Reflections from 2024 and looking ahead to 2025
Let’s face it—2024 wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. Many of my clients achieved incredible growth this year, but it didn’t come without its fair share of challenges. Growth demands consistent effort to transform obstacles into valuable gifts and opportunities.
As we take a moment to reflect on the hurdles and breakthroughs of 2024, one thing is clear: what brought us here won’t necessarily carry us forward into the next chapter.
As you look ahead to 2025, below are five key lessons, meaningful takeaways, and actionable insights to help you, your team and your business not just survive but truly thrive in the year to come.
1. It’s Lonely at the Top
At The Founders Retreat, I witnessed the undeniable power of community. Founders openly shared challenges, supported one another, and collaborated, which was incredibly inspiring. It was a strong reminder that community is essential—especially for those leading the charge.
Key Takeaway: As a CEO, Founder, or business leader, find your tribe to lean on. Whether it’s a mentor, coach, business group, or your leadership team—having that support system is vital.
Looking Ahead: If you’re entering 2025 feeling isolated at the top, it’s time to change that. Surround yourself with a community that helps you thrive, invest in the relationships that will propel you forward.
2. Funding is not the Destination
Securing funding is often celebrated as the pinnacle of success, but it’s not the endgame. Many founders have learned that funding is simply a tool to fuel their journey, not the destination itself.
Key Takeaway: Shift your mindset from chasing funding to building sustainable, long-term value. The best businesses don’t just survive funding rounds—they thrive because they prioritise creating impact and building resilience.
Looking Ahead: In 2025, focus on building a robust foundation, not just a strong pitch. Shift your attention to the strategies that will help you grow revenue and improve margins, build on a strong and sustainable healthy culture. These fundamentals will matter more than ever.
3. Lifting the Game with AI
AI can elevate businesses, but only when it’s implemented strategically. Founders who treated AI as a shiny new toy struggled to see measurable benefits. Those who embraced it thoughtfully—integrating it into core strategies and ensuring it enhances the human part of their business—achieved meaningful results.
Key Takeaway: Don’t adopt AI for the sake of it. Ensure it serves a clear purpose and enhances your value proposition.
Looking Ahead: How will you leverage AI in 2025? Start by aligning your AI strategy with your long-term goals, purpose and vision. Don’t just invest in tools—invest in the right ones that drive real change and bring tangible value to your customers, your employees and your stakeholders.
4. People Are Still the Priority
Amid the rise of technology, people remain the cornerstone of business success. Teams, culture, and leadership continue to define whether companies can scale sustainably.
Key Takeaway: Invest in your people. Leadership development, team alignment, and cultural clarity are irreplaceable drivers of growth.
Looking Ahead: Scaling in 2025 means creating strong teams and a culture that drives high-performance. Start the year by assessing how safe your team feels to speak their truth, align people around your vision and values, and invest in leadership development at all levels—including yourself.
5. Systems and Processes Are Key
Without the right systems and processes, growth can quickly spiral into chaos. Founders who invested in streamlining operations found themselves better equipped to handle scaling challenges.
Key Takeaway: Solidify your foundation. Establish scalable systems and processes that allow your business to grow without breaking under pressure.
Looking Ahead: As you look to scale in 2025, now is the time to ensure your operations are efficient and adaptable. Review your processes and refine them to support the next phase of growth.
Some Final Thoughts
In 2024, we’ve seen businesses push through challenges and capitalise on new opportunities. From those nearing the exit phase, experiencing both excitement and anxiety, to others reimagining their offers with AI integration, one thing is clear: the constantly evolving landscape is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. As we move into 2025, we’ll need to continue adapting and transforming to stay ahead.
We’re also still grappling with the after effects of COVID, including economic pressures and a cautious investor market. These challenges are pushing founders to get even more strategic about their next moves.
At The Founders Retreat, we tackled many of these challenges head-on with the help of coaches, mentors, and fellow founders. I had the pleasure of running two sessions: Sage Leadership and Scale with Flow. Amongst the mentors, coaches, and presenters, we were all inspired by Tim Fung’s honest and humble account of his scaling experience—from launching to IPO and beyond.
The three days and two nights flew by, and the feedback exceeded expectations, with comments like: "I never score 10s in surveys, so that’s a measure of just how much I enjoyed the retreat and how valuable I found the content, speakers, and delegates."
For my reflections and predictions following The Founders Retreat, watch the video below.
Looking Ahead to 2025
What if 2024 was the year you broke through your toughest challenges? How will that fuel your 2025?
If you're ready to start the new year with clarity and focus, I’d love to help you.
Book a FREE Discovery Call to learn more.
