Rhiannon Andersen on Resilience, Family, and Building a $22M Business
In exploring the journey of a dedicated individual who transitioned from social work to a pivotal role in the family business, this real money episode reveals a profound respect for personal struggles and professional growth
I sat down with Rhiannon Andersen, a powerhouse businesswoman who opens about her incredible journey from a challenging childhood to becoming the co-owner of Steelhead, a $22 million company. Rhiannon shares how she navigated her early career in social work, her unexpected entry into the family business, and the intense struggles she faced during the recession, nearly losing it all. Raised in a challenging environment, she discovered the importance of compassion and resilience, which shaped their approach.
Her experience in social work cultivated a deep understanding of hardships, which translates into a passionate commitment to improving outcomes for those in a demanding industry. As relationships strengthen and evolve, so does the mission to provide meaningful support to others.
Professional and Personal Struggle
Searching for a Turning Point
Facing persistent challenges both professionally and personally, she found herself in a situation often feeling like she was robbing Peter to pay Paul. This dynamic prompted deep reflection, leading her to question, “When do we decide that enough is enough?”, seeking clarity on what truly excited her. Despite the difficulties, she recognized her ability to provide valuable insights to others, especially in elevating the work of event planners.
Her journey began unexpectedly as she ventured into the family business, Steelhead, which is founded by her father in 1996, after initially pursuing a career in social work. With a background focused on assisting at-risk youth, including those in foster care and facing homelessness, her intent to take a break from emotionally taxing work morphed into a commitment to the family enterprise.
Raised by her father, she experienced the complexities of a childhood impacted by her mother’s struggles with addiction. While not the sole motivation for her career choice, these experiences fostered compassion within her for those facing hardships. Though her upbringing lacked nurturing figures, it instilled resilience, driving her to navigate her path while striving to avoid repeating the patterns she witnessed. Balancing this tough exterior with a desire for empathy remains a continuous journey for her.
Commitment to Empowering Event Professionals
In her work, she derived great satisfaction from empowering others with valuable insights that could enhance their success. She possessed a wealth of knowledge that could significantly improve outcomes for event planners, ultimately optimizing corporate expenditures. This drive to contribute positively to others’ success remained a central motivator in her professional journey.
Rhiannon’s focus has been to uplift and support event planners in their journey. Recognizing the gaps in the industry’s current practices, they have a strong desire to provide resources and insights that could lead to better use of corporate budgets. Through sharing their knowledge, the speaker aims to elevate the skills and effectiveness of event planners, ensuring they achieve outstanding results.
Background: This journey began without an intention to join the family business but grew into a passion over time.
Despite an initial career in social work, which involved working with at-risk youth and other vulnerable population, she transitioned to the professional world, bringing their empathetic and driven nature with them. This background instils a unique perspective, one that combines compassion with effective strategy, directly benefiting event planners seeking guidance.
Her story is rooted in resilience and adaptability. Their personal experiences, shaped by significant relationships, contribute to their understanding of both the struggles and the successes others may encounter. This empathy, combined with a practical edge, drives a mission to enable planners to craft experiences that are both unique and successful.
Through commitment and dedication, they strive to be a valuable resource for event planners, providing crucial tools and advice that make a difference in their professional journeys.
Personal Healing and Sabbatical
Balancing personal passions and professional demands can be challenging, particularly when faced with demanding roles. Rhiannon shares how early involvement in social work with at-risk populations led to emotional exhaustion. This led to a sabbatical from the field to focus on personal healing and introspection.
Background and Decision
Originally, there was no plan to join the family business. The speaker’s background was in social work, dealing with homeless and foster care youth, often victims of abuse. The demanding nature of this work, coupled with a desire to heal personally, prompted a temporary break from the field.
Transition to Family Business’
The sabbatical’s intention was to recuperate while engaging with the family business for financial support. The speaker joined Steelhead, a company founded by the father, which inadvertently became a long-term commitment. Entering the business world allowed for personal rejuvenation while leveraging existing skills to contribute to the organization.
Reflections on Personal Growth
During this period, personal history with family dynamics and self-reliance emerged as themes. Raised by a single father, the speaker developed a tough exterior, influenced by a complex relationship with the mother. Despite the challenges, this time off facilitated personal growth and a reassessment of life’s priorities and professional trajectory.
Through this healing and sabbatical leave, the speaker achieved a balance between past experiences and future aspirations, finding renewed purpose within a new professional path.
Establishing Business Connections
Creating strong professional relationships is an essential aspect of personal and career development. A foundation of these relationships is providing valuable insights that can help others succeed. One individual reflects on their ability to assist event planners by leveraging knowledge to improve corporate spending outcomes. This process of sharing knowledge not only benefits others but also builds deeper connections over time.
