As former engagement leaders at a Big Four accounting firm, Lori Richards and Michael White knew from experience that too often these large firms would push solutions where none were needed. They saw an opportunity to better serve the needs of clients, so they founded Cooper-Richards, an IT and financial risk management firm.
In this edition of the BigTime Podcast, Lori and Michael discuss the challenges in building a new consulting firm including finding those first clients, recruiting partners, and staying competitive. They discuss how they were able to differentiate themselves from big corporate accounting firms and position themselves as advisors providing practical solutions to manage risk & compliance in the financial industry.
“At the beginning when we first started out, it was very much about listening to what the client needs. Now as we’ve gotten bigger, I have to look at both sides. I have to look at what my employees need and make sure they’re being treated well.”
Lori Richards
Partner at Cooper Richards