Thought Leadership

Four decades of presence

REDW has served Tribal Nations and Tribal enterprises for more than 40 years. That relationship grew organically from the firm's roots in the American Southwest, from showing up consistently for Tribal government and enterprise clients, and from treating Tribal sovereignty with genuine respect.

Over time, that presence became a real competitive strength. REDW developed an understanding of the regulatory, operational, and workforce challenges specific to Indian Country that few other firms could match. And because the relationships were deep and long-standing, the firm was well-placed when the opportunity arose to expand what it could offer those clients. That opportunity was the acquisition of Soaring Bird Solutions, an HR consulting practice built from within Indian Country.

Soaring Bird Solutions: built from within the community

Soaring Bird Solutions was founded in 2015 by Karla Bylund, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation with more than 20 years of HR leadership experience in Tribal communities. Working exclusively with Tribal governments, Tribal enterprises, and Tribal nonprofits, Bylund built a nationally respected practice in HR strategy, leadership development, compensation design, and organizational consulting.

The firm's name reflects Bylund's Potawatomi name, Pneshi Bmashi, meaning 'Bird Who Soars', given to her during a traditional naming ceremony. It speaks to the nature of the practice: built by someone with deep personal ties to the communities she serves. She and her team spent a decade earning their reputation before the acquisition with REDW took place.

Why the fit worked

Bylund considered other options before choosing REDW. The deciding factor was their shared values and a track record that spoke for itself.

'REDW has built trusted relationships across Indian Country by approaching its work with humility, respect, and a deep understanding of the communities it serves,' Bylund said. 'After many conversations, it became clear that REDW shares our values, our commitment to clients, and our long-term vision for supporting organizations in Indian Country.'

The acquisition was structured to protect what made Soaring Bird valuable. Bylund joined REDW as a Principal leading the new Tribal HR Support service line. Her Nevada-based team stayed on, continuing to work remotely as they always had. Soaring Bird's clients retained the same relationships, and gained access to REDW's broader services - audit, tax, cybersecurity, compensation consulting, financial advisory, and wealth management.

The lesson for PrimeGlobal firms

The REDW story is specific to Indian Country, but the principle behind it applies to member firms in any market. Every firm has accumulated knowledge about the clients and communities it has served over the years. In many cases, that knowledge is more valuable and harder to replicate than the firm realizes.

This deep specialization in serving a distinct community - when it's grounded in genuine cultural understanding and relationship rather than market opportunity alone - is one of the most meaningful growth strategies available to an independent advisory firm.

The question worth asking is: where does your firm have that kind of depth? It might be a particular industry sector, a specific type of business owner, a geographic community, or a client group with distinct regulatory or cultural needs. Whatever it is, it represents a foundation for advisory services that is grounded in real relationships rather than a service line added to a brochure.