About You & Your Role
Meet Amanda McCombs, the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO) at Six Red Marbles, leading our Finance, HR, and IT teams.
My role is to connect strategy to execution—making sure we’re making smart decisions, investing in the right places, and staying healthy and sustainable as we grow (because cash is king, and I will say that with love). Unofficially, I’m the Chief Problem Solver: I like breaking down complexity to what really matters, then helping the business move forward with clarity and confidence.
What excites you most about working here?
I love that at SRM I get to touch so many parts of the business—from pricing and project health to systems, people, and long-term planning. What excites me is building process improvements that actually help teams do their best work—and then explaining the “why” so everyone can see how the pieces fit together for the common good. When things click for people and the work gets smoother, stronger, and more scalable… that’s my kind of momentum.
What is one major shift you’ve noticed in education, content, or instructional design recently?
The major shift is AI, no question. We’re all watching what it becomes, but the smartest move right now is to stay open-minded, keep learning new tools, and be ready to adapt as the landscape changes—especially by looking at learning through the eyes of younger generations. The organizations that do well won’t be the ones who “wait and see”—they’ll be the ones who stay curious and prepare for what’s next.
In your opinion, how is technology (AI, microlearning, immersive media, etc.) changing educational solutions?
Technology is pushing learning solutions to be more adaptive, faster to iterate, and more personalized—but it also raises expectations for relevance and quality. AI can accelerate creation and customization, microlearning meets learners in the real flow of work, and immersive/scenario-based experiences can build practical confidence through practice. The key is using technology as a tool in service of outcomes—not as a shiny object—because great learning still comes down to helping people do something better.
Can you share a project you’ve worked on at SRM that you feel made a significant impact?
A meaningful impact area for me has been partnering across the business—especially with Presales on pricing strategy, with PMO on improving project health reporting, and with leadership on strategic business planning. Those efforts strengthen decision-making, improve visibility, and support SRM’s short-, mid-, and long-term cash position—which is what keeps us resilient and able to invest in what matters most. I’m proudest when the work helps teams deliver confidently and keeps the business set up to thrive.
How does SRM’s approach stand out in the industry?
SRM stands out because we don’t just build deliverables—we solve for the whole system: the learner, the goals, the reality of implementation, and what success looks like in practice. There’s a strong culture of connecting dots across teams and making thoughtful choices early, which leads to better outcomes and fewer surprises later. It’s a rare blend of learning expertise, creative execution, and real-world practicality.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone interested in a role like yours?
My advice: be the kind of finance leader who gets energy from the details and the future. You should love Excel (LOL) and be willing to drill down until the numbers make sense—because that’s how you build credibility, uncover the real story, and solve the “accounting mysteries” that everyone else wants to avoid (I genuinely find those rabbit holes fulfilling). And at the same time, you need to stay forward-looking: accounting naturally looks back, but great CFO leadership lives mentally in next year—anticipating, planning, and guiding decisions before problems show up.
If you could create your dream educational solution, what might it be/look like?
My dream educational solution would create hands-on pathways into the workplace for people with non-traditional backgrounds. It would be practical and confidence-building—project-based training, real scenarios, mentorship, and opportunities to demonstrate skills in the way work actually happens. The goal would be simple: help people turn potential into proof, and open doors that feel closed to too many talented folks.
What’s a fun or unexpected fact about you that you would like to share?
I incorporate yoga and meditation into my daily life, and it absolutely influences how I lead at SRM. It helps me stay grounded and make better judgment calls—like when to lead with direction vs. influence, and when it’s best to coach in the moment versus save training for later. Sometimes the most strategic move is a deep breath… and then, naturally, a spreadsheet.