Introducing: Randa O'Connor, Digital Transformation Leader, SPE Solutions
Describe the business/organization you work for:
I'm an independent digital transformation advisor. I help organizations plan and deliver large enterprise software programs: Salesforce implementations, systems consolidations after mergers/acquisitions, and multi-year modernization roadmaps. Over more than a decade, I've led programs for Wells Fargo, Intel/McAfee, Intuit and Green Dot, working at Appirio, EPAM and Mphasis/Silverline. Most recently, I designed a $22M, five-year modernization program for a major Tribal Health organization in Alaska and directed its Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grant application.
What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization?
Process improvement is part of who I am. In my first job out of college, I improved the process so much that within months I had eliminated my own position. Since then, I've liked being brought in when a program is new, complex, or not going well, and helping people turn a big goal into a plan they can actually deliver. Working independently lets me take on work where I can make a real difference, and it lets me stay hands-on. It also gives me time for something I care about: helping the next generation, especially young women, build the skills and confidence to succeed in technology.
What sets this business apart from others in the industry?
I've done this work at enterprise scale, but I still build things myself. I've built a platform that let a worldwide Salesforce rollout run testing in every time zone, an app that helps patients document their symptoms for their doctors, and, since moving to Boise, a real estate platform that automates everything from listing to 12 months after closing. I use AI tools to deliver faster. My focus is on the people doing the work, not just the technology.
What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them?
The hardest programs I've led were over budget, off track, or so large that the usual tools failed. At Wells Fargo, I led a $7M+ program to consolidate six lines of business, brought together through acquisitions and reorganization, onto a single Salesforce platform. The plan was to run user acceptance testing in spreadsheets, which wouldn't work at that scale. I pushed for a better approach and set up a shared tracking platform, so testing kept pace across every line of business. My takeaway: when a program is struggling, the answer is usually clear governance, honest visibility into risk, and fixing the process before adding more effort.
What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry?
Learn the business, not just the technology. The most valuable people in digital transformation can explain why a change matters to the people it affects. Beyond that, when I present my curriculum, "STEM – The RKO Way: Outpace the Competition," my main message is that STEM is a muscle anyone can build with practice and repetition. That applies whether you're in high school, in college, or starting your first job. My advice follows the four letters:
S = Smart Speed: Find your voice, communicate early and often, and speak about what you know.
T = Trust: Build trust in yourself so others will trust you.
E = Establish: Build good habits now, from managing your calendar to writing clearly and listening to understand.
M = Me/My: Know your strengths and describe them with confidence, find a mentor, and build your network early.
I'm passionate about helping women and girls build these skills to advance in technology careers. Start now, start small, and keep practicing. Communities like the Idaho Technology Council are a great place to begin.
About the Idaho Technology Council
The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) is a member-based organization that champions innovation and collaboration to grow Idaho’s economy through technology. Representing a dynamic and growing community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers, ITC connects vision with action to position Idaho as a hub for
innovation and opportunity. Learn more at www.idahotechcouncil.org.
Connect with Randa O'Connor on LinkedIn HERE
