Valerie Lombardi

When Purpose Calls: Valerie Lombardi’s Leap Into Mission-Driven Leadership

Where were you in your life when you decided to take the leap into fundraising?

For more than 20 years, I was deep in corporate America—successful on paper, but somewhere along the way, I lost myself. I remember waking up one day realizing I was great at what I did, but not fulfilled by it. I was selling things—pagers, TV channels, debt, mobile homes—but none of it felt meaningful anymore. I was craving purpose, and I was struggling personally and professionally.

When the opportunity with the Alzheimer’s Association came along, it felt like the universe handing me a second chance. A way to take everything I’d learned, everything I was good at, and use it for good. This role became my sweet spot: I get to lead, build, and inspire—but most importantly, I get to sell hope. Not a product or service, but hope for a cure, for families, and for the future.

And as a woman, that mission hits even closer to home. Nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s are women, and the disease kills more people than breast and prostate cancer combined. That’s why I’m so passionate about championing this cause. I know the work we do is changing lives, and that’s the most fulfilling feeling in the world.

Can you share a time when failure or a mistake turned out to be a gift in disguise?

Before joining the Alzheimer’s Association, I went through an experience that completely humbled me. I applied for a job I felt I was made for. I aced all seven interviews—designed logos, created marketing plans, built a customer experience program. They even flew me to Toronto for the final step. I presented, led a team challenge in an escape room, and yes, even threw an axe. I remember thinking, What sales and marketing job needs you to throw an axe? But I did it all. They told me the job was basically mine.

Monday came and went. On Tuesday, they said I “wasn’t the right fit for the team.” Translation: I didn’t fit their mold. Maybe because I was a woman in a start-up full of men. Maybe because I didn’t blend in the way they expected. Whatever the reason, it crushed me. I questioned my worth, my direction, and everything I thought I knew about success.

But here’s the gift: that rejection redirected me. If that door hadn’t slammed shut, I wouldn’t have found the one that truly mattered. Today, at the Alzheimer’s Association, I get to use every skill I’ve ever learned to make a real impact—to raise awareness, lead with heart, and sell hope. That rejection didn’t break me; it built me into the woman who is exactly where she’s meant to be.

What’s an accomplishment in your career that fills you with pride?

This role at the Alzheimer’s Association is, without a doubt, my proudest accomplishment. Fundraising has always been part of my DNA. I’ve always been the team mom, the planner, the one rallying people for a cause. So when I stepped into this role with my sales and marketing background, I knew I could do the work. But I didn’t realize how deeply it would resonate until my first Colorado Purple Gala.

Two months before our biggest event of the year, a team member went out on leave, and it felt like water rushing from a fire hydrant. We were behind the eight ball and had to act fast. Thankfully, the Alzheimer’s Association is volunteer-led, and I’m blessed with the most incredible committee—truly the best in our history. They rose to the occasion with heart, hustle, and hope.

In less than two months, we pulled off the highest-producing Purple Gala in Colorado’s history. That night wasn’t just a success in numbers—it was a success in spirit. A testament to teamwork, resilience, and the power of community. Now, with one unforgettable gala under my belt, I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve in 2026.

What personal motto or belief keeps you grounded through the ups and downs?

My personal motto is: “Everything is figureoutable.” It’s my reminder that no challenge is too big, no setback permanent, and no obstacle insurmountable—as long as we approach it with creativity, determination, and a belief in possibility.

Through corporate hurdles, rejection, and leading teams through chaotic fundraising seasons, I’ve learned there is always a path forward. Sometimes it’s not the one we expected. Sometimes it requires asking for help, leaning on others, or thinking differently. But it’s always there. This belief keeps me grounded and reminds me that we’re capable of far more than we give ourselves credit for.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about leadership, integrity, or impact?

Early in my career, I was mentored by two incredible women—rare in the tech world of the ’90s. I admired them so much that I tried to become them. I bought three-piece suits from Banana Republic, studied how they presented, and mimicked their tone. I thought, If I want to succeed, I have to be them.

But the lesson I eventually learned was this: I had to be me. True leadership doesn’t come from imitation. It comes from authenticity. Once I embraced who I truly was, I found my voice, my style, and my power. Being authentic allowed me to build trust, inspire others, and lead with integrity.

That lesson continues to guide me every day at the Alzheimer’s Association, where authenticity and purpose drive everything we do.

How does your personal story drive the mission at the Alzheimer’s Association, and what impact can the community have?

Losing my Nonna Lena to Alzheimer’s was one of the most defining moments of my life. She was a strong Italian American woman who made her lemon meringue pie every week for more than seventy years. Watching her forget how to make it was devastating.

Every day at the Alzheimer’s Association, I lead with purpose, knowing this work is bigger than me. It’s about families, about hope, and about honoring those who may have forgotten.

Women are disproportionately affected by this disease, which is why community involvement is so powerful. When we come together, we raise awareness, drive research, and create real change.

I would love to personally invite you to our Colorado Purple Gala in May 2026, held on Mother’s Day weekend. It’s a time to honor the women who raised us, learn more about this devastating disease, and turn loss into hope. Come see what we’re about—and turn action into impact.

Valerie Lombardi is the Vice President of Development for the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter, where she leads strategic fundraising and donor engagement with purpose, vision, and her signature enthusiasm. Reprints of Boss Babes Magazine featuring Valerie Lombardi are available through our on-demand print house.