April 2025, Quarterly Connect: Rose Archer, Su Embree, and Katie Thomson.
A huge thank you to all who joined us — and an extra special shoutout to our amazing panelists: Rose Archer, Su Embree, and Katie Thomson.
Takeaways & Resources:
Here are a few favorite takeaways from the conversation:
You don’t have to love numbers to master them. It’s about acknowledging what you don’t know and finding the right support.
Math doesn’t equal finance! Being good at one doesn’t automatically mean you're good at the other — knowing the right metrics to measure is critical.
Strong systems can make or break your business.
Cash flow is key: when you collect revenue vs. when you spend it matters. Even small tweaks (like collecting 50% upfront) can have a big impact.
Margins matter: Don't assume scale alone will solve margin issues. Start strong.
Understand your customer’s lifetime value — not just their first purchase.
Set your own boundaries around risk based on your life, not someone else’s playbook.
Don’t do something just because “everyone else is.” Your funding path, growth strategy, and pace should fit your vision and values.
On the entrepreneurial journey:
“It’s not about being courageous for one moment. It’s about being courageous for months and months. Entrepreneurs can sustain discomfort longer — and surrounding yourself with people who lift you up is everything.” — Rose Archer
“Nothing makes me more joyful as a mom than having my kids see me chasing my dreams. They see it all — and it’s the greatest thing.” — Katie Thomson
“[On sacrificing a paycheck in the early days] We’re getting paid in creative energy.” — Su Embree
Rose also spoke beautifully about the power of community — and how leaning into your values, and being bold about what you believe in, will ultimately strengthen both your business and your community. (If anyone happened to record Rose's comments on this topic, she'd love a copy!)
Online Tools:
Herschberg Institute: Weekly cash flow models, pro formas, growth hypotheses, and scenario planning
Y Combinator: Startup resources
ChatGPT: For everything from brainstorming to refining
Palo Alto Software - LivePlan: Business planning and financial modeling software
Books:
Playing Big — Tara Mohr
The Art of Gathering — Priya Parker
The Soul of Money — Lynne Twist
Unreasonable Hospitality — Will Guidara
Groups & Communities: