In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), businesses and consumers are...
VAI - Value.Added.Interaction.
We believe in building long standing relationships.
Our story
The birth of VAi Consulting was a lesson born from the heart of the tech industry—sometimes, another slick software platform isn't the answer. Our founders had created 'Virginia', a revolutionary SaaS platform designed to streamline vendor management, promising to automate contracts and cut through procurement red tape.
Virginia is elegant, intuitive, and packed with features built from years in the trenches of enterprise vendor management. Yet, as adoption rolled out, a pattern emerged. Sure, clients loved the platform, but what they desperately needed wasn't just better tech, it was seasoned guidance.
They needed hands-on experts who could navigate the complexities of digital transformation, not just within the software dashboard, but across their entire businesses. Leaders wanted partners with battle scars, people who understood that true transformation wasn't just automation, but strategy infused with empathy.
That's when the pivot happened. Virginia the platform is still vital as the backbone for Vendor Management as a Service, but it isn't the whole solution. VAi Consulting emerged – offering the wisdom from decades of experience in digital transformation, finance, and data governance. We became the trusted guides on the messy, challenging, yet rewarding journey of business transformation, with Virginia the platform as our powerful toolkit.
Today, when clients partner with VAi they get the strategic advisory, change management expertise, and tactical execution support to make their digital transformation real – not just a shiny promise, but a tangible evolution of their business. We're not in the business of just strategy; we're in the business of crafting success stories alongside our clients.
Our values
We believe that our consultants should feel like part of your team. Listening to Understand is a core tenet of what we do. We value building long term relationships based on trust, communication and real world expertise.
Why VAi?
Value Added Interaction and insights. Vanguard AI. It's in our name. Fixed rates. Practice leaders with real world experience. Early AI adopters and implementers.
Our team
Seasoned practitioners who know what it's like to walk in your shoes.
Nathan Bell
Partner and Founder
As a seasoned financial professional with over two decades of experience, including extensive CFO experience, Nathan specializes in steering organizations through complex business and digital transformations, while leveraging data and analytics with AI.
Ryan Van Hout
Partner and Founder
Over 20+ years of Sales, Financial Services, and Management experience. Ryan has built, scaled, and lead large enterprise sales teams and companies. Ryan is passionate about helping CFO's with their financial, technology, strategic and transformation initiatives.
Zach Ingoldsby
Partner and Founder
A serial entrepreneur and alumni of Goldman Sachs, Zach has extensive experience and background in B2B sales processes, team building, and technology. He is passionate about project management and vendor management,
Guy Harding
Partner
With more than 23 years of experience in software engineering and management, Guy has have developed a strong expertise in system architecture, cloud and on-premise deployment, DevOps, system integration, and performance and scalability. He successfully completed over 300 software development projects, ranging from location-based applications for the construction industry to data collection and analysis for road inspection and verification. He has a team of talented technologists who deliver web, mobile, and enterprise solutions to clients across various industries and sectors. He also has a solid background in business analysis, strategy, and IT, which enables him to understand the needs and challenges of our clients and provide them with secure, performant, scalable, and robust solutions. His mission is to leverage his creativity, skill, determination, collaboration, patience, and love to create value and impact through technology.
Leo Bertini
Partner
Leo Bertini is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the consulting industry, having held significant roles at KPMG, PwC, and Embark. He specializes in driving sales and business development initiatives, creating effective sales strategies, and leading organizations through transformative growth. Throughout his consulting career, Leo has managed global teams and assisted Fortune 100 financial services organizations with enterprise-level transformation across multiple finance and controllership functions, including fund management, corporate finance, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Recently, Leo joined VAi Consulting as a Partner in Business Development, where he continues to leverage his extensive expertise to drive growth and innovation. He is proficient in English, Italian, Spanish, and has limited working proficiency in Portuguese
Jay Steigleder
Consultant
Experienced leader in Technology Risk and Internal Audit with a demonstrated history of excellence in the consulting industry serving Tech, Media, and Telecom clients across the Fortune 500. Strong strategic oversight capabilities, responsible for creating visionary strategies and solving complex problems for clients.
Mikael Rosenberger
Consultant
With over a decade of experience, including Ernst & Young, Mikael has built dynamic financial and risk management programs across multiple functions for Fortune 500 and highly regulated companies. He is proficient in the technical aspects of risk & financial analysis, including building challenger models when needed. But while I appreciate the analytical aspects of my experiences in risk & accounting, my strength lies in connecting dots and solving complex problems collaboratively. Specific subject matter expertise: Risk Strategy & Consulting, Risk Management Program Development, Model Risk Management, M&A Transaction Risk Management, Organizational Change Management, Regulatory Affairs Management, Operational Risk, Third Party Risk, Accounting, Financial Modeling, Data Analysis
Katie Walker, CPA, PSM
Consultant
With 13+ years in accounting, Katie has played diverse roles, assisting 100+ businesses in optimizing accounting processes using QuickBooks and various systems. Her distinct qualities include high energy, tech affinity, and a systems mindset, coupled with a commitment to responsiveness. She is a goal-oriented strategist able to see the big picture, clarify understanding amidst confusion, define the objective, and develop and execute a plan. Person-focused problem-solver emphasizing consistency, efficiency, scalability, and accountability. Skills honed over the past 12yrs: system cleanup, catchup, conversion, implementation, and configuration; meaningful reporting; insightful analysis; compliance risk mitigation; satisfying internal and external stakeholders; building relationships and managing teams; setting priorities and removing impediments; policies and documentation; management and ownership; financial and internal audit.
