Leah Cochran joined Stanford Sierra Youth & Families (SSYAF) in November 2025 as the Executive Director of Finance, bringing with her more than a decade of experience leading complex financial operations, developing high-performing teams, and strengthening fiscal stewardship across multi-entity organizations.

Before joining SSYAF, Leah served as Controller for the California Medical Association, overseeing the financial operations for 11 affiliated entities. During her tenure, she transformed the organization’s financial infrastructure by implementing a new accounting system, modernizing policies and procedures, and significantly increasing the accuracy and frequency of financial forecasting.

Leah previously spent over a decade at Macias, Gini, & O’Connell LLP, where she advanced from Assurance Associate to Director of Advisory Services. In that role, she managed a broad portfolio of engagements—including audit and assurance, outsourced accounting, IPO and event readiness, and operational and gap analyses—while cultivating strong, long-term partnerships with executive leaders.

She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in California and earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Driven by a commitment to transparency, accountability, and collaborative leadership, Leah is dedicated to ensuring SSYAF maintains a strong financial foundation that supports its mission to transform lives by nurturing permanent connections and empowering families to solve challenges together so every young person can thrive. On weekends, she can often be found exploring new places outdoors or supporting her blended family of five children as they juggle a full range of after-school activities.