Cynthia Alayo
Cynthia Alayo is a seasoned Business Consultant and "Back-Office Ally" with over 20 years of experience helping small businesses and nonprofits scale with confidence. She specializes in transforming fragmented systems into organized, compliant, and efficient operations, allowing leaders to focus on their core mission.
Cynthia’s professional foundation was built on Wall Street, where she began her career at Goldman Sachs. Today, she leverages that high-level corporate rigor to provide small organizations with:
- Operational Excellence: Streamlining financial reporting, payroll, and compliance.
- Strategic Growth: Specialized guidance in government contracting and process optimization.
- Bilingual Support: Full services in both English and Spanish to bridge operational and cultural gaps.
Driven by the values of trust and education, Cynthia’s impact extends beyond the boardroom. Through her nonprofit, CSA-Alliances, and her extensive volunteer work with organizations such as Celestial Manna Inc. and Paws for Purple Hearts, she consistently works to uplift underserved communities and mentor emerging leaders.
• Certified Notary Public
• Notarize Network Platform Training - NST
• Childhood Trauma & Secondary Traumatic Stress in Caregivers
• Understanding ADHD
• Ashford University - Business Operations Management and Business Analyst
• National Notary Association
• 4Word Woman
• Celestial Manna Inc
• Families With Pets Inc.
• SLC Project
• Paws for Purple Hearts
• Steadfast Family Farm
• BIRTHRIGHT OF FREDERICKSBURG INC
• Resilient Woman
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to persistence, initiative, and an enduring passion for learning. Inspired by my entrepreneurial mother, I began setting career goals early, earning a position at Goldman Sachs while still in high school through consistent effort and determination. During that time, I learned the importance of taking ownership, whether it meant managing expense reports that evolved into a long-term responsibility or stepping into executive roles to ensure continuity during leadership gaps. These experiences strengthened my ability to multitask, solve problems, and leverage technology to enhance efficiency.
Receiving recognition from the Board of Education for my initiative reinforced the power of persistence and inspired me to design programs that encourage young students to pursue their ambitions. Today, that same drive fuels my dedication to supporting small businesses as a back-office ally and to founding CSA-Alliances.org, a nonprofit empowering young adults who lack a strong support system. Ultimately, I believe that making thoughtful decisions, following your passion, and meeting challenges with resilience are the true foundations of lasting success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay persistent, take initiative, and follow my passion, principles that have guided me throughout my career. I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors along the way, including Kathleen Pena, whose guidance and encouragement have been instrumental, and my International Business Law professor, who instilled in me timeless lessons about leadership and growth. She reminded me that education is powerful and that true growth depends on your ability to adapt, build your skills, and move the organization forward. She also taught me that leaders shouldn’t just identify challenges and risks; they must bring solutions, take ownership, know how to delegate, and develop other strong leaders along the way.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to stay curious, keep learning, and lead with confidence and integrity. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, take initiative, and bring solutions, not just problems, to the table. Surround yourself with mentors and collaborators who inspire you, and remember that your voice and perspective are powerful drivers of change.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now center on rapid change, rising expectations, and the expanding role of small businesses in government and outsourced operations.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me, both in work and personal life, are persistence, continuous learning, authentic connection, and passion-driven purpose. These guide everything from client transformations to how I recharge and inspire others.
Work Values
Persistence and ownership fuel my consulting approach, ensuring I deliver solutions that turn operational chaos into compliant, scalable growth. I prioritize education and empowerment, helping small businesses unlock government opportunities through programs like Amplify Services while building trust through bilingual support and strategic clarity.
Personal Values
Lifelong learning keeps me sharp, I love diving into books, photography for a creative perspective, and exploring NYC's trendy spots to spark fresh ideas. Authentic connection matters deeply, whether networking with like-minded leaders online or in person. But my true passion shines late at night, brainstorming visions and perfecting solutions.