Congratulations to Spaulding Ridge Senior Director Andrew Henry for being named one of Consulting Magazine’s Rising Stars of the Profession! Andrew has been with Spaulding Ridge for three years and is currently a Senior Director in our Finance and Operations practice. He has established himself as a trusted and committed client service leader who is known for his strategic problem solving, strong leadership, and dedication to client success. In this interview, Andrew shares highlights about himself, his career, and how he came to be a rising star.
Tell us about yourself and your role at Spaulding Ridge
I’m Andrew, a Senior Director in Finance and Operations, focusing on finance transformation and I’ve been with Spaulding Ridge for a little over three years now. My primary role is as an Engagement Lead, focusing my attention on some of Spaulding Ridge’s larger clients. Larger clients typically bring forth enterprise projects which include broader project teams from both the Spaulding Ridge and client sides as well as more complex finance transformations. With my background in finance and corporate strategy I help support foundational design conversations with client FP&A, accounting, IT, or operations teams. However, most importantly, I am responsible for ensuring both project and client success. When things go well, it’s great, but when challenges arise, I am accountable for making sure we get things back on track. That’s what my role looks like day to day: leading teams, managing projects, supporting design conversations, and making sure we’re delivering the best possible outcomes for our clients.
What does winning the Rising Star award mean to you?
As an Engagement Lead, I am often the face of praise or first to receive recognition when things go well. With this, I think it’s incredibly important to make sure the talented teams I work with feel shared praise and recognition. At the end of the day, winning the Rising Star award is a reflection of the diverse teams we’ve built at Spaulding Ridge. It demonstrates that we’ve done a great job of bringing in the right people, setting them up for success, and supporting them with the resources they need to deliver. I think this is an important opportunity to credit the brilliant technical colleagues on my teams and share this award with them. To me, this award is about that: it’s about recognizing the depth of talent we have and what we’re able to accomplish together at Spaulding Ridge. Sure, I’m honored to accept it, but the real win is being able to say, “Hey team, look at what we built together. Look what we accomplished in partnership with XYZ client.”
What motivates you to perform at your best and continue growing in your role?
I just talked to our new analyst group yesterday and one of them asked me, “What do you look for in someone joining your team?” My answer wasn’t about finding the most technical person who’s already an all-star in a specific technology or has an extensive background in finance and accounting. Sure, that’s great and will definitely benefit a project, but what I really look for is someone who’s open to growth, eager to learn, and willing to work hard. We have an abundance of resources at Spaulding Ridge to mentor individuals from a technical or functional perspective, but I can’t teach you to be curious, eager to learn, or work hard. That’s what truly makes a difference.
For me, my motivation comes from the opportunity to consistently learn and a genuine passion for my projects and their success. What drives me is knowing that the harder I work, the more I’ll grow, and the more opportunities I’ll have. In addition, I also am motivated by the continued opportunity to mentor junior colleagues of mine and see them succeed in their roles across projects. That cycle of growth personally, for my clients, and for my colleagues is what excites and motivates me every day.
How has Spaulding Ridge played a role in your growth as a consultant?
There’s a lot to this question, but I think one of the biggest things that has shaped my experience at Spaulding Ridge is how my role has evolved. When I first started, my role was more technology focused, but as I’ve grown—and as Spaulding Ridge has grown—the role has become more about holistic advisory, helping clients solve corporate finance and FP&A challenges not technology challenges. Yes, technology is a tool and there are technological problems, but the real value is in understanding the client’s fundamental needs and how they are using the technology to best solve those needs.
Another big part of my growth here has come from the incredible mentorship I’ve received. Two people in particular stand out—Emil Fernandez and Peter Won.
Emil, who helps lead our Finance & Operations practice go-to-market strategy, has been instrumental in my career. He’s spent hours mentoring me, traveling with me, and sharing insights from his 20+ years of experience, including starting his own consulting firm. Then Peter, my direct manager. No one at Spaulding Ridge works harder than Peter and there is a direct correlation between his work ethic and success. He’s dedicated countless hours to coaching me, preaching consulting best practices, and making sure I set myself and teams up for success.
Having leaders like Emil and Peter, who don’t just manage from the sidelines but are actively involved in our day-to-day client work has made a huge impact on me. Seeing them operate at such a high level is both inspiring and motivating. It sets the expectation that if they’re working as hard as they do at the Managing Director level, I should be pushing myself just as much, if not more, as a Senior Director. That culture of leadership, leading by example, has been a significant factor in why I see a strong future for myself at Spaulding Ridge.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? What advice would you give to someone just starting in consulting?
The best advice I can give is to be open to saying yes, even when something feels outside of your comfort zone. Having faith in your mentors and trusting the opportunities they present can provide significant exposure to new learnings and strengthen different skillsets. A great example from my own experience was when I hit my one-year mark at Spaulding Ridge as a Manager. There was a challenging project that was focused on a technology I had not implemented or supported previously. I remember senior leaders approaching me, saying, “This project is behind schedule, and you’ve never worked with this technology before, but we need someone to step up and take ownership.” At this moment I had a choice. I could have hesitated because I wasn’t familiar with the technology, or I could say yes and think of the opportunity it could present for my career. I chose to go for it and that decision ultimately led me down a successful career path from Manager to Senior Director.
Saying yes to opportunities that challenge you, even when they’re uncomfortable, has been one of the biggest factors in my growth, and I’d strongly encourage others to do the same when appropriate.
What are your goals for the future? What do you hope to accomplish next?
I definitely see a long-term career path at Spaulding Ridge. Spaulding Ridge has provided me the flexibility I need while also providing the growth opportunities I desire; for example, in 2023, I successfully completed my MBA while working full-time. This accomplishment demonstrates the commitment to employee personal and professional growth Spaulding Ridge encourages. I recently accomplished my goal of being promoted to Senior Director and hope to progress to Managing Director as opportunities arise.
In terms of what I want to accomplish next, one thing we emphasize with our consultants is earning certifications in technologies we partner with. While I’ve seen success in my role from a functional perspective, I know I have room to grow on the technical side of things. I don’t necessarily need to go as deep as earning a full Solution Architect certification—that probably wouldn’t be the best use of my time—but refreshing my baseline certifications would help reinforce my technical fundamentals.
Beyond that, I’m also working on expanding my knowledge across FP&A, close and consolidations, and data technologies. I have both an undergraduate and master’s degree in finance but applying these concepts to fundamental business best practices during client conversations is key. Ultimately, I feel these goals are valuable not just for my own development but also for what I can contribute to Spaulding Ridge in the long run.
If you could pick any theme song to play when you walk into the office, what would it be?
My go-to karaoke song: Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard!
Thank you for your time today, Andrew. Congratulations!
Thank you!
