Entrepreneurial Spirit: Andersen Alumni Ross Freedman and Brad Schneider are True Serial Entrepreneurs

By Ross Freedman and Brad Schneider, Andersen Alumni, Co-founders of Origin

Ross Freedman and Brad Schneider’s entrepreneurial journey is deeply rooted in their formative years at Arthur Andersen. Brad and Ross met in their dorm room elevator on the first day of college at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and graduated together with business information systems degrees 4 years later. By happenstance, they both started their careers in Chicago within Andersen’s Business Consulting Advanced Technology Group. At Andersen, they gained invaluable experience in consulting and business management. Freedman initially focused on enterprise application development, while Schneider developed expertise in technology infrastructure solutions.

Brad and Ross left Andersen in 1999 to fuel their entrepreneurial passion. Together, they founded Wired Matrix, a Chicago-based systems integration consulting firm. Despite the challenges of the dot-com bubble, their resilience and innovative thinking led to the company’s merger with newly formed Andersen spin-off West Monroe in 2022. This experience underscored the importance of adaptability and continuous learning, lessons they learned at Andersen and Wired Matrix that would guide their future ventures.

In 2007, Freedman and Schneider identified a unique opportunity at the intersection of design and technology, leading to the creation of Rightpoint. Their vision was to deliver engaging digital experiences that transform how people, technology and brands interact. Over the course of 12 years, Ross and Brad expanded Rightpoint’s offerings and scaled operations to over 500 people across 12 offices the U.S. and India. The company’s success culminated in its acquisition by Genpact (NYSE: G) in 2019.

Their latest venture, Origin (www.origindigital.com), launched in January 2024, exemplifies their commitment to leveraging technology, and specifically data, to solve the world’s most complex business challenges. Origin specializes in analytics, AI, and cloud application modernization, aiming to transform how businesses utilize and monetize data. By enhancing operational efficiency and building AI models that predict future trends, Origin is known for driving the innovation agenda inside leading Fortune 1000 companies.

From their initial experience at Arthur Andersen to their current business venture, Origin, Ross and Brad applied the “Think Straight, Talk Straight” philosophy to all their entrepreneurial endeavors. This principle of honest communication and integrity guided them in building trust and maintaining strong client relationships. By consistently delivering value and upholding ethical standards, they were able to create successful businesses that thrived on their core value: transparency. This foundational lesson from Andersen was crucial in shaping their approach to business and ensuring long-term success.

Co-Founders Ross Freedman and Brad Schneider can be reached via email at
rfreedman@origindigital.com and bschneider@origindigital.com , respectively