Meet Lori Luis: Wall Street is not the place for the timid. Lori Luis, a seasoned Project Management and Human Resources professional with over 20 years of experience at a major Wall Street firm, knows this well. A former First Vice President, Lori also knows how to chart her own course, define and live out her own dreams. LoriLu Consulting is her brain-child, based on the realization that organizational skills inherent in project management are not well known or available within our communities. Meet this recipient of the YMCA of Greater New York Black Achievers in Industry Award winner.
MN: How many years did you work at Merrill Lynch and what key functions did you fulfill at the firm?
LL: I worked at Merrill Lynch for 29 years. After graduating from college, I participated in a management training program, learning the ins and outs of financial services and how to manage others. I always wanted to get into Human Resources (HR), and one of my managers moved to HR and needed someone who was organized and knew how to work a computer. I worked in HR as Manager of Incentive Compensation Administration, managing the systems and processes for the annual cash and stock bonus programs. I also worked on the HR Process Redesign team as the Integration Manager, Manager of HR Data and Reporting for the Global Asset Management business and Head of firm-wide HR Data and Reporting. I ended my career at Merrill Lynch as the Head of Global HR Project Management and Reporting.
MN: Had the concept for LoriLu Consulting already formed in your mind by the time you left Merrill Lynch?
LL: Actually, no. I was laid off from Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in 2009 and had no idea what I wanted to do. I took that first year to relax and do some of the things I didn’t have time for when I was working on Wall Street. I spent time working with my church (St. Philip’s Episcopal Church) on their Strategic Plan, and with a non-profit community organization which I have followed for years (Clothed With Love). I now had time to “give back”, and did so by providing my project management expertise to help these groups achieve their goals. It clicked – this is what I really liked to do, so I decided to obtain my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and explore ways to bring this skill set to my community. Most of these local groups cannot afford to hire professional project managers, so I revised and simplified the Project Management methodology to reduce cost by decreasing the number of hours a project management consultant would work.
MN: What role does LoriLu Consulting fill for business leaders, and do you offer services for start-up firms?
LL: LoriLu Consulting provides guidance, tools and techniques for achieving goals on time and within budget. I primarily work with non-profits, community organizations and small business start-ups. This entrepreneurial niche market immediately grasps the benefits of employing the project management methodology to meet their goals. I meet with the business or organization leaders to document their goals and objectives, plan a strategy for action and create key metrics for measuring progress. This methodology includes identifying their partners and sponsors, assigning accountability within their teams, and managing actions to due dates. The result is always to achieve their objectives on time and within budget, which equates to success.
