We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gabrielle Luoma. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gabrielle below.

Gabrielle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the toughest things about progressing in your career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

One of the most unexpected challenges in my career wasn’t technical—it was me.

I built my success as a CPA by being the one with the answers. But when I became a CEO, that strength turned into a liability. I was too involved, stepping into my team’s responsibilities, and unintentionally creating confusion about leadership.

I remember sitting in a leadership meeting and being told, *“That’s not your job anymore.”* It was hard to hear—but it was exactly what I needed.

That moment forced me to shift from being the doer to becoming a leader. I had to learn how to coach instead of direct, build systems instead of control outcomes, and trust my team to lead.

I invested in coaching, got comfortable being uncomfortable, and redefined my role.

Today, my business is stronger because it’s not dependent on me being in everything.

**The biggest lesson? The next level of your business requires a different version of you.**

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Gabby Luoma, a CPA turned CEO and the founder of MOD Ventures, where we help business owners stop guessing and start leading with their numbers.

I didn’t start in the CEO seat—I started deep in the weeds as a technical accountant. But I saw a pattern: business owners weren’t failing because they didn’t have reports… they were failing because they didn’t understand what their numbers were telling them.

So I built a firm that does it differently.

We provide outsourced accounting, CFO, and tax advisory services—but our real work is helping owners gain clarity, increase profitability, and make confident decisions. We don’t just report the past—we help shape the future.

What sets us apart is that we bridge the gap between accounting and leadership. We bring strategy, systems, and real insight—not just compliance.

What I’m most proud of is the company we’ve built and the shift I’ve made as a leader. I had to learn to step out of doing everything and build a business that doesn’t depend on me being in every detail.

What I want people to know is simple:
**You don’t have to run your business in the dark.**

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that being the smartest, most capable person in the room is what makes you valuable.

That belief served me well as a CPA. I built my career on having the answers, catching mistakes, and doing things right. But when I became a CEO, that same mindset started holding me—and my team—back.

I remember jumping into meetings, correcting things, and giving direction because I *could*. And I thought I was being helpful. In reality, I was slowing everyone down and training my team to rely on me rather than think for themselves.

The turning point was realizing that my job wasn’t to have all the answers anymore—it was to build people and systems that could operate without me.

So I had to unlearn control and replace it with trust.
Unlearn being the hero and step into being the leader.

And that shift changed everything.

**Now I measure my success by how well the business runs when I’m not in the room.**

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One of the biggest tests of my resilience wasn’t a single moment—it was a season.

I was growing my business, leading a team, and trying to figure out how to operate as a CEO… all while feeling completely stretched. Mistakes were happening, people asking questions I thought they should already know, and this constant pressure of, *“It all still falls on me.”*

I remember days when I felt frustrated, overwhelmed, and, honestly, a little scared—wondering if I was the bottleneck and the problem at the same time.

But instead of pulling back, I leaned in.

I invested in coaching. I started doing the internal work—learning to regulate my reactions, communicate more clearly, and lead rather than control. I didn’t quit when it was uncomfortable—I stayed in it and got better.

That season taught me that resilience isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about growing through the pressure.

And now, when things get hard, I don’t question if I can handle it.
I know I can figure it out.

**Because I already have.**

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.modventuresllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mod.ventures?igsh=amNvYTlucnNvcXhu&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mod-ventures-llc/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@modventures6968?si=SPZnHUXnxLVM4BXu