Join host Lorraine Ladd as she sits down with Morgan Wright, Associate Director in alliant's R&D team, for an inspiring conversation about career growth and leadership. Morgan shares her eight-year journey from an entry-level position to leading a top-performing team, all while expecting her first baby!

• The power of embracing discomfort for professional growth
• Building lasting client relationships and team success
• Leading through major milestones (including tax season!)
• Her team's incredible achievement of delivering the most value to clients for multiple quarters

Morgan's advice? Know your strengths AND weaknesses—understanding both is key to continuous growth, both professionally and personally.

Whether you're starting your career journey or looking to level up, Morgan's insights on staying true to yourself while pushing boundaries will resonate with anyone committed to excellence.

In this episode of The Blue Room, host Lorraine Ladd sits down with Grant McNeill, Associate Director in alliant’s Research & Development practice. With over nine years at alliant, Grant shares how he transitioned from engineering to consulting, what makes R&D work so dynamic, and how his team leverages AI to boost quality and efficiency.

• What a day in R&D consulting really looks like (race car parts in the morning, breweries in the afternoon!)
• The importance of learning, teamwork, and “friendly competition”
• Overcoming the shift from engineering’s step-by-step mindset to big-picture problem solving
• Rapid-fire fun: coffee vs. energy drinks, tacos vs. pizza, and more
• Advice for career changers: don’t be limited by your past experience
• Who thrives on the R&D team: grit, drive, and flexibility

We’re hiring! If you’re a motivated problem-solver who adapts quickly and loves learning, consider joining our R&D practice (R&D Consultants and R&D Associates).

Host Lorraine Ladd sits down with Associate Director McKenzie Findley to unpack what “Education & Awareness” really means at alliant—and how her team drives business strategy to empower sales, elevate acquisitions, and fuel rapid growth.

• What Education & Awareness does: sales enablement, better leads, social, email, and marketing collateral
• McKenzie’s career journey: first job out of college → two promotions in four years
• The mindset that accelerates growth: “run into the fire,” get comfortable being uncomfortable
• Culture and perks: onsite gym, strong team bonds, and international collaboration
• Rapid-fire favorites: TikTok, sweet snacks, football (Roll Tide!), and… pizza forever
• We’re hiring for McKenzie’s team: fun, proactive, ambitious teammates who want to build a career and a work family

• “Everything feels better when you’re winning together.”
• “Feel the fear—and do it anyway.”

Interested in joining the team? We’re growing fast—come build with us.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Blue Room conversations!

Join Lorraine Ladd, alliant Director of Talent Acquisition, as she chats with Ernesto Zermeno, Chief of Staff for our Business Development team, on the latest episode of The Blue Room Podcast!

Ernesto shares his incredible journey at alliant, from starting as an associate to becoming a Chief of Staff and now helping with the hiring and training of new associates. He opens up about invaluable lessons learned, his dream office perk (doggy daycare, anyone?), and the advice he'd give his younger self on his first day.

Get ready for some fun rapid-fire questions and insights into what makes his team thrive. If you're hardworking, love to have fun, and want to be the best version of yourself, Ernesto's team is looking for you!

In this Blue Room episode, host Lorraine Ladd sits down with Sara Khalifa, Director at alliant, to unpack her 5-year journey from hesitation to high performance. Sara shares how saying “yes” changed her career, the power of investing in people, leading with authenticity, and building high-performing teams.

• Overcoming fear of failure and taking the leap
• Rapid promotions and shifting from back-end to client-facing
• Core values: investment in people and iron-sharpens-iron culture
• Lessons for women in leadership: trust your gut and be yourself
• Team wins, mentorship, and growing new leaders

• Florence, Italy fan
• Rodeo over Astros
• Coffee forever, sneakers always
• Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” as her life soundtrack

Subscribe for more stories that inspire growth and grit. Your journey is yours—make it count.

Join host Lorraine Ladd in conversation with Stephen Shropshire, Quality Control Attorney at alliant, as he shares insights into ensuring tax credit compliance, building client trust through transparency, and fostering team culture through competitive trivia nights.

Stephen discusses the evolving landscape of tax law, the importance of delivering honest answers—even when they're tough—and what makes a great QC attorney. From his six-year journey at alliant to his passion for R&D tax credits, discover how this team balances serious tax work with genuine camaraderie.

Whether you're interested in tax law, team building, or career growth in consulting, this episode offers valuable perspectives on professional excellence and workplace culture.

Join host Lorraine Ladd as she sits down with Lauren Morris Rihani, a newly promoted Director at alliant, to discuss her remarkable eight-year journey from engineer to leadership. Lauren shares the secrets behind her four promotions, navigating maternity leave while advancing her career, and why leaning into discomfort is key to growth.

In this episode, discover:

- How alliant's investment-focused culture drives professional and personal growth

- The power of mentorship and learning from high performers

- Balancing new motherhood with career advancement

- Behind-the-scenes team celebrations and company culture

- Practical advice for aspiring leaders

Whether you're an engineer considering a career pivot, a professional seeking growth opportunity, or simply curious about what makes a high-performance culture thrive, this conversation offers valuable insights into building a successful career while staying true to yourself.

Host Lorraine Ladd sits down with alliant Enterprise Director Bradley Trangsrud to unpack his rapid growth at alliant—five promotions in six years—and how he helped build major practices from the ground up, including ERC and Finance & Accounting Managed Services. Brad shares what the recent promotion felt like, why recognition moments matter, how cross-functional teams win together, and the one non-negotiable trait he hires for: entrepreneurial drive. Plus: the story of his legendary custom suit and his middle-school birdhouse “startup.”

In this episode of The Blue Room, alliant Director of Talent Acquisition Lorraine Ladd chats with Maulik Shah, Associate Director in our R&D Practice, about his 8+ year journey at alliant and how he’s earned five promotions along the way. Maulik explains what an R&D consultant does, how our team helps American businesses innovate and grow, and why the people are his favorite part of the job. He also dives into alliant’s culture—especially the “you control your own destiny” mindset—and how it’s shaped his success.

Join host Lorraine Ladd, alliant’s Director of Talent Acquisition, in The Blue Room as she sits down with Tyler Basham—QC Attorney and Team Lead at alliant. Tyler shares his journey from aspiring litigator to finding his groove in corporate tax, the power of mentorship, and why being open to unexpected opportunities can transform your career. He also talks about life as a new dad, team culture, and what he looks for when hiring for his high-performing group