Joanna Lesniewski is a transformational, people-first executive and board advisor with over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through high-stakes inflection points such as M&A, restructuring, and rapid scaling. Known for her rare ability to align strategy, execution, and culture, she consistently delivers sustainable growth and operational excellence.
As the Founder and CEO of The ROI Factor, a high-impact fractional executive firm, Joanna partners directly with founders and C-suites to uncover inefficiencies, sharpen decision-making, and accelerate value creation. Her mission is to empower leaders and organizations to reach their next chapter with integrity, purpose, and operational excellence. By combining financial acumen with a human-centered approach, she ensures that companies not only thrive financially but also foster thriving, inclusive cultures.
Previously, Joanna served as SVP of Global Professional Services and Acting COO at Pivotree, Inc. (TSXV: PVT), where she oversaw a $50M+ global operation and led transformational initiatives across complex, post-acquisition environments. Her leadership during the acquisition and integration of Codifyd was pivotal—she consolidated three business units, achieved a $2M reduction in overhead, improved gross margin by 15 points, and instituted unified OKRs. She also spearheaded the creation of the “Operations Excellence” department and introduced a Global Delivery Model across five countries, improving utilization, customer satisfaction, and revenue growth.
Prior to Pivotree, Joanna steadily advanced through leadership roles at Codifyd, including VP of Operations & Delivery and Managing Director. She led enterprise-wide financial and operational transformations, expanded international teams, launched new delivery hubs, and prepared the company for successful acquisition.
Joanna brings deep expertise in financial stewardship, having managed portfolios exceeding $55M, developed robust KPI frameworks, conducted due diligence, and deployed global PSA systems like Certinia. Her ability to align financial planning with strategic execution ensures organizations are both agile and accountable.
Her track record of delivering results is matched by her commitment to culture and people development. She is known for driving performance while building inclusive, values-driven environments. At Pivotree, 60% of new hires stemmed from employee and customer referrals—a testament to her leadership and culture-building capabilities. Her teams have earned multiple “Partner of the Year” recognitions, reinforcing her reputation for excellence.
In today’s AI-driven world, Joanna remains a vocal advocate for ethical leadership and human connection. She believes that true success is built on values, sustainable practices, and the empowerment of people. She continues to mentor emerging leaders and advise executive teams on navigating strategic risk, leadership succession, and stakeholder alignment.
Joanna is actively seeking board appointments where her operational depth, people-first approach, and strategic foresight can enhance governance and fuel long-term growth. Her ongoing work across industries keeps her connected to the real-time challenges modern organizations face—making her an ideal partner for boards looking to steer through complexity and scale with confidence.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a respected voice at the intersection of strategy, transformation, and purpose-driven leadership.
Character:
Joanna Lesniewski leads with authenticity, resilience, and empathy, consistently balancing high performance with a deep commitment to people. Her values-driven leadership fosters trust, inspires teams, and creates inclusive cultures where individuals feel empowered to contribute and grow.
Knowledge:
With a strong foundation in finance, marketing, and global operations, Joanna brings deep expertise in M&A integration, business optimization, and strategic planning. Her comprehensive understanding of organizational dynamics enables her to drive scalable growth while maintaining operational excellence.
Strategic:
Joanna is a transformational executive who excels at aligning vision with execution, delivering measurable results through strategic restructuring, global expansion, and data-driven decision-making. She anticipates market shifts, identifies growth opportunities, and builds systems that support long-term success.
Communication:
An engaging and transparent communicator, Joanna builds strong relationships across all levels of an organization through active listening, clear messaging, and collaborative leadership. She unites diverse teams around shared goals and drives alignment through consistent, values-based communication.
