Her Story
About Laura
Laura Gnewuch, CICP, is a seasoned financial operations leader specializing in accounts receivable, credit analysis, and collections management across global technology, manufacturing, and home remodeling industries. Currently serving as an AR/Collections Manager, she brings over 30 years of experience in public and private corporations, leading credit risk strategies, cash flow forecasting, and end-to-end collections processes for both domestic and international accounts. She holds the International Credit Professional certification from The Finance, Credit & International Business Association, reflecting her deep expertise in credit risk assessment, financial controls, and operational excellence.
Born and raised in Viña del Mar, Chile, Laura moved to the United States in 1992 at the age of 20. Arriving without fluency in the language or familiarity with the culture, she developed a strong sense of resilience, adaptability, and determination that became the foundation of her professional journey. Over the course of her career, she has built a reputation for precision, leadership, and results-driven performance while advancing through roles at organizations such as IDEX Corporation and Western Digital, where she led complex collections operations and supported large-scale financial systems and teams.
For the past two years, Laura has been active in the home remodeling industry, where she has found renewed purpose in connecting with and supporting women in a traditionally male-dominated field. She is an engaged member of National Women in Roofing and Latina Gigs, where she contributes to initiatives that empower women through education, mentorship, and community building. Deeply committed to service, she has volunteered with organizations including The Eli Home, supporting abused children and families for over a decade, and Compassion with Action, assisting victims of sex trafficking. Today, she is launching her own entrepreneurial path focused on mentoring and coaching the next generation of women leaders, with a mission to help young women access opportunities in operations, leadership, sales, and project coordination while building strong, supportive professional communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laura
01What do you attribute your success to?
Coming to this country when I was 20 years old, 34 years ago, I didn't know the language, I didn't know the culture. When you come to a different country, you have to survive, so you have to work and learn the language and learn the culture very quickly. You have to adapt and be resilient. The number one thing that drives my journey is always being resilient and having a positive attitude, and knowing that God is always with you and He provides the strength that we need in our lives. I believe that when we open ourselves to learning and remain flexible, we can handle whatever comes our way.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice Laura carries with her is to stay adaptable and never stop learning. She believes growth comes from being willing to evolve, embrace change, and continue developing both personally and professionally.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think it's a great industry to be in, the home remodeling industry. I want to see more women entering that industry because I don't want us to be a small percentage. I want us to rock, and I know that it's an amazing network out there that we can tap into, as long as we look for people who are willing to support you. The home remodeling industry, in every different shape - roofing, siding, gutters, skylights, painting, anything in the trades - is a good thing to know. With AI and technology advancing, the trade services will always be needed, like plumbing and electricians. These services are always going to be needed to support every customer. I encourage women to go into that industry. It doesn't have to be in the field, it can be behind the field supporting the operations. There are so many good opportunities to learn new things, but you have to be willing to go and investigate and find out what is out there for other opportunities.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is a lot of restructuring, and with AI coming on board, a lot of people are very scared about what's going to happen to the corporate world. But I'm very flexible about learning AI. I'm pretty good with ChatGPT and Gemini, and I'm always willing to learn. I think when we open ourselves to learning, we can actually be more flexible to things that are coming our way. The biggest challenge for professionals overall is continuing to learn the new ways of doing business. On the opportunity side, AI is like Google on steroids. When you're trying to find answers for something that you're not knowledgeable about, if you prompt it correctly, you can find the answers. You continue to dig and dig until you find what you're wondering about - everything is out there, you just need to know how to ask for it. That, for me, has always been fascinating because I came from the technology world, so I'm always willing to learn.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values for me are family, my friends, my God, and community - the power of community. I believe extremely that when we all help each other, we can rise to the occasion. Strong community values and work ethics are the most important things for me. I've always been passionate about supporting women and helping the next generation. I believe that the more we support other women, we thrive together and we lift each other up.
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