Congratulations to Spaulding Ridge’s Becca Buell for being named one of The Consulting Report’s Top Women Leaders in Consulting! Becca has been with Spaulding Ridge for five years and is a Managing Director. She has established herself as a trusted and committed leader who is known for her strategic thinking, collaborative spirit, and dedication to client success. In this interview, Becca shares highlights about herself, her career, and how she came to be a top women leader.
My name is Becca Buell, and I’m a Managing Director at Spaulding Ridge. I’ve been with the company for a little over five years and my focus has been leading strategic projects for tech, media, and telecommunications companies. Most of my work is centered in CFO services, things like finance transformation, sales operations, cost optimization, or helping clients mitigate and manage risk. That’s really my passion: solving complex, high-impact problems that drive real growth and change.
I started my career in FP&A consulting after earning my CPA. I spent time in the Bay Area supporting the high-tech space before eventually returning to Chicago. Outside of my work, I’m originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin and my family are proud Packer’s season ticket holders. I’m an avid reader—I’m usually juggling two or three books at a time—and I love being out on the water. I spend as much time as I can in Northern Wisconsin on the lake, and my partner and I also enjoy sailing on Lake Michigan.
To me, it represents the value of years of hard work, mentorship, and the impact that support can have on others in the community. It gives me hope and optimism for the future, especially in fast-paced industries where it’s easy to fall into a scarcity mindset or feel uncertain with all the changes happening around us, like AI and evolving business models. Awards like this shine a light on the positive, and that’s incredibly meaningful.
I’m also proud of the community that helped make this possible. It truly takes a village to lift people up, but I see this recognition not just as a personal honor, but as a reflection of the support, encouragement, and collaboration that’s helped all of us get here.
Women Elevate has had a huge impact on my personal and professional growth. At its core, it’s all about connection. Early on, I helped launch a mentorship program within Women Elevate that paired mentors and sponsors to support individual career goals. It was so rewarding to watch mentees gain confidence, overcome barriers, and achieve things they once doubted were possible.
What’s been especially meaningful is seeing the ripple effect beyond Spaulding Ridge. I’ve had clients attend our roundtables and conferences, then go on to make significant changes, like shifting roles or improving how they communicate with leadership, all sparked by the tools and stories we shared.
One of my favorite aspects has been creating space for honest, practical conversations, through small group coffees, lunch and learns, or even workouts, on topics that often feel intimidating or inaccessible, such as breaking into sales. When I joined Spaulding Ridge, I had never had a distinct revenue target or book of business before, and I remember how daunting that was. Sharing my experience, the challenges and how I pushed through them, has allowed me to help others navigate similar paths with more ease and confidence. That’s the heart of Women Elevate: lifting others up to make their journey smoother, more impactful, and hopefully more fulfilling.
Honestly, I kind of fell into tech, which I think is true for a lot of people. It wasn’t something I set out to do from the start, but when the opportunity came to move to San Francisco and work on tech-forward projects with tech companies, I took it. What drew me in and kept me here was the pace, the constant innovation, and the shared high impact problem-solving mindset across the entire ecosystem.
In tech consulting, you get to solve complex, fast-moving challenges and actually see the impact of your work in real time, which is incredibly motivating. One of my clients used to spend nights and weekends buried in annual planning, but now this past year, she got that time back. It makes a difference in people’s lives; beyond the value the projects bring to the company’s top line and growth.
There were times, especially early in my career, when I’d find myself in rooms with executives or peers, feeling like I didn’t belong or didn’t have as much experience as others. Over time, I’ve learned to be bolder and more vocal. I’ve had to ignore that inner voice of doubt and remind myself that I’m in the room for a reason. I know my stuff, and I’m competent in what I’m there to contribute. I remember early in my career, a VP of finance brought me into a meeting because he believed I was the most informed person on a business-critical topic, even though I was the most junior person in the room. That kind of belief in me really helped me push through my doubts.
Now, as a leader, I make it a point to support my team the same way, showing them I believe in their abilities, even when they may not yet believe in themselves. It’s all about building confidence and helping others navigate those challenges with the same encouragement I received.
Ask more questions. Don’t be afraid to speak up in meetings. Chances are, if you have a question, others do too. Asking questions early helps you get clarity and avoid making assumptions about problems or motivations. It also allows you to understand the situation better and solve problems more effectively.
Earlier in my career, I thought it wasn’t my place to ask questions in client meetings. I thought it was someone else’s job, and I was there to support or help do the work after the meeting. But I quickly realized that when I was debriefing with my team, they’d ask why I didn’t speak up in the meeting. Even though I was apprehensive, the upside of speaking up is far greater than the risk.
Additionally, approach your work with humility and give others the benefit of doubt. If someone’s acting out of character, it might not be about you, it’s likely something else going on in their day. By assuming positive intent and showing humility, you create a more collaborative and understanding environment where everyone feels more supported. Remember, we’re all figuring it out, and that shared humility levels the playing field.
Looking ahead, I’m super passionate about expanding my knowledge and resources outside of Spaulding Ridge, my clients, and even the industries I’ve traditionally worked in. I’m a lifelong learner, and the more I can absorb, the more I can share and help others succeed. Right now, a major focus for me is AI and how we can harness automation in an inclusive way that acts as a multiplier rather than a diminisher.
I’ve been actively diving into resources like podcasts, online content, and industry forums to stay informed and develop a strong point of view on this topic. Most notably, I joined Chief, a women’s executive network, and have been engaging in their AI forum, which holds weekly roundtable discussions. I’m also committed to sharing what I’m learning with others, frequently meeting with other women in our Chicago office to share resources or takeaways from the sessions I attend.
My goal is to be more intentional about the information I seek, particularly around AI and leadership enablement, so I can better support my teams, help them achieve their goals, and navigate the fast-evolving tech landscape. Ultimately, I want to leave a positive impact, sharing knowledge and empowering others to thrive in this changing environment.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – You can do anything that you set your mind to!
Thank you!
