Some founders wait for the perfect conditions before launching. Marleen Somohardjo jumped in during the 2008 financial crisis. That choice defined her approach to business: prepare for the unknown, lead with purpose, and keep a steady hand when the waters turn rough.
To discover how you can build a business that is both resilient and purpose-driven, listen to episode 115 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Key Takeaways from Episode 115
Preparedness is not something you switch on when trouble arrives. It is a mindset and a set of habits you build into your business from day one. Marleen’s own journey, starting her consultancy during a financial crisis, is proof that this approach pays off.
Preparedness is a daily discipline, not a panic button.
Marleen’s career shows that embedding preparedness into daily operations makes you far more effective when real challenges hit. It is about anticipating risks and redesigning processes before you are forced to.
A stable balance sheet is the foundation for growth and risk-taking.
Having solid financials gives you the freedom to take calculated risks without jeopardising your business. For Marleen, stability is not about being overly cautious, but about creating the confidence to innovate.
Profit means more when it serves a long-term purpose.
Profitability without vision can be short-lived. Aligning profit with a clear purpose builds resilience and creates value beyond the bottom line.
Listen to Episode 115 of Women Disrupting Tech wherever you listen to podcasts to hear the full conversation.
How to Build a Resilient and Purpose-Driven Business with Marleen Somohardjo | Ep. 115 – Women Disrupting Tech
- Key Takeaways from Episode 115
- Magic Moments In The Episode
- Practical Tips for Entrepreneurs
- The Quote From the Episode
- Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech
- What I Learned From the Episode (Notes to Self)
- A Question for You 🤔
- Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
- Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
- About Marleen Somohardjo
- About M2 Advisory
Magic Moments In The Episode
Marleen shares how resilience works and why it matters, particularly for founders. These parts of our conversation capture the essence of how Marleen thinks and works. They stand out because they link vision to action in ways founders can apply right away.
The courage to launch during the 2008 financial crisis.
Starting a business at a time when others were retreating shows her willingness to take strategic risks and her confidence in her own capabilities. And, it shows that there’s no wrong moment to start one.
“Your passion needs to be monetised in such a way that you understand the value you bring to the market.”
This was a turning point in the discussion. You can’t separate passion from profit. Marleen sees passion as essential but insists that it must be tied to a viable business model to have a lasting impact.
Connecting delegation with diversity: different approaches can still deliver excellence.
Letting go of perfectionism is not just about efficiency. For Marleen, it also means embracing diverse ways of working, which can strengthen the business and improve preparedness.
Want more magic from the episode? Tune into episode 115 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, and follow us for more magical episodes.
Practical Tips for Entrepreneurs
One of the main reasons I loved having Marleen on is that she speaks not only to the traditional finance metrics like profit and loss. She also shows that running a business is about resilience and understanding the practice of risk management.
Marleen’s advice is grounded in both corporate expertise and entrepreneurial experience.
Corporate years can be the perfect training ground for entrepreneurship.
As Marian Spier also said in episode 110, a “normal” job can teach you leadership, systems, and delivery skills you later adapt for your own venture.
Use technology to free your time for the work that matters most.
Marleen embraces technology as a multiplier, freeing up her time by handling routine tasks so she can focus on high-value work. Her advice to founders: choose tech tools that multiply your impact.
Anchor every decision in financial stability and your “why.”
Clear financial goals paired with a strong sense of purpose create a steady course, even in turbulent markets.
What’s the practical tip from the episode that you feel others need to hear? Leave yours in the comments.
🎧 For the full conversation on how you marry profit with purpose, listen to Episode 115 on Apple Podcasts
Or click the image below to listen on YouTube.
The Quote From the Episode
“Your passion needs to be monitised in such a way that you understand the value you bring to the market”
Marleen Somohardjo, founder of M2 Advisory.
Amplify the Voices of Women Disrupting Tech
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What I Learned From the Episode (Notes to Self)
Some of Marleen’s points landed as reminders I need to keep in my own work. This is what landed on my to-do list.
Assess your risk tolerance before setting your strategy.
Know how much risk you are willing to take before making major business decisions. Understanding your appetite for risk (financial, operational, and strategic) helps you shape every decision that follows.
Preparedness should be proactive, built into daily practice.
Waiting until a crisis forces your hand means you are already behind. Building it in from the start creates flexibility and control.
Build freedom and enjoyment into your work now, not just at the end of your career.
Marleen reframes financial stability not as a distant goal for retirement, but as something that should enable quality of life now. For founders, it’s a reminder to design their businesses so they create moments of freedom and enjoyment along the journey, not just at the finish line.
Know someone who would benefit from these notes, too? Share the episode with them using the buttons below.
A Question for You 🤔
What helps you balance profit and purpose?
- Regular reflection
- Strong mission focus
- Smart money habits
- Saying no to wrong fit
Let me know in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.
Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech
Next week, we’ll travel to the land of confusion that AI is in. Marili ‘t Hooft-Bolle is our guide as we discover how to navigate growth in the age of AI. Let me share a little nugget of wisdom from the episode to get you warmed up.
So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech.
And, as always, Keep Being Awesome!
Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend
You’d think that there are no events in the summer. Well, I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.
The Listening Series
Date: 24 August 2025
Location: The Hague (in the dunes)
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Tickets: On Luma
Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul
Date: 11 September 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
Tickets: On Luma
About Marleen Somohardjo
Marleen Somohardjo is a seasoned finance and risk strategist with more than 15 years of experience. In 2008, her entrepreneurial journey began with her first company, Marleen Somohardjo Interim Management & Consultancy, during the global financial crisis. That experience shaped her belief that resilience and smart decision-making are the foundations of lasting business success.
In 2014, she founded M2 Advisory to help companies navigate financial uncertainty, prepare for change, and unlock sustainable growth.
You can connect with Marleen on LinkedIn.
About M2 Advisory
M2 Advisory is a management strategy consultancy that helps companies strengthen their financial position and future-proof their business. Founded by Marleen Somohardjo in 2014, the firm combines deep expertise in finance and risk management with pragmatic, actionable strategies. M2 Advisory works with clients to turn challenges into opportunities, ensuring they are prepared to thrive in any economic climate.
You can learn more about M2 Advisory on the website and by following M2 Advisory on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 