The 2023 Rising Stars of the Profession: Alina Laumann

Alina Laumann is an associate managing director in the Compliance Risk and Diligence practice, based in New York. Alina advises a diverse client base of multinational corporations and financial institutions on pre-transactional due diligence, third-party risk management and business intelligence solutions. She oversees research teams across North America, including New York and Washington, D.C., and supports broader regional operations.

In her time at Kroll, Alina has managed numerous projects for the ethics and compliance and investigations units of major investment banks, insurance companies and energy conglomerates in support of M&A transactions and BSA/AML, FCPA, OFAC and other regulatory compliance needs. She has over a decade of hands-on investigative experience, having designed and executed numerous complex domestic and international enhanced due diligence projects in English and Russian, including ultimate beneficial ownership screenings and in-depth research assignments involving embezzlement, kickbacks, bribery, tax fraud and varied litigation proceedings.

Prior to joining Kroll, Alina worked for a non-profit organization in San Francisco focused on responsible sourcing. There, she traced global cotton supply chains and helped devise solutions for the enforcement of corporate codes of conduct. Before that, as a graduate student in international affairs, Alina worked for a Moscow-based organization focused on strengthening Russia's anti-corruption legal framework and public procurement procedures.

Alina received an M.A. in international affairs from American University's School of Public Service and a B.A. in socio-cultural anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.

What would you say has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

Striking a balance between focusing on your strengths and stepping out of your comfort zone has been a winning strategy in my experience. I take great pride and satisfaction in a job well done, and I have been lucky enough to work with colleagues and supervisors that value quality and accountability over posturing. My experience has shown me that you can attain your professional development goals without sacrificing the tasks that you enjoy most, but you have to keep learning to reach new heights.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

Like many others in the consulting field, one of the reasons that I have stayed in the industry for over a decade is that you never get bored. There are always new clients to meet and new challenges to tackle. What I enjoy most about risk and compliance consulting in particular is the knowledge that my practice and I are supporting the broader mission of combating money laundering, corruption and other financial crime.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

Professionally, my proudest achievement is having carved out a space in which I feel respected and supported by my peers and superiors and having created a team dynamic in which my direct and indirect reports can say the same. The support I provide to my clients would not be possible without my amazing team, and I strive to foster an environment in which they have ample opportunities for development, in which women feel empowered, and in which everyone feels heard.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

You can learn something from everyone, no matter where they are in the organization or in their careers. You never know what someone else's perspective or experience can teach you, and it's important to be receptive to input from all sides.

What does this recognition mean to you?

My nomination has already shown the extent to which my company values my work and dedication, and I am honored and humbled by this fact alone. My recognition as a Rising Star further cements my conviction that hard work really does pay off. While working with an exceedingly talented group of peers and enabling our clients to make confident choices already brings me great satisfaction, this is the proverbial cherry on top.