72 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine BUSINESS, FINANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP MARY CARMEL LUMIBAO SERNA FOUNDER Rigelia Strategies LLC Colorado Springs, CO A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event, with days centered around managing care. After Mary Carmel Lumibao Serna completed her breast cancer treatments and rang the bell, she expected life to go back to normal, returning to her job in finance. However, she quickly learned that being a cancer survivor meant a new kind of normal, one that she was not prepared for. After spending more than 20 years advancing her career in the finance industry. Ms. Serna found that, following her battle with cancer, her perspective had changed. This experience inspired her to launch her own business, Rigelia Strategies LLC, to build a new life around more meaningful work. Ms. Serna’s work supports ESG, sustainability and climate tech companies, a sector in which she has prior experience from her career in finance. Through her business, she ghostwrites thought leadership content and creates digital content, including LinkedIn articles, email newsletter sequences and blog posts. She also captures and shares client voices, missions and purposes, while offering speechwriting and video interview preparation as needed. Ms. Serna considers deciding to live life on her own terms and creating a business focused on helping mission-driven organizations to be her most notable achievement. Though she initially found her years in finance interesting, she is now pursuing a career aligned with her values and purpose. Her journey reflects a realization that life is about more than just work; it is about fostering connections and prioritizing what truly matters. She is an example of how personal fulfillment and professional success can coexist harmoniously. In addition to her new business venture, Ms. Serna has launched a Substack newsletter, “Anything but Easy.” She uses this space to share the struggles she faced living as a cancer survivor, including the isolation and identity loss she felt as she worked to fit back into her pre-cancer life. She aims to provide emotional companionship and to create a community where other survivors can share their stories. Ms. Serna attributes her success to her curiosity, passion for continuous learning and the mentorship she received throughout her
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ5NDA2