Moving the Needle:
A Mission-Driven Approach to
Business and Leadership
ML: I know that impact is at the core of who you are and how you do business. Tell us about how you embed impact into your business model and services.
When I started Balance Financial Management, I didn’t want to replicate the status quo of traditional consulting. I wanted to build something better — a strategic financial guidance designed for small/midsize enterprises, nonprofits, and start-ups to lower costs, increase impact, and create a scalable foundation for growth. From day one, purpose was woven into the very fabric of our business. Impact, for us, looks like this:
When I started Balance Financial Management, I didn’t want to replicate the status quo of traditional consulting. I wanted to build something better — a strategic financial guidance designed for small/midsize enterprises, nonprofits, and start-ups to lower costs, increase impact, and create a scalable foundation for growth. From day one, purpose was woven into the very fabric of our business. Impact, for us, looks like this:
- Our backbone services cost a fraction of what it would take to replicate in-house.
- Every day, we equip companies with the real-time data they need to scale faster and smarter.
- Every day, we lay the groundwork for nonprofits to grow bigger and bolder and drive more dollars to their missions.
- Every day, we provide stability, flexibility, and remote work opportunities for our team.
- Every day, we invest in the leadership and growth of our people.
Impact isn’t an extra step here — it’s built into our DNA.
ML: Where does your passion for being of service come from?
It’s in my roots. My parents were incredibly service-driven — our home was always open to anyone in need. Every Thanksgiving, we’d host over 50 people, because my parents believed no one should be alone. My dad was the kind of person who would find a job for anyone who needed one. Even today, in her 70s, my mom still volunteers almost every day. Service isn’t something I do — it’s woven into who I am.
I’m deeply aware of my blessings — my family, my home, my community — and I know not everyone is as fortunate. The inequities in this world weigh on me. I don't want to live for a paycheck; I want to live for a purpose — to lift others up and make this world a little brighter.
ML: Can you tell us about the leadership style you practice?
My leadership style is grounded in purpose-driven, servant leadership. It’s about holding values beyond self-interest and putting collective well-being first. Leadership isn’t about top-down hierarchies; it’s about lifting others up, building trust, and fostering collaboration.
When people feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for, they take ownership, innovate, and grow. That collective growth fuels extraordinary impact. When we lead with love, we don’t just change our workplaces — we ignite a ripple effect that can transform the world with compassion and true power.
ML: Where does your passion for being of service come from?
It’s in my roots. My parents were incredibly service-driven — our home was always open to anyone in need. Every Thanksgiving, we’d host over 50 people, because my parents believed no one should be alone. My dad was the kind of person who would find a job for anyone who needed one. Even today, in her 70s, my mom still volunteers almost every day. Service isn’t something I do — it’s woven into who I am.
I’m deeply aware of my blessings — my family, my home, my community — and I know not everyone is as fortunate. The inequities in this world weigh on me. I don't want to live for a paycheck; I want to live for a purpose — to lift others up and make this world a little brighter.
ML: Can you tell us about the leadership style you practice?
My leadership style is grounded in purpose-driven, servant leadership. It’s about holding values beyond self-interest and putting collective well-being first. Leadership isn’t about top-down hierarchies; it’s about lifting others up, building trust, and fostering collaboration.
When people feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for, they take ownership, innovate, and grow. That collective growth fuels extraordinary impact. When we lead with love, we don’t just change our workplaces — we ignite a ripple effect that can transform the world with compassion and true power.
ML: What is your organization's mission and values?
Our mission is simple: To spark meaningful change by strengthening people, systems, and financial sustainability — so impact can scale and last. We’ve always believed 'Business is About People' — from our team and clients to their partners and the broader communities impacted by our work.
While numbers matter, it’s the impact on people that matters most. A few of our values are:
- Integrity is Non-Negotiable
- People First, Always
- Tech-Forward
ML: Please give us 2-3 examples of how you put those values into action on a daily basis.
At Balance, we walk our talk every day. People First isn’t just a tag line. Our flexible, supportive culture allows team members to show up for life’s moments without sacrificing professional success. No one should have to choose between work and their loved ones.
Technology, for us, is a force for good. We embraced paperless systems, remote work, and automation long before they were trendy. Today, we leverage AI, digital dashboards, and smart tech to create greater transparency, expand impact, and free our teams to focus on what matters most: human connection and mission-driven work.
And above all else, Integrity is our foundation. In a world chasing easy wins, we refuse to cut corners. We tell the truth, even when it’s hard. We decline business from partners who don't share our values. We do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Technology, for us, is a force for good. We embraced paperless systems, remote work, and automation long before they were trendy. Today, we leverage AI, digital dashboards, and smart tech to create greater transparency, expand impact, and free our teams to focus on what matters most: human connection and mission-driven work.
And above all else, Integrity is our foundation. In a world chasing easy wins, we refuse to cut corners. We tell the truth, even when it’s hard. We decline business from partners who don't share our values. We do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
ML: I've heard you often talk about "moving the needle." What do you mean by that?
Moving the needle means creating real, measurable change — not just maintaining the status quo. It’s easy to stay comfortable. But comfort doesn’t solve urgent challenges like poverty, mental health, or inequality.
The world doesn’t need more businesses built to extract or exploit. It needs businesses designed to serve, to solve, and to spark real, lasting change.
I regularly reflect on whether I'm truly moving the needle — building something that leaves people, communities, and futures better off. When the answer is yes, I press forward with conviction. When it's not, I don’t hesitate to rock the boat and change course.
To learn more, visit www.balancefm.com, and Diana can be reached at [email protected] or 805.618.3125
