Throughout her life, CEO Beeta Lecha was told countless times her goals were impossible to achieve. Yet, on October 1, 2024, she celebrated the second anniversary of REIL Fund Services, her latest success.

Against all odds, Lecha defied expectations, turning her vision into a reality.

Balancing family responsibilities while pursuing a degree in accounting became one of Lecha’s greatest challenges. She met her future husband, Ryan, on their first day at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the two connected immediately. They married in June, shortly after completing their freshman year, and welcomed their first child soon after, both at the age of 19. Despite warnings that she might be jeopardizing her future career, Lecha’s resolve only grew stronger. “I had the attitude that you’re not going to tell me I ruined my life. I’m going to get my college degree, and I’m going to be a great mom!” she declared, her tenacity evident.

To balance motherhood and education, Lecha transferred to a junior college for a year and moved in with her husband’s parents. She then returned to Santa Cruz the following year. One instructor left a lasting impression on her. “He called me out in front of an auditorium filled with classmates, outlining what would be expected of me as a public accountant, including a 100-hour work week, as if I were not up to it,” she shared.

Instead of discouraging her, his words fueled her resolve. Lecha quickly rose to the top of her class and even became his teaching assistant. By the age of 25, she had earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from UC Santa Cruz, secured her first job, and had three children.

As an aspiring CPA, Lecha joined a large accounting firm. However, she often felt that her colleagues saw her as a mother first and a professional second. “I had that same determination—I’m going to be a successful CPA who also happens to be a mom,” asserted Lecha.

A few years earlier, during a temp position at the San Francisco Chronicle, Lecha met Suzy Cain, the CFO, who became both a friend and mentor. Cain’s ability to balance a successful career while wholeheartedly focusing on her children deeply inspired Lecha.

Lecha recalled one of her favorite memories of Cain: “It was during a car ride when she turned to me and apologized for the smell of old fish tacos, thanks to the soccer gear piled in the back seat. In that moment, I realized it was possible to balance both my career and being a parent.” She played a significant role in Lecha’s life, offering professional advice and encouraging her to pursue CPA licensure.

During her time at Spiegel Accountancy, Lecha became a licensed CPA, achieving a long-held goal. Choosing to transition from a large firm to Spiegel’s smaller practice proved advantageous, as Jeff Spiegel served as a valuable mentor.

Spiegel provided Lecha the flexibility to balance work and motherhood while pushing her out of her comfort zone. “I didn’t have much confidence before working with Jeff,” Lecha explained. “Jeff is anything but subtle. At conferences, he would literally nudge me toward people, encouraging me to engage in conversation. He’d say, ‘Beeta, join in and talk,’ pushing me to participate.” His encouragement transformed Lecha, helping her shed her self-described extreme shyness.

Spiegel also taught her the importance of maintaining relationships. “I remember Jeff saying, even if a client leaves, always treat them with respect,” she elaborated. This advice has been invaluable in her own company. “Clients may leave, but they often come back,” she adds. Today, Lecha remains dedicated to being a respected resource for past, current, and potential clients in her industry.

She credits much of her current management style to her time with Spiegel, who motivated her and provided numerous growth opportunities within the firm. Setting her sights on becoming a partner, she achieved that goal within six years. As a licensed CPA and partner, she led efforts to expand the firm’s fund accounting division.

After 10 years with Spiegel, Lecha decided to take a bold step and purchase the fund accounting division to start her own firm. It was a significant gamble, and she worried her team might not share her confidence. “They took a very big risk leaving a large, stable firm to spin off into uncharted territory,” Lecha admitted. Expecting some team members to leave after the announcement, she was surprised when they all supported the plan.

Lecha actively involved her team in every aspect of the branding process, even making compromises along the way. “I really wanted orange, but they preferred green,” she shared. “I said, ‘Let’s go with that!’ After all, they were part of this risk, and I wanted them to feel involved.” Despite lacking marketing experience, her Fund Accounting Manager, Justin Spears, demonstrated his dedication by staying up all night designing the first logo options.

As for the company name, REIL Fund Services, the team chose REIL, which stands for “Real Estate Investment and Lending,” to reflect their focus. “We wanted to convey that, even though we handle fund administration, we’re highly specialized in real estate and lending funds,” Lecha clarifies.

“We’re a bit different from other fund admins because we’re smaller and offer tax preparation alongside fund accounting,” Lecha explains. She takes pride in the flexibility REIL provides, especially to new fund managers that other firms might shy away from. “At REIL, we especially enjoy working with emerging funds because it gives us the chance to implement tax strategies that can help boost their yield,” adds Lecha.

What drives Lecha today is her commitment to her employees. “I want to be part of the team and create an environment where people are excited to come to work. I don’t want them waking up dreading the day,” she emphasized. As CEO, Lecha fully understands the weight of responsibilities that come with the role. “Anyone who’s led or started a company knows how heavy that responsibility feels. A lot of people depend on you, and it’s your job to keep the business running.”

Lecha values connecting with other CEOs, including her close friend Sam Kaddah, CEO of Liquid Logics. “Sam has always been there to offer advice, and I know I can rely on him,” she says. “He excels at identifying industry trends, seeking new opportunities, and filling gaps wherever they exist.”

Kaddah, when asked for a comment, highlighted two aspects of Lecha’s success. “First, Beeta is incredibly detail-oriented and has an unmatched knowledge of her field. Second, she’s learned to never quit. Everyone has doubts, but she’s learned to push through them.” He adds with a smile, “I’ve had my moments in my 20-plus years where I wondered, ‘Why am I in this business?’ But you persevere.”

Reflecting on her company’s recent milestone, Lecha says, “I look at how far we’ve come and what we’ve accomplished in two years. The company feels very different now. We have twice the number of employees and continue adding more clients.” She concludes, “We are no longer just surviving; we are thriving and positioning ourselves for big growth.”