What happens when your corporate role suddenly ends? For Alan Raftery, it meant an unexpected door opened into entrepreneurship. After years in FinTech and Workday consulting, he and a colleague launched Nimbeely Extend Solutions — one of the first independent firms dedicated solely to Workday Extend.

Their journey holds lessons for anyone navigating career shifts or considering building something new. First, the right team matters. Alan stressed the importance of pairing sales and customer skills with technical expertise early on. One without the other leads to dead ends.

Second, partnerships are relationships. Before signing paperwork, the Nimbeely founders spent months testing whether they were a good fit. As Keith put it, “Becoming partners at some level is marriage.” Clear roles, compromise, and strong communication keep the business on track.

Third, focus beats frenzy. Nimbeely isn’t chasing massive revenue targets right away. Instead, they’re choosing deliberate, controlled growth while delivering value for their first customers. That mindset keeps them agile and credible in a crowded partner landscape.

Finally, AI is on everyone’s mind, but Alan’s advice is clear: don’t add AI just to please executives. Use it where it truly solves problems and saves time.

For leaders, consultants, and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Workday ecosystem, Alan’s story is both practical and inspiring. Want to hear more of the inside details? Tune into the full episode of Workday Gold with Alan Raftery.