About Us

Susan Mills, Founder & CEO

Susan Mills is a business companion to entrepreneurs and community initiatives. For over four decades, Susan has successfully guided over 200 companies and individual clients through profound shifts in markets, technology, finances, and personal circumstances.

Most of this work focused on competitive performances whose financial returns were the hallmark of excellence. Today, Susan works toward building a more balanced, respectful, and appreciative world. She applies her energy and attention to helping clients build their 'new future' in the context of their communities and values.

Susan specializes in transforming concepts into products, founders into teams, and needs into shared opportunities. She articulates distinct market positions and designs practical management systems that embed values into operational decision-making. She is a creative business model designer and financial partnership builder.

Background

Susan is deeply experienced in navigating the chaos of disruptive market shifts to find success, particularly in the information technology sector. Her early career included Time Inc.'s Washington bureau, followed by 25 years in telecom and IT. She was recruited by Accel Partners and Seven Rosen to lead marketing for Aristacom, creators of the first commercial computer-telephony integration product.

She served as a board member of NATA (North American Telecommunications Association) and has particular expertise in new systems such as blockchain-managed services, gift economies, and peer-based saving and lending circles.

Education

MBA, Saint Mary's College of California

Specialties

Strategy & Planning

Strategic Planning Market Position Business Plans Scenario Planning Investment & Funding

Relationships & Community

Partnerships Community Development Teambuilding Facilitation Coaching

Operations & Innovation

Operations Brand Communications Crisis Management Circular Economy Gift Economy Social Impact

Our Impact

Telecommunications to Information Technology

Helped transform telecommunications into information technology as the break-up of AT&T's monopoly became the dot-com industry's competitive digital services.

Community Collaborations

Reinvented community collaborations, weaving university, municipal, and business strengths into regional festivals and year-long community development initiatives.

New Business Segments

Opened new business segments challenged with uncertainty and confusion, including women-led services, cannabis dispensary licensing, and Web3/community local currency.

Circular Economy Innovation

Introduced an industry-scale circular-economy model for environmental and social impact, weaving regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, mining of toxic sites with restorative practices to harvest Rare Earth Elements, and blending clean waste streams into new construction materials.

Gift Economy Practices

Explored gift economy practices, a cultural exchange that pairs with business and economic development to balance stress and opportunity.

About Metaphase Management

Metaphase Management helps businesses and communities navigate the journey from idea to meaningful impact. Our clients have changed the worlds they live in.

Founded in 2007 and based in Berkeley, California, we are a boutique strategic management consultancy serving motivated public institutions, global businesses, innovative community leaders, ambitious startup founders, and compassionate individuals.

We love coaching. We are expert communicators. We have fun.