Barrett Olafson
Consultant
Barrett is an accomplished Technical Product Manager with 15 years of extensive experience in building and scaling highly complex products, B2B, B2C, etc., across numerous industries. He is accomplished in AI and data science. He has led and mentored large multiple cross-functional teams, focusing on empathically understanding customer needs and applying an agile approach to solving complex problems. He is passionate about making our presence on the planet not only sustainable but beneficial for the only viable home that we have today.
Ben Dooley
Consultant
Ben is a multi-disciplinary executive combining leadership, technical and consultative sales experience with design thinking to achieve success on mission-critical projects. Accomplished Data & Analytics expert with a passion for Responsible AI. He specializes in business challenges realizing value from AI and analytics projects, and building solutions to deploy AI to turn these challenges into opportunities for significant value creation. He has a vast understanding of navigating corporate structures and stakeholder interests to enable change. Skilled at analyzing, translating, and incorporating complex information into decision making processes. Expansive experience managing complex projects from concept to implementation. Thrives in ambiguous environments.
Andrew Searson
Consultant
An early advocate of Business Intelligence, Andrew Searson has managed Data Analytics organizations for the last 17+ years. Prior to working at Google, he was an early professional services consultant at Looker; the first self-service BI tool. Andrew has been implementing and leading self-service data organizations ever since.
Levi Davis
Consultant
Levi is a seasoned business data analyst and data scientist with a background in economics, statistics and education. An early member of Looker's Professional Services team, and Looker's first lead trainer, he created Looker's first customer facing and internal Looker training program. HE is passionate about transforming organizations by bringing the power of data to business decision makers. Levi works from a sailboat named “Curiosity” moored in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Kevin Kosub
Consultant
Kevin is a professional who has 20+ years’ experience in achieving results for internal and external clients, small family businesses to Fortune 500 corporations. Areas of Focus: ServiceNow IRM, Business Process Control and Design, Enterprise Systems, Data Architecture, System Integrations, Organizational Change, Risk Management, User Experience Design
John Filben
Consultant
Senior data and business analyst with 20+ years of proven experience serving a variety of organizations across many industries. Expert in working with business functions to identify sources of unstructured and structured data and transforming them into actionable strategic decision-making assets. Comfortable with ambiguity, curious, problem-solver, enjoy challenges, and ability to work cross-functionally.
Core competencies include Strategic Analysis, Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis, Data Mining, Insight Visualization/Presentation, Report Development & Automation, Data Quality Improvement and Standardization, Database Design and Development, Record Linkage and Deduplication, Natural Language Processing, and Project Management.
Lulu Phongmany
Consultant
Seasoned management executive with 20+ years of experience growing teams, operating businesses, managing M&A and investment deal flow and creating new revenue streams for global brands and Fortune 500 companies. Strategic thinker with a global network of senior executives, know for a proven track record of launching and operationalizing profitable digital businesses across multiple global markets and market segments. Savvy negotiator with a history of negotiating large, complex, multi-platform, multi-market, multi-million dollar deals. Proven leader and accomplished operator, able to build successful teams and navigate businesses to profitable growth. Accomplished public speaker and industry commentator with appearances at leading trade conferences and opinion pieces in leading trade publications globally.
Richie Castellanes
Consultant
Data scientist, analytics engineering, AI/ML leader with 15+ years experience. Engages across the data cycle – collection, cleansing, processing / management, modeling / storytelling and optimization. Builds and manages data systems and people to produce products that help organizations. Experienced with agency, product, vendor and client groups
Currently focused on AI/ML methods, especially with the emergence of generative AI. Skilled with AI/ML Ops and creating workflows with LLMs to revolutionize work processes. Happy to discuss projects that can help your company be more efficient with your resources.
programming/tools: Python, R, SQL, data products, cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
specialties: generative AI, big data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, database design, database marketing, experimental design and testing, business intelligence, strategy, emerging media, audience insight
Shirin Elkoshairi
Consultant
Shirin Elkoshairi is a seasoned expert in data center and cloud-delivered services with over 14 years of experience. He co-founded 515 Engine, where he specializes in unlocking digital potential in areas including cloud, telecommunications, security, and collaboration. Shirin's approach involves determining the most suitable cloud-based services for businesses, focusing on compatibility, existing investments, cost, staffing, extensibility, current integrations, and business goals.
His expertise covers a broad spectrum including DevOps strategy, cloud expense management, infrastructure planning, contact center services, and comprehensive IT services. Shirin has a strong background in working with top-tier service providers to design and implement optimal solutions for clients.
Vincent West
Consultant
I am a high-performance and dedicated senior level program and project professional with a strong ability to manage and meet customer program, project, and scope needs. I am a results driven leader that builds inclusive teams to do more with available resources. I am exceptionally adept in analyzing project boundaries, improving productivity, and consistently growing profitability. This makes me energetic and quality aligned to overcome roadblocks.
My executive strengths include the following:
-Delivering programs and projects on time and on budget
-Building teams by empowering employees to grow diverse employee performance
-Improving customer satisfaction to gain repeat business
-Understanding manufacturing, processes, and budgetary standards completely
Real World Insights
Real World Insights from our consultants in the field
Introduction The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into corporate finance is no longer a...
