In the silence after the kids went to bed I enrolled in a finance course tailored for non-finance managers and here are my key takeaways.
Let’s set the scene: The house has fallen into silence with most toys in their place, but there’s still a half eaten string cheese lying on the coffee table while I have one hour left before my brainpower fades like Cinderella’s fairy tale.
I opted for something completely unexpected instead of watching Netflix or using TikTok. I signed up for a course that teaches finance to managers who don’t have a financial background.
I am the mom who handles both budgeting spreadsheets and sippy cup clean-up during the same evening. Here’s the thing: I don’t work in finance. I don’t even really like math.
My work as a manager led me to meetings where people tossed around terms like EBITDA and “P&L impact” and I would nod along without understanding them. (Spoiler: I didn’t.)
I enrolled in a course specifically designed for individuals like myself who lead teams and make decisions but need to grasp financial concepts without becoming professional accountants.
Why Now? Honestly? The only peaceful time I have is during bedtime. The online self-paced nature of the course allowed me to study after the kids went to sleep while still finding time to eat and relax.
It felt like a win-win: I gained new knowledge while maintaining the comfort of my fuzzy slippers.
As I age further I develop a stronger desire to achieve confidence across every aspect of my life beyond just my roles as a mom and partner to include my professional career.
What I Actually Learned
Here’s the explanation minus the technical mumbo jumbo.
Budgets are just stories with numbers. My previous belief was that budgets represented nothing more than strict mathematical formulas.
The budget of a company serves as a narrative that highlights its priorities. In the same way that we usually spend money on groceries before buying new shoes companies distribute funds according to their business objectives.
Cash flow is king (or queen)
Understanding your income and expenses along with their timing completely transforms financial management.
You experience the same assurance when buying Minnie ears knowing your Disney trip has guaranteed funding.
Profit isn’t the same as cash
This one blew my mind. A company may show positive profit figures yet struggle financially to cover its bills. The course described how income from freelance work arrives only after childcare and coffee costs have already been paid.
Understanding finance = better decisions
With my new ability to support proposals and budgets with real numbers I no longer fear ROI questions during meetings.
The Best Part? It Was Empowering
The course improved my professional abilities while also making me feel like I reached a higher stage of adulthood.
This adulting level means packing lunches while managing meltdowns followed by analyzing financial statements before midnight.
Some nights I just wanted to curl up with a pint of ice cream and watch Bluey. When I accessed this course I felt I was building my future because I want my kids to witness this feeling and follow in my footsteps.
Final Thoughts
Anyone who’s felt lost during financial meetings should enroll in this course. This course will help people who want others to take their budget and planning discussions seriously.
You can validate your ability to learn new skills through this course even when your brain feels overloaded from motherhood responsibilities.
After putting my kids to bed I took a Finance for Non-Finance Managers course which I would choose again in a heartbeat.
The next time I take this course I’ll remember to keep string cheese away from the coffee table.