Congratulations to Spaulding Ridge’s Hanna Cantwell, recently named one of Consulting Magazine’s Women Leaders in Consulting!
Hanna, a Senior Director leading Spaulding Ridge’s alliance team, has built a strong reputation for her impact in alliances, sales, and data solutions. Her drive and expertise continue to make a meaningful difference for both partners and colleagues. In this interview, Hanna shares insights into her growth, leadership journey, and the experiences that have shaped her career.
Tell us about yourself and your role at Spaulding Ridge.
I’m Hanna Cantwell, and I lead the technology partnerships team at Spaulding Ridge. My team manages our technology relationships and alliance go-to-market strategy. In my current role, I’m a player-coach, as I directly oversee our data partner ecosystem while leading alliance teams across our Revenue Excellence and Finance & Operations practices.
I’ve been based in Chicago for the past eight years, and my background is in sales and marketing, primarily in consulting. What I love about my role is being a connector, bringing data into every part of our business to create better solutions for our clients and partners.
What does this recognition as a women leader mean to you?
This recognition means a lot to me, and I love that Consulting Magazine chose to recognize someone in an alliance role. It shows a growing appreciation for the critical role that tech partners play in the consulting world. Companies rely on their enterprise systems to power smarter, faster, and better decision-making, and they need consulting partners who can maximize the impact of their technology and AI efforts. Our partner relationships will only become more essential to how we deliver value.
On a personal level, it’s especially meaningful. As the second oldest of five sisters, I’ve always had a strong group of women cheering me on. I don’t take that for granted. It’s a moving feeling having incredible women, including my family, mentors, peers, and friends celebrate my hard work. Being a role model in even the smallest of ways is highly motivating for me.
What unique challenges have you faced as a woman leader in tech, and how have you navigated them?
A key challenge has been the lack of representation, often being one of a few or the only woman in the room. I’ve learned to navigate that by staying rooted in what I know my value is, backing it up with data, and focusing on building genuine connections. I work to create space for my own voice and others, uplifting women who come after me, and balancing confidence with collaboration.
What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership roles?
Work hard, but mostly work smart, and be incredibly curious. Always aim to understand “why.” Leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers, but about understanding people, navigating situations thoughtfully, and creating the conditions for everyone to succeed.
Use the resources around you and follow your gut – although that’s overly simple, I find that it typically leads to having a thoughtful perspective to offer, which will earn you more mindshare in the right rooms. In the modern world, that extra step is made easier too— when technology like AI makes learning more accessible than ever. I still ask for the “why” to be explained to me when I don’t already understand, and there’s no shame in that. It helps me tie everything back to the value I am providing.
What excites you most about the opportunities ahead in the data world, and how do you see women leaders shaping this space?
I am so excited about the actual activation of AI in the data world. I have had the pleasure of being close to that from a Spaulding Ridge lens, and it is fun for me, mostly because I am in a state of learning something new every day.
With this evolution, you need leaders who are empathetic towards their peers, adaptable to change, and driven by innovation themselves. That’s how I would describe so many of the women leaders I have worked with. There will continue to be a place for people with that skillset who can guide organizations through immense amounts of change.
What do you hope to accomplish next? What are your goals for the future?
Looking ahead, I want to continue building a more integrated and connected alliances organization at Spaulding Ridge. Data sits at the heart of everything we do—across Data, Finance & Operations, and Revenue Excellence. My goal is to embed that data-driven mindset across the firm, so our alliances strategy reflects the full strength of our business.
Personally, I’m focused on growing as a leader by being more intentional about mentorship and influence. I’ve always believed in leading by example, but as I take on larger teams, I see the value in more direct mentorship. I’m excited to help emerging leaders, especially women in tech, grow their confidence and find their voice.
I also want to continue expanding my role in the broader industry by building more partnerships and communities that shape how our ecosystem evolves. Ultimately, I want to keep growing my impact within Spaulding Ridge and across the wider data and technology landscape.
If you could pick any song to play when you walk into the office, what would it be?
Dreams by The Cranberries—bring good energy and big dreams wherever you go!
Thanks for your time today, Hanna. Congratulations!
Thank you!
