Ryan Stemen, MBA

Beyond The Resume

Why do businesses hire me to take their team, department, and business to the next level?

What experience do I have that’s so different than anyone else?

Why do I have the it factor in job interviews and once in the seat working to make a company excel?

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Today’s business environment is ultra competitive.

Hundreds of applications for one job.

Some specialized jobs get posted with no applications.

Finding the right leader to elevate your team and department is difficult or nearly impossible in a tight labor market (especially with outsourcing, cost cutting, contractors, and AI).

Being found by the great companies I’ve worked for hasn’t been blind luck on their part or mine.

For me, it isn’t an overnight success story either. It’s been a continuation of learning and growing over a 15 year career.

What I’m about to tell you is part background story, part long form resume, and most of all where I add value to organizations.

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I have a unique blend of experiences across public and private sectors.

I bring transformative growth and success to an organization by bridging new perspectives with value creation.

For example, I look at processes to find a quicker, more cost-effective solutions. I also rally and coach teams to put in the hard work needed to hit stretch goals and will cross the country to sit across the table from a customer and negotiate a long term contracts.

On top of that, I enjoy consulting customers in a friendly and insightful manner on how to find more value in their business and work to build long lasting customers relationships who trust me year after year.

Let’s explore my background, how I’ve learned to add value, and how I help drive organizations to new heights. Plus , how I enjoy working in a unique niche between tax, software, sales, and customer success.

A Background Rooted in Hard Work and Resilience

Video games weren’t a part of my childhood.

I grew up in a rural community so farming, entrepreneurship, and sports were a way of daily life. When I was young I had to either go outside to play sports, join the Boy Scouts, go to church, help my family’s small business, or work with our 4-H farm animals. Keeping busy in a structured manner was how my life started and continues to this day.

I’ve been working since 13. My first job was at the age of 13 consisted of bailing hay, milking cows, and moving farm equipment for a local dairy farm – talk about hard work at an early age. Hard work, dedication, and sense of pride has been with me since the start.

My competitive spirit was further nurtured during my high school years, where I excelled in athletics, Scouting, 4-H, speech and debate. This drive led me to Ball State University, where I not only pursued my education but also became the school’s NCAA Division 1 mascot, Charlie Cardinal, as a freshman. This experience highlights my ability to quickly adapt and excel in new environments—a trait that has been instrumental in my professional success which I’ll explain in greater detail below.

A Career Spanning Multiple Industries + Tax Accounting Experience + Leadership Roles

After graduating, I embarked on a diverse career journey, holding finance and tax positions in companies like Sallie Mae, EY, Danaher, Timken, and Thomson Reuters. Each role has allowed me to refine my skills and expand my expertise, particularly in high-pressure environments where exceeding expectations is always the norm.

Public Accounting and Tax Compliance

At Ernst & Young (EY), I managed a team that specialized in tax credits and incentives for clients across state, local, and federal levels. This role honed my skills in tax compliance and project management, laying a strong foundation for my future roles. My time at EY was marked by a focus on delivering high-quality results under tight deadlines, a capability that I have carried with me throughout my career. Plus, I learned to look at every penny and dime with respect instead of just numbers on a spreadsheet or in a bank account. These had lead to having a deep reverence for budgets and forecasting accurately.

Leadership in Corporate Tax

My tenure at a privately held software company, Hyland Software, as an International Tax Manager showcased my ability to lead and manage a multinational team (based in India and Japan). I was responsible for driving process improvements, managing US and international tax filings, and leading tax audits. Under my leadership, the team not only met but exceeded targets, but more importantly I like to think my team felt heard, coached, and appreciated for their hard work.

Driving Customer Success in Tax Software

In my current role as a Customer Success Executive at Thomson Reuters, I manage a $12 million book of business, advising Fortune 500 companies on tax technology and process improvements. My strategic insights have added millions to the company’s sales pipeline, while also delivering substantial savings for our customers by switching from multiple software vendors to one. This role is a testament to my ability to build and maintain strong relationships, ensuring steady renewal revenue, and delivering long term customer satisfaction.

