RSM Announces 2022 Innovation Challenge Winners

CHICAGO – (August 24, 2022) – RSM US LLP (“RSM”) – the nation’s leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market – announced the winners of its 2022 Innovation Challenge, an annual competition that brings RSM professionals together to develop innovative solutions to address real-world business challenges.

“We are immensely proud of all of our 2022 Innovation Challenge participants,” said Jeff Johannesen, RSM US LLP chief strategy and innovation officer. “The Innovation Challenge continues to offer RSM people an opportunity to develop game-changing solutions that address pressing needs of our clients and our firm, offering real innovation for our clients, real career opportunities for our people and real impact for our communities."

The Innovation Challenge has grown each year in scope and scale. In 2022, more than 500 RSM participants from the U.S., Canada, El Salvador and India collectively submitted 146 team submissions. Supported by RSM coaches, teams submitted prototypes of their concepts using RSM’s Innovation Hub – an interactive platform for managing employee ideation activities. Final rankings were determined through firm-wide voting open to all RSM professionals. Ideas ranged from emerging technology to improving firm dynamics and culture.

The Innovation Challenge winners were announced as part of RSM’s Innovation Week activities held in Minneapolis, MN, and livestreamed throughout the firm.

The 2022 RSM Innovation Challenge champion is: “Check-In Before Checking-Out, A Forward-thinking Solution to the Great Resignation (RSM Compass)” – “RSM Compass” will improve employee retention by creating an internal career coaching team that will help employees more intentionally think through possible additional RSM opportunities rather than have them look for opportunities outside the firm. “RSM Compass” team members include: Ryan Hirsch; Ranee Robinson; Courtney Maldonado; and Sarah Mason.

“Congratulations to the RSM Compass team,” added Johannesen. “Their winning effort topped an amazing field of Innovation Challenge participants. The quality of submissions reached a new high and speaks to the robust culture of innovation that fuels our business. I continue to be inspired by the creativity and depth of ideas generated by our teams.”

The firm allocated $250,000 in prizes for this year’s challenge. The winning team members received individual awards and an additional $40,000 to donate to as many as four charities of their choosing. Their idea will also be entered into the RSM CEO Innovation Fund for additional investment consideration. Similarly, all Innovation Challenge submissions are also considered for potential additional experimentation and development.

To learn more about Innovation at RSM, visit rsmus.com.