Today we’d like to introduce you to Randii Waddell.
Hi Randii, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Most of my career was spent in corporate leadership roles helping large companies with mergers and acquisitions, inventory management, manufacturing efficiency, and large-scale system transformations. I loved the challenge and built a really solid foundation across all aspects of running a business.
But several years ago, I felt a strong pull to give back. My wife, along with many of our friends, own small businesses, and I had a front row seat to how difficult the “business” side of entrepreneurship can be. Understanding finances, figuring out when they could afford to hire or expand, and simply finding the confidence to keep moving forward every day — those things can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to do everything yourself.
I certainly didn’t have all the answers, but I did have years of varied experiences from my corporate career. With the support of my family, I made the decision to leave corporate life and start my own consulting business with a mission to “give back” by sharing the knowledge, experience, and education I had gained throughout my career. And with that, Randii Waddell Business Solutions LLC was born.
My first consulting role was with IgniteMN (formerly Red Wing Ignite), where I had the opportunity to provide coaching and programming for entrepreneurs. That role eventually evolved into a W2 position managing state and federal grants and overseeing overall operations. During my three years there, I was introduced to an incredible network of entrepreneurial support organizations, met hundreds of inspiring small business owners, and learned a tremendous amount about nonprofit operations and grant management.
Around that same time, a local CPA reached out and asked me to create an Excel-based financial tracker for several smaller clients. Anyone who knows me well knows I have a slightly weird love for spreadsheets, so this was right up my alley. But it also sparked a new interest: bookkeeping.
My attention to detail, love of numbers, and ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms made it a natural fit. After taking a few classes to learn the fundamentals, I started offering bookkeeping services to local small businesses as part of my consulting work. Then last November, I joined an accounting agency part time. It has been an amazing opportunity to continue building my skills and expand this new chapter of my career. And they are fully supportive of me continuing to do consulting on the side! It really is a great mix of work and clients.
While this career path has definitely been a major pivot, the opportunity to help other business owners has been incredibly rewarding. Whether I’m building a custom data tracker, helping manage a remodel and location transition, tracking grant funding, or handling monthly bookkeeping, Randii Waddell Business Solutions exists to help small business owners feel more confident, organized, and equipped to grow.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road? I’m not sure any major career pivot is ever truly a smooth road.
For most of my career, I was the “go to” person. I was the one people called when a process was broken, a project was behind schedule, or a team needed leadership and direction. I had spent years building confidence in my skills and expertise.
Then I started this consulting and bookkeeping journey and suddenly… I was a beginner again.
One day I was helping a client solve a complex operational problem, and the next I was trying to figure out business insurance, invoicing systems, marketing, or whether I was even charging enough for my services. Entrepreneurship has a funny way of humbling you while also pushing you to grow faster than you thought possible.
I think the hardest part has honestly been the vulnerability that comes with building something of your own. In corporate, there’s often a team, structure, and a steady paycheck behind you. When you run your own business, the wins and losses feel very personal. There were definitely moments where I questioned whether I had made the right decision leaving corporate life.
But looking back now, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
The flexibility, the relationships I’ve built, and the opportunity to genuinely help small business owners and nonprofit organizations has been incredibly rewarding. I’m happier, healthier, and doing work that feels meaningful to me. So yes — there have definitely been bumps along the way. But every single one has been worth it.
We’ve been impressed with Randii Waddell Business Solutions LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Randii Waddell Business Solutions LLC provides operational, financial, and project support for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. That can look very different depending on the client – building custom data tracking tools, managing grant reporting, helping coordinate a remodel or business transition, planning a large event, or providing bookkeeping services.
What I love most is that no two clients are exactly alike.
When someone reaches out to me, my first step is always to listen. I want to understand what’s causing stress, what isn’t working, and what they actually need help with — not just what they think they’re “supposed” to be doing. A big part of my job is helping people feel less overwhelmed and more confident running their business.
I think what sets me apart is the range of experience I bring to the table. I’ve worked in large corporate leadership roles, managed complex grants and nonprofit operations, and now work directly with entrepreneurs and small business owners every day. That combination allows me to look at problems from both a big-picture strategic level and a practical day-to-day level.
I’m also a big believer that systems and processes should work for the person using them — not the other way around. My goal isn’t to hand someone a complicated spreadsheet or process they’ll never maintain. It’s to create tools and workflows that actually fit their business, their personality, and their capacity.
At the end of the day, I want my clients spending less time stressed about the “behind the scenes” parts of running a business and more time focused on the work they’re passionate about.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a huge nod to my wife. I’ve been the primary breadwinner for most of our 27-year relationship, so when I told her I wanted to leave a stable corporate career — with dependable income and benefits — to start my own consulting business, I honestly had no idea how she would respond.
Her response was simple: “I’ve got your back. Whatever you want to do.”
That support meant everything.
I think people sometimes underestimate how emotional and vulnerable starting a business can be. The ups and downs are very real, and most business owners need someone who can be a sounding board, a voice of encouragement, or sometimes just a shoulder to cry on after a hard day. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have that kind of support from both family and friends throughout this journey.
I’ve also been lucky to receive encouragement from so many people in the Red Wing community — from nonprofit leaders and fellow professionals to the entrepreneurs and small business owners I’ve had the privilege of working with. Building those relationships and having people trust me with their businesses has meant more to me than I can fully put into words.
At the end of the day, no one builds a business completely on their own, and I’m incredibly grateful for the people who have believed in me along the way.
Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randiiwaddell
- Other: randiiwaddell@gmail.com
