photo by Veronica Garcia
For the past four years Ali Rizvi has worked at Consulting for Revenue International, a consulting firm he established at the age of 16. The firm has worked with more than 50 Fortune 500 companies involved in information technology and finance. Rizvi, a full-time student at the University of La Verne, plans to graduate in May with a degree in business administration.
M. Ali Rizvi, 20, is not your typical ULV student. Apart from trying to study, go to classes and maintain an active social life, he owns his own consulting firm, Consulting For Revenue International.
Rizvi was born Oct. 16, 1984, in Montclair. His parents, Syed and Nasrim Rizvi, came to the United States from Karachi, Pakistan, in the late 1960s.
Syed Rizvi is president of MMCTODAY, a management manufacturing firm, and Nasrin Rizvi is a stay-at-home mom.
Rizvi is the middle child in his family, but he does not seem to be suffering from any middle child syndrome.
His older sister, Hena Rizvi, 21, is an intern at a jet propulsion laboratory. His younger brother, Aasim Rizvi, 16, is in high school.
M. Ali Rizvi was certified as a Microsoft Systems Engineer in 2001.
In 2002, he graduated from Alta Loma High School and in 2004 he was certified as a MoneyCorp Financial Analyst.
Now, he is a senior business major at ULV.
Rizvi got the idea of creating his own company at age 15, when he worked for a Fortune 500 company.
After less than a month of work, he left the company to start his own.
On his 16th birthday, he launched CEE, Computers Etc. Etc.
“It started off as a small computer solution firm for local businesses and consumers,” Rizvi said.
“Soon after, CEE started working with top firms,” he said.
One of the many top firms he worked with was Charter Communications, a media entertainment giant.
With an extensive list of clients, CEE gained wealth of experience and exposure. Also, it had gained enough capital to expand.
In early 2004, Rizvi renamed his company CFR Intl.
Today CFR Intl. is an international strategy and general management consulting firm whose mission is to help leading corporations and high-profile clients create and sustain competitive advantage.
Jesse Moreno, vice-president of sales at C&G Financial, works closely with Rizvi.
“Rizvi is very driven, focused and a good entrepreneur,” Moreno said.
“He has a lot of energy,” he added.
Moreno also described Rizvi as a “computer man (and) smart kid for his age.”
The company, Rizvi said, has been in high demand for the quality products and services it provides.
The company is even operated internationally with projects in the UK and Asia.
Rizvi plans for CFR Intl. to be a consulting firm that has a bottom line mission, which is to be able to go into any industry and create profiles.
Consulting as the Chief Technology Officer of MoneyCorp, Rizvi manages the IT department and the internet channel of the business, including hardware equipment and software.
He also serves as a director of C&G Financial.
He manages over 35 nationwide net branches of the company and works with major investors like Credit Suisse First Boston & Lehman Brothers.
“Balancing between traveling, school and work can be a major challenge,” Rizvi said. “But time management is something I have learned which has benefited me in such ways that it is viable for me to be involved in so many successful endeavors.”
With Rizvi owning his own company, his friends and family could not be prouder.
“I have many people to be gratified to in my life, from aspiring executives that I work with to my close family and friends that value me and bless me,” Rizvi said.
“They have always been there for me and always support me 100 percent,” he said.
Kevaughn Bullock, who has known Rizvi for two and a-half years, met Rizvi in accounting class.
“Rizvi is very self-motivated,” Bullock said. “He is very focused and determined, and is not wanting to lose.”
After ULV, Rizvi plans to take all the knowledge he has obtained and put it into effect in his company.
For those interested in starting their own business, Rizvi said, “Don't ever underestimate yourself and the impact you set on others.”
“Free will allows you to be nothing; you can choose to be nothing. Only you can choose to be who you want to be. Believe in something, there is not a limit,” Rizvi said.
Hugo Bryan Castillo can be reached at hcastill@ulv.edu.