Making Business Finance Less Intimidating
We started clarionthos because too many capable business owners were making decisions in the dark. Not because they weren't smart enough, but because finance education felt either too academic or too superficial to actually help.
Since early 2024, we've been translating the essentials of business finance into something practical. The kind of knowledge that helps you understand your numbers well enough to make better choices.
How We Got Here
The idea came from watching brilliant business owners struggle with basic finance concepts. They'd built impressive companies but felt lost when reading financial statements or planning cash flow.
We realized there was a gap between theoretical finance courses and what business owners actually needed day-to-day. So we started small—workshops in Mosman teaching cash flow fundamentals to local entrepreneurs.
The feedback was immediate. People wanted more depth but explained without jargon. They wanted to understand the 'why' behind financial decisions, not just follow formulas.
Our Journey So Far
Building something worthwhile takes time. Here's how we've grown from a local workshop series into a comprehensive finance education platform.
First Workshop Series
Launched our initial cash flow fundamentals workshop in Mosman. Twelve local business owners showed up, and their questions shaped everything that followed. We learned more from them than they probably learned from us.
Expanded Curriculum
Added modules on financial statement analysis and budgeting after consistent requests. We spent three months testing different teaching approaches to find what actually stuck with people who weren't finance professionals.
Online Platform Launch
Moved our content online to reach business owners across Australia. The transition was messier than expected, but it let us help people who couldn't make it to physical workshops. Response from regional businesses was particularly strong.
Advanced Topics Added
Introduced courses on financial forecasting and investment analysis. These came from businesses that had completed our foundational courses and wanted to go deeper into strategic finance decisions.
Next Phase Development
We're working on interactive scenario-based learning for mid-2026. The goal is helping people practice financial decision-making in realistic situations before applying concepts to their actual businesses.
The People Behind clarionthos
We're a small team with complementary backgrounds. Finance expertise combined with teaching experience and a shared frustration with how business finance is typically taught.
Siobhan Devereux
Spent fifteen years in corporate finance before realizing she preferred teaching it. Siobhan designs our curriculum with a focus on practical application over theoretical perfection. She's particularly good at breaking down complex concepts without oversimplifying them.
Anouk Vermeulen
Background in educational psychology and instructional design. Anouk makes sure our courses actually teach effectively rather than just presenting information. She tests everything with real business owners before we publish it.
What Guides Our Work
Practical Over Perfect
We teach finance concepts that you'll actually use. If something's theoretically interesting but rarely applicable to running a business, we skip it. Your time matters more than comprehensive coverage.
Context Matters
Generic finance advice often misses the mark because every business operates differently. We focus on helping you understand principles deeply enough to apply them to your specific situation.
Honest Limitations
Finance education can improve your decision-making, but it won't guarantee specific outcomes. We're upfront about what our courses can and cannot do for your business.