Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hannah Roze. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hannah, thank you so much for making time for us today. We can’t wait to dive into your story and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, but maybe we can start with something foundational to your success. How have you gone about developing your ability to communicate effectively?
As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved to write. When I was out to dinner with my family, I’d ask for a pen and paper as soon as we sat down and spend much of the meal writing stories on the backs of menus. I was a voracious reader, speeding through series after series, captivated by adventurous plots, dynamic characters, and the magic of how words could make people feel something.
That love of storytelling became the foundation for how I communicate. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked in many different capacities that invited me to lean into that same sense of curiosity: a tutor for grade-school kids, a writer at a marketing firm, an operations strategist at a FinTech startup, an MBA student, and now, a founder and CEO.
In my experience, the ability to communicate effectively has everything to do with empathy, curiosity, and the willingness to listen with an open mind.
When I first started my company, Plannerd, an online wedding planning platform for couples and wedding pros, I did far more listening than speaking. Listening to the couple whose 30-tab planning spreadsheet had them reconsidering the wedding altogether; to the wedding planner who felt like she was drowning in admin work while struggling to grow her business; and to the engineers who were bringing the product to life, one feature at a time.
When I think about communicating effectively, I always start by considering the audience and the context. If I’m speaking with a bride, does it make sense to dive into a technical explanation of our AI capabilities, or should I simply show her how easy and empowering it can be in her day-to-day planning journey? When we’re designing our website, is it better to describe each feature by its pure function and utility, or to paint a picture of the emotional benefits couples experience from a more organized and calming planning process?
Ultimately, my ability to communicate effectively has been shaped by a lifelong habit of curiosity and care – wanting to understand the person on the other side of the conversation. Whether it’s through words on a page, a user interview, or a team meeting, I’ve learned that communication isn’t just about being heard—it’s about making others feel understood.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m the founder of Plannerd, a modern wedding planning platform designed to make the planning process simpler, more intuitive, and way less stressful. The idea was born from my own experience as a bride, juggling endless spreadsheets and to-do lists, when it struck me how unnecessarily complicated the process had become. I knew there had to be a better way.
Plannerd brings everything together in one clean, easy-to-use hub with checklists, budgets, timelines, guest lists, vendor coordination, and more. Every touchpoint is thoughtfully designed to help couples feel calm and confident instead of overwhelmed. What makes it special isn’t just the tools themselves, but the feeling we aim to create – that sense of organization, peace of mind, and excitement every couple deserves while planning their day.
What excites me most is hearing from couples and planners who share how much Plannerd has changed their experience for the better. Like the bride who said she finally felt like she could enjoy planning again, or the planner who told us it brought her sanity back. Those stories are what keep me motivated every day; they’re proof that wedding planning doesn’t have to be a frustrating rite of passage. I’m honored to help transform such an important life milestone into a joyful expression of love, not just on the day itself, but throughout the planning journey as well.
Right now, we’re focused on continuing to grow our community of couples and wedding pros, and rolling out new features that make collaboration even easier. At its core, Plannerd is about empowering couples to plan their weddings with confidence and ease, and turning what can feel like a stressful process into something fun, collaborative, and truly memorable.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are curiosity, empathy, and adaptability.
Curiosity has been my constant driver. From writing stories as a kid to interviewing couples and planners for Plannerd, I’ve always been fascinated by people’s stories and how things work. Curiosity pushes me to ask better questions and look for creative solutions instead of defaulting to what’s always been done. My advice for anyone early in their journey is to follow your curiosity relentlessly. Talk to people outside your industry, explore ideas that seem unrelated, and let that learning cross-pollinate. That’s often where the best insights come from.
Empathy has shaped how I communicate, lead, and design products. Building something meaningful starts with truly understanding the people you’re creating for. When you really listen to your users, customers, or team, you uncover needs they may not even have the words to express yet. To develop empathy, I recommend spending as much time as possible in conversation and observation. That can be through interviews, user testing, or even informal chats. The more perspectives you take in, the stronger your intuition becomes.
And finally, adaptability has been essential, especially as a founder. Being able to pivot, stay grounded, and see change as a chance to learn rather than a setback has been key to moving forward. The best way to build that muscle is through practice and putting yourself in situations that stretch you, and get comfortable iterating as you go.
Each of these qualities – curiosity, empathy, and adaptability – feeds the others. Together, they’ve helped me navigate uncertainty, connect with people in meaningful ways, and build something that truly makes a difference.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
Our ideal users are couples and wedding pros who want to plan weddings in a way that feels intentional, joyful, and manageable. They care about creating a celebration that truly reflects who they are, not just checking boxes on a to-do list.
Couples might be newly engaged, feeling a mix of excitement and overwhelm, or already deep in planning and realizing how many moving parts there are. What they have in common is a desire for clarity and calm. They want to stay organized, make confident decisions, and actually enjoy the process along the way.
Plannerd is built for couples who appreciate simplicity and smart design. They are modern users who want tools that are intuitive, not intimidating or disjointed. Whether planning on their own or working with a wedding pro, our best-fit users value having everything in one place so they can stay on top of details without losing sight of the joy and meaning behind it all.
On the professional side, we serve wedding planners who want to streamline workflows and deliver an even better experience for their clients. The magic happens when both sides use Plannerd together, creating a more collaborative, transparent, and genuinely enjoyable planning process for everyone involved.
Ultimately, our ideal users see wedding planning not as a stressful project to survive, but as an experience to savor that is empowering, collaborative, and fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.plannerd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plannerdinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plannerdinc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahroze/
Image Credits
Sarah Peterson Photography
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