About me

Riana Olivier
Business owner at The Alternative Board
I help business owners attain actionable advice from their peers in facilitated monthly board meetings (through The Alternative Board with Riana), private monthly coaching sessions, and strategic business tools to help them focus and prosper.
▶️MY STORY
Over the past 20+ years, I have founded and developed multiple businesses, both independently and in collaboration with partners and venture capitalists. I have worked in various industries, including the services industry, agriculture, manufacturing, and retail, to develop, improve, and grow businesses. My contributions to these projects included developing business structures, financial and marketing strategies, and operational processes. As a SAIPA registered accountant, I specialize in managing the financial aspects of a business.
For nine years, I was the founder and owner of an accounting and tax practice, where I assisted numerous small and medium enterprises. During that time, I was deeply involved with 17 businesses, providing services and coaching to help them save or improve their operations.
Unfortunately, I have encountered many entrepreneurs who sought my assistance in a last-ditch effort to save their struggling businesses. Through these experiences, I gained first-hand knowledge of the unique challenges that business owners face, which cannot be found in a textbook. The weight of responsibility for one's employees, doubts about decision-making abilities, and feelings of isolation can be overwhelming. Personally, I also struggled to find someone to provide guidance and hold me accountable for the targets I set for myself and my team. The constant pressures of meeting deadlines and managing personnel issues dominated my life.
The impact of my busy work life on my children became apparent to me when my little girl asked, "Mom, if you have time, can you please buy me an eraser for school?" It was a moment of realization for me.
I have since established a strict work-life balance and take pleasure in spending time with my family amidst nature. However, I am not fully satisfied without working alongside successful entrepreneurs and contributing to their success. To me, being a part of that process is incredibly fulfilling, whatever success may mean for them.