rights Watch and United Nations the current regime has committed unspeakable atrocities, including executing more than five hundred deliberate chemical attacks aimed at schoolgirls across Iran, and the arrest and torture of more than 20,000 peaceful protestors. I have been engaged in social media and connected with legislative bodies to bring awareness to the international community to end unhumanitarian conduct and to support the revolution. I have also joined several volunteer groups such as Kharazmi Group that support to Rebuild Iran. We collaborate with experts inside Iran and volunteer globally to ensure Iran becomes an economic powerhouse.

I am the founder and president of the CFO Leadership Council, a global organization dedicated to empowering senior financial executives through innovative professional development programs and peer networking.

I am also the author of two best-selling books. In 2019 I published Secrets of Rockstar CFOs which is based upon conversations with dozens of elite CFOs, from Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 50 Multinationals. I followed this up in 2021 with "The Psychopathic CEO, an Executive Survival Guide" which was written for executives who may work for a leader with this personality disorder.

Prior to founding the CFO Leadership Council, I served as a CFO to 26 different companies, primarily early-stage technology. I live in Massachusetts with my wife and two teenage sons.

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Meet Guita Sharifi, The CFO With A Fascinating Journey From Iran To The C-Suite - Forbes