Laura McQuade takes on dual roles as visionary and leader
When it comes to business innovation and transformation, Laura McQuade definitely serves as the person to turn to when change is in order. With her insights and leadership, organizations can make just the right adjustments needed to reach more clients and make a difference in their communities.
As a C-Suite visionary, she regularly acts as CEO, CFO, and COO for organizations in the finance, healthcare, and public policy sectors. Through those experiences, she has gained the knowledge and expertise needed to venture out on her own and create her strategic consulting firm, Airmedh Advisory.
Educational Foundation
Laura McQuade started her journey toward building better communities with her studies at the College of the Holy Cross. As a political science major, she studied just what it takes to serve the public and improve quality of life across the board.
After graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree, she enrolled at Yale University and graduated with a Master’s in International Relations. Through that journey, she gained key insight that would help her build a successful and rewarding career.
Career Accomplishments
Upon graduating with her master’s degree, McQuade set out to get her first job in international affairs. She landed at the National Democratic Institute as a Field Officer and Grants Officer. In that role, she helped shape policy in Albania and assisted civic organizations across the globe in winning grant funds.
McQuade’s year in this role inspired her commitment to helping underserved populations, including women and girls. She would eventually become the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kansas City, and later of Greater New York, where she could put that commitment to work in her own community.
As she built her career, McQuade achieved many admirable goals along the way, such as:
Helping Develop Non-Profit Sectors
As the Chief Financial and Operating Officer at The Foundation for a Civil Society, Laura McQuade assisted in the success of two USAID programs in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Through these programs, she was able to help develop self-sustainable nonprofits aimed at helping people thrive in their communities.
Boosting Financial Systems
While working through the ranks at Financial Services Volunteer Corps, McQuade helped create sound banking and improved other financial systems across the globe. She began there as a Director of Finance and Administration before making her way to Managing Director. Along the way, she helped ensure the success of financial projects of all kinds in Thailand, India, and other developing countries.
Expanding Comprehensive Healthcare Access
In 2008, Laura McQuade made the jump from the financial sector to healthcare by joining the Center for Reproductive Rights. While acting as their Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO, she helped shape the vision of the organization. She helped promote the success of all their programs and promoted growth of the organization as a whole.
After six years in that role, she made the move to Planned Parenthood Great Plains to directly help improve access to comprehensive healthcare. As the President and CEO of that organization, she assisted with two mergers that opened up healthcare access across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.
Using that experience, she became the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. In that role, she offered strategic visions that helped expand healthcare access across the state and beyond.
Offering Consulting Services for Local Businesses
In mid-2020, Laura McQuade took a long look at the health of both nonprofit and for profit organizations across the nation. Upon discovering that they needed help with business innovation and transformation, she decided to launch her consulting company, Airmedh Advisory.
In her consultancy, McQuade mainly focuses on companies in the finance and healthcare sectors, notably organizations that help underserved communities. She offers them advisory services designed to help them get past hurdles, expand their reach, and grow their companies by leaps and bounds. She’s also available to provide interim leadership as needed to keep struggling organizations moving forward.
Awards and Accolades
As Laura McQuade makes waves in the finance and healthcare sectors, many people are taking notice. Her accomplishments have landed her on many top 100 lists of the most influential people, such as:
- City & State New York: The 2018 Women Power 100
- Crain’s 2019 Most Powerful Women in New York
- City & State New York: The 2019 Nonprofit Power 100
Her most recent award was the City & State New York: 2019 Above & Beyond feature, which is a top 30 list of women leading the way in their field.
Although Laura McQuade has already achieved so much in her career, there’s no doubt that she will continue to make a difference in the communities she serves. In fact, by running her advisory firm, she has the opportunity to push even more organizations to great heights and help many underserved communities thrive.
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