For many, entering a family business is not always a planned decision. In some cases, it begins serendipitously when seeking respite from a demanding career. For example, a person might intend to take a break from intense work, such as social work, to gain different experiences and financial stability, ultimately leading to long-term involvement in the family enterprise.
Professional dynamics can be deeply influenced by personal experiences and upbringing. A unique family background, such as being raised by one parent amid challenging circumstances, often shapes an individual’s resilience and adaptability in their professional life. Such experiences contribute to a balance of compassion and strength, crucial traits for sustaining meaningful business connections. Building these connections requires nurturing an environment where understanding and empathy coexist with a strong drive for success.
Adapting to new settings, such as relocating during high school, can also influence one’s ability to connect with others in a professional context. This adaptability can lead to innovative solutions, like pursuing an accelerated education path that propels one toward early achievement and the potential for leadership roles in their career. Through these varied experiences, individuals learn valuable lessons about collaboration, problem-solving, and perseverance—all essential in establishing lasting professional relationships.
Overcoming Personal Challenges
Navigating life’s complexities often involves facing a variety of personal challenges head-on. Having grown up with an absent mother struggling with addiction and a father who stood as the primary caretaker provides a backdrop that deeply influenced personal development. The father’s resilience and determination played a critical role in demonstrating how to overcome fear and uncertainty. These traits were imparted, fostering strength and encouraging a refusal to replicate the negative patterns witnessed in childhood.
Despite the absence of a nurturing maternal influence, a strong desire to help others emerged, possibly as an unintended consequence of experiencing personal hardship. This led to a career in social work, focusing on supporting at-risk youth. The decision to enter social work wasn’t a direct result of childhood experiences, yet it seems the adversities faced indirectly fueled compassion for those in difficult circumstances.
Breaking away from traditional expectations, this approach to overcoming challenges includes a commitment to personal growth and the development of both resilience and empathy. The experiences shaped a strong individual who, despite the challenges, continues to advocate for positive change in the lives of others. This journey reflects a balance between strength and kindness, a testament to the complex yet transformative power of personal experiences.
Start of Steelhead
Shift from Social Services to Steelhead
Raised outside Seattle, she began her journey in social work, focusing on at-risk youth, homelessness, and foster care. This experience was rewarding but emotionally taxing, prompting her to seek a break and support her family’s business, Steelhead. She approached Steelhead with the intent of making some money while stepping back from social work, never anticipating her stay would become permanent.
The transition to Steelhead was not planned. Her father, a resilient individual, had started Steelhead in 1996 after facing challenges in the event planning industry. He transitioned from being a marketing manager and event planner at another company when he realized he could offer better services himself. This entrepreneurial spirit led her father to establish Steelhead by investing his savings in a business model he believed in.
Growing up in an unstable family environment shaped her outlook on life. With a father who provided a strong and resilient figure, she learned the importance of determination. Although she never directly chose social work because of her childhood, the compassion she developed for those facing hardships stemmed from her own experiences. This shaped her desire to help others during their struggles, demonstrating both toughness and an empathetic nature.
Her father’s entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of Steelhead in 1996, originating from his dissatisfaction with the services offered by companies he hired as an event planner. As he transitioned from corporate marketing to creating Steelhead, she found her way into the family business, which became a new path filled with opportunities to make an impact while utilizing her skills to elevate event planning and corporate spending.
Embracing Social Work as a Life Purpose
Experience at a Youth Shelter
During her university years, she spent significant time contributing to a youth shelter. This involvement was not just an ordinary task; it was a core part of her education in social work and sociology. Her role was crucial, performing intakes for homeless youth, many of whom were in challenging situations. Working nights at the shelter, she balanced her responsibilities with her daytime studies. This commitment reflected her genuine desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of those she served.
Commitment to Social Wellbeing
Her dedication to social welfare is deeply rooted in personal experiences and a genuine sense of empathy. Raised by her father in a unique household, her upbringing was marked by resilience and an understanding of hardship. These early life experiences shaped her compassionate approach to social work. She possesses a distinct blend of toughness and empathy, a combination allowing her to navigate the emotional demands of helping others passionately. Her career trajectory in social work was, in a way, an extension of her past, offering others what she had to learn for herself—strength and compassion.
Key Takeaways:
- A commitment to professional growth is evident through the evolution of relationships within the industry.
- The journey of navigating personal challenges fuels the passion for making a positive impact.
About Lisa:
Lisa discussed many tools that she used throughout her money journey and invites you to try them as well. As a first step, she recommends reading her book, Girl, Get Your $hit Together in which she helps women tackle their financial story and shares her entire story. After reading the book, she invites listeners to join the Stop Budgeting System– the very method she used to gain financial freedom and clarity.