Alicia Lee: Facilitating Growth Through Purpose-Driven Leadership

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“Growth is not just about scale—it’s about aligning people, purpose, and performance to achieve lasting impact.”

Alicia Lee is a C-suite executive who has spent over three decades transforming services organizations across global markets by leveraging strategic vision, operational discipline, and an unwavering commitment to collaboration. Her executive journey spans leadership roles in publicly traded companies, private equity-backed ventures, and mission-driven nonprofits. What distinguishes Alicia is her belief that authentic growth stems not solely from financial outcomes, but from developing systems and cultures that empower people and uplift communities. With a career forged at the intersection of business strategy, human-centered leadership, and global service delivery, Alicia brings a singular capacity to catalyze transformation from within.

Alicia began her career in technology operations, where she quickly distinguished herself as a leader with a keen eye for process improvement and team development. Her early roles at Digital Equipment Corporation and AimNet Solutions laid the foundation for her operational acumen, enabling her to deliver rapid improvements in service activation and business process efficiency. Even in these formative years, Alicia demonstrated a deep respect for the people behind the processes—mentoring colleagues and building cohesive teams that consistently outperformed expectations.

Her next pivotal chapter unfolded at Cognizant, where over more than a decade she advanced from engineering to strategic alliances and marketing leadership. Alicia’s contributions included developing partnership activation frameworks, orchestrating cross-functional global enablement plans, and spearheading major IT outsourcing solutions. These roles not only expanded her technical fluency and global reach but also marked her evolution into a strategist and cross-functional integrator, adept at bridging sales, operations, and delivery into unified go-to-market approaches.

It was at Forrester, however, where Alicia’s influence reached its most profound organizational depth. Over a nearly 10-year tenure, she progressed from Principal Consultant to Chief Consulting Officer and Executive Team member. At Forrester, Alicia led the transformation of the global consulting division, growing revenues by 80% in four years, integrating delivery teams to boost margins, and serving as a fierce advocate for DEI and ESG initiatives. She was instrumental in aligning consulting services with research offerings to create a seamless client experience, positioning the firm as a leader in integrated, insight-driven transformation consulting.

Beyond financial and operational metrics, Alicia left a cultural legacy at Forrester. She served as the founding Executive Sponsor of the company’s DEI Council, embedding inclusive practices across hiring, talent development, and customer engagement. Her leadership on this front helped advance measurable equity initiatives and ensured that diversity was not a standalone program but an integral component of business success. Her commitment to creating spaces where all voices are valued reflects a leadership ethos rooted in empathy and action.

In 2023, Alicia founded the Services Consulting Group, a boutique advisory firm focused on helping companies harness the power of their services portfolio to drive retention, loyalty, and growth. During this time, she also joined Flare Education—a nonprofit developing diverse high school talent for future leadership—as a Board Advisor. Her time with Flare reflects her enduring passion for educational equity and her conviction that business leaders have a vital role in shaping the next generation of inclusive changemakers.

Currently, Alicia serves as Chief Business Officer at SBI, The Growth Advisory. In this role, she leads the integrated services organization, harmonizing product, delivery, and GTM strategies to create holistic, high-impact solutions for clients. Alicia’s ability to weave together the strands of operational efficiency, customer engagement, and commercial strategy has positioned SBI as a trusted advisor for organizations navigating complex growth trajectories. She brings a playbook grounded in data, tempered by experience, and customized to each client’s unique mission.

With extensive experience across Europe, Australia, and the APAC region, Alicia is a globally fluent leader who understands the nuances of operating across borders, cultures, and markets. Her leadership style—approachable, hands-on, and empathetic—has earned her a reputation for being the executive who not only gets results but also earns the trust and respect of teams from the boardroom to the front line. Whether building international service organizations or mentoring emerging leaders, Alicia consistently demonstrates that excellence and humility are not mutually exclusive.

Alicia’s expertise encompasses strategic planning, private equity growth advisory, leadership development, and customer transformation, with a special affinity for mission-driven organizations. Her background in technology and consulting makes her an asset to both high-growth startups and mature enterprises. But above all, Alicia is a values-driven leader. Her commitment to building sustainable, inclusive organizations is not a side project—it is the lens through which she views every business opportunity.

Alicia continues to seek board roles where her unique blend of strategic insight, operational rigor, and purpose-driven passion can create meaningful impact. She is particularly excited about working with technology, education, economic development, and nonprofit organizations that are committed to systemic change. With over 30 years of experience and an ever-present drive to learn, mentor, and contribute, Alicia is not only a seasoned executive—she is a growth architect for the future.

Character:
Alicia demonstrates unwavering integrity in every facet of her leadership. She believes that trust is earned through action, and she models this by consistently aligning her decisions with her values. Her empathetic approach inspires loyalty and confidence across teams, clients, and communities.

Knowledge:
Her deep cross-sector expertise stems from decades of experience leading complex service organizations. She possesses a systems-level understanding of how operations, people, and strategy intersect, and applies this knowledge to drive scalable, sustainable growth. Alicia’s ability to synthesize insight into action is one of her most powerful tools.

Strategic:
Alicia brings sharp strategic instincts backed by a record of measurable success in global consulting and operational turnarounds. She quickly discerns patterns, gaps, and opportunities that others miss, and crafts roadmaps tailored to each organization’s needs. Her guidance elevates both short-term execution and long-term transformation.

Communication:
Alicia is a compelling communicator who balances clarity with compassion. Whether speaking at conferences, coaching a leadership team, or advising a board, she brings authenticity and intention to every interaction. Her communication style fosters understanding, alignment, and, most importantly, action.

https://sbigrowth.com

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Kacey Card
Kacey Cardhttps://boardsi.com
Kacey Card is an accomplished editor at Leadafi, bringing a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling to the team. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he graduated with a 3.8 GPA. Kacey has honed his skills in content creation, editing, and digital media, ensuring that every piece of content meets the highest standards of quality and engagement. At Leadafi, he is dedicated to crafting compelling narratives that resonate with readers and drive the publication's mission forward. His commitment to excellence and innovative approach to editing make him an invaluable asset to the team.