What the Fall of Lehman Brothers Taught Me (and Why It’s Still Strikingly Relevant in 2025)

In 2008, Lehman Brothers collapsed. A historic financial crisis. A global shockwave. And for many, a brutal wake-up call: the strength of a company isn't just about its size or reputation.

📉 A bank over 150 years old, with 25,000 employees, vanished… in just a few days.

Not because of a lack of ambition. Nor because it wasn't growing. But due to excess complexity, opacity, and collective blindness.

Just a few days later, 75% of my team was laid off, and only six of us were left managing 100 publicly listed clients with serious liquidity issues 😬 It was full-on crisis mode, and the heat was on from every direction.

📌 So why is all of this still so relevant in 2025?

Because we're living in a time where fundamentals matter again:

• Funding is more selective.

• Investors care less about promises and more about proof.

• And the businesses that weather crises are the ones that are transparent, well-managed, lean—but effective.

We may not be in a global financial crisis today, but we are in a moment where only robust and clear models inspire trust and long-term resilience.

🎯 So what should we take away from all this?

Take a moment to ask yourself the right questions:

• What are your high-impact, cost-effective levers?

• What deserves to be reinforced… or simplified?

• Can you explain in five minutes how you create value—and how you manage it?

👉 That's exactly the goal of the mini challenge we created this week.

5 days to clarify your financial priorities, rank your growth levers, and build a more effective management strategy.

A short, actionable, jargon-free format to bring clarity, gain visibility, and make better decisions.

🧭 Key takeaway:

• In 2008, it was a crisis of trust that brought everything down.

• In 2025, rigor, transparency, and efficiency are your best allies for building a resilient company.

Want to talk about your project?

Lorraine Delannoy, Casteldoza Finance
📧 l.delannoy@casteldoza.com | 📞 +33 6 83 25 30 59

Together, let's turn your ambitions into reality!