The 2010 Small Jewels: RAS & Associates

Beginning its third year of business, RAS & Associates has grown from a five-person, $1 million start-up in 2008 to being on track to employ 35 consultants and generate $8 million by the end of 2010.

| March 30, 2010

Rob Swanson Beginning its third year of business, RAS & Associates has grown from a five-person, $1 million start-up in 2008 to being on track to employ 35 consultants and generate $8 million by the end of 2010. And much of its success can be tied to founder Rob Swanson's commitment to preparation and patience.

Swanson has an incredibly thorough hiring process—he's willing to invest years in building client relationships, and commit massive amounts of his consultants' time and energy on pro-bono assignments in the name of culture and reputation building.

"There's no reason why our firm should be successful in this economy. We're an unknown commodity. Aggregate market demand has shrunk. There's hyper-competition. But I think what sets us apart is that our people are more empowered and hungry to be differentiated," Swanson says. "When a client hires us, it's because he's taken time to get to know us and is willing to see if what we're saying is true."

To continue reading, become an ALM digital reader

Benefits include:

  • Complimentary access to Consulting Magazine Online and digital edition
  • Bi-monthly digital newsletter delivered to your inbox
  • 1 free article* every 30 days to Consulting Magazine's sister publications
  • Exclusive discounts on events and publications produced by ALM

You Might Like

The Rising Stars of the Profession: Arjun Kalra

The Rising Stars of the Profession: Arjun Kalra

Arjun Kalra was elected to the Crowe Horwath partnership in 2015, what he says is "without a doubt" one of the most significant accomplishments of his career. But it didn't stop there.

Terms of UsePrivacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.