When Entrepreneurship Finds You: A Chat With Accidental CEO Rachel Werner

Some entrepreneurs are born with a business plan in one hand and a lemonade stand sign in the other. Others stumble into entrepreneurship almost by accident—and Rachel Werner is living proof that this path can be just as powerful.

Rachel began her career in the corporate world, but today, she’s the founder and CEO of not one, but two successful ventures: RBW Strategy and MyFedTrainer. The former delivers end-to-end grant support services to public sector organizations, while the latter offers essential training in federal grant compliance. Through both, Rachel channels her passion for helping others secure the funding they need to drive meaningful change.

In this conversation, Rachel opens up about her unexpected journey to entrepreneurship, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and the biggest surprises she’s encountered as a founder and CEO.

What are some of the most meaningful impacts your business has had so far? 

Since the work of RBW Strategy and MyFedTrainer focuses on the public sector, we provide support to organizations doing great mission-driven work. We feel the impacts on a daily basis when we help train organizations in managing their funds so they can focus on helping their communities—and when they are awarded much-needed funds to sustain their efforts. I love the big and small wins, and find it deeply valuable when an organization new to grants receives its first award because of our support.

Did you always know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Actually, I stumbled into entrepreneurship! While working in the corporate sector, I found out I was pregnant with my son—and after I gave birth, I found it incredibly challenging to balance work and be a new mom, especially with a long commute each day (which often left me in tears). 

I decided to return to what I did before I worked in the corporate sector: grant writing. After tapping into that background, I eventually became a freelance grant writer. For many years, I thought of myself as a consultant rather than a CEO … until my business started to grow to seven figures! At that point, I had to oversee a much larger enterprise.

What’s one thing you wish you had known before starting your company? What are the biggest mistakes you’ve made?

I wish I had known that running a business and doing the work are two very different skill sets. I didn’t necessarily sign up to run a seven-figure business or to take over another business at the same time, but it evolved as the work developed. 

At the onset, I would tell myself, You will make mistakes and falter. You may come up short, but you will figure it out. Most of my success has come from making mistakes, losing contracts, expending funds on the wrong resources, and a host of other things. But I always gained something from each experience!

“I didn’t necessarily sign up to run a seven-figure business … but I always gained something from each experience.”

What’s been the most unexpected part of your entrepreneurial journey? 

I thought that I was just going to be an independent consultant. I never thought I would become a CEO of a larger business! The unexpected part is that I am actually a better leader than I had envisioned, and I have more impact in this role. Since I didn’t always have the best managers when I was working for others, I didn’t have many great role models. I had to adapt my leadership style and lean into uncomfortable situations (still do!), but I have become a better and stronger person because of this. In the process, I have learned so much about myself and others.

Has your definition of success evolved throughout your journey as a founder/leader? 

Absolutely. The traditional view of success—work hard, make money, get clients—used to guide my thinking. But after eleven years as an entrepreneur, I see it differently.

Success isn’t how much money you make, how many clients you have, etc. It’s living your life on your own terms! For me, it means having control of my schedule, having control of core components of my life, and the freedom to make decisions that are best for me personally and professionally.