These early experiences coupled with unique roles instilled in me a commitment to hard work. This commitment has been a consistent thread throughout my career. Whether it was sweeping floors at my dad’s automotive shop or tackling the complexities of international tax compliance, I’ve always embraced challenges head-on. I have never feared the long hours needed to become successful.

Why Would A Company Hire Me?

Bringing someone with my background into your organization means infusing it with resilience, a competitive edge, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Whether it’s leading a team through complex tax audits, driving innovation in tax technology, or managing high-stakes client relationships, I have the experience and skills necessary to elevate any size business.

Plus, all of my deep talent stack is hard to replicate in one individual, usually you need two or three employees who can do that level of work.

Evelator Pitch

Hiring me is not just about filling a position—it’s about bringing in a leader who will take your team, department, and business to the next level.

Maybe your business is expanding into international markets – very few people have the experience I do with international tax, business customs, or how to manage international team members in a remote setting. These experiences are hard to find in the United States and even harder to train someone on how to be successful in these situations. As our economy becomes more globally integrated and smaller firms move into international markets you’re going to need an expert in International business to help you expand and grow intelligently.

When you combine my International tax and leadership abilities with strong customer success , relationship building, process improvements capabilities, forecasting knowledge, and competitive negotiation skills you get a nice cross section of business skills that few possess.

This combination is what I call a unique business talent stack. A talent stack that drives value for organizations growing, retaining customers, and adding value to long term quarter after quarter.

My track record speaks for itself, but I am always looking to push boundaries and achieve even greater success by learning more skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sets you apart from other candidates?

• My unique blend of experience across public accounting, private sector tax compliance, and customer success in tax software, combined with my proven ability to lead and innovate, sets me apart. I bring a strategic mindset and a track record of delivering results in high-pressure environments. Plus a foundation of skill building, ability to work long hours independently, and

How do you handle high-pressure situations?

• I thrive in high-pressure environments and often seek them out. My background in managing tax compliance and leading international tax audits has prepared me to excel under pressure. I approach each challenge with a calm, methodical mindset, ensuring that I deliver the best possible outcome.

What do you like that others hate in a job?

• Most of my peers hate budgeting and forecasting. I absolutely love the logical and rational thought process needs to create an annual, quarterly, or monthly budget. I often volunteer to put together a department’s budgets. I also figure out what expenses we can cut back on for the next fiscal year. In my current role, I have to analyze a Net Revenue Retention (NRR) forecast on a weekly basis. I enjoy the process.

What is your approach to leadership?

• My leadership style is collaborative and results-driven. I believe in empowering my team, fostering an environment of continuous learning, and setting clear, achievable goals. My focus is always on driving the team towards success while ensuring individual growth and development. Bottom line, I enjoy coaching team members to be the best versions of themselves.

How do you stay updated with industry trends?

• I stay updated by continuously engaging with industry publications, attending relevant conferences, and participating in professional networks. In 2017 I went back to college to get a masters degree in business administration to learn, grow, and network with other like minded business professionals. I continue to read and educate myself on the latest trends and best practices in tax, finance, and customer success.

What are your goals for the next five years?

• My goal is to continue growing as a leader in the tax and finance industry, driving innovation and success for my employer. I aim to take on more strategic roles that allow me to shape the future direction of the company, while also mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders. I also plan to continue to travel across the United States to see customers in their offices and better understand their needs. Nothing is better than meeting with a customer in-person and talking about their tax strategy, their pain points, and coming up solutions to help them grow.

Conclusion

My ability to lead, innovate, and deliver results makes me the ideal candidate for teams to get to the next level. Right now, I enjoy my work and love my employer and team. I’m always happy to network and connect with like minded high agency doers.