Entrepreneurship and Mental Health: A Journey of Resilience and Empowerment
In a world where mental health struggles are increasingly common, entrepreneurship has emerged as a lifeline for many individuals. In a five-part series on mental health and entrepreneurship, we delve into the personal stories of women who are managing diagnoses like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and PTSD while building their businesses. These women have found that entrepreneurship not only offers a career path but also a way to reclaim agency, align work with personal values, and prioritize mental health.
The demands of entrepreneurship can intensify mental health struggles, but for many, it also provides a sense of freedom and autonomy that is hard to find in conventional jobs. Research suggests that individuals with mental health challenges are uniquely drawn to entrepreneurship because it allows them to design work in ways that accommodate their needs. This flexibility and autonomy, coupled with the opportunity to align work with strengths and passions, can provide a sense of empowerment and well-being.
For Catalina Parker, co-founder of Relatable Nonprofit, entrepreneurship became a lifeline that saved her from depression and anxiety. Leaving her ‘dream job’ and starting her own business was both terrifying and liberating, ultimately setting her on a path to a more fulfilling and balanced life. Through therapy, medication, and prioritizing her needs, she now manages her anxiety and uses her journey to support others facing similar challenges.
Olivia Hipkins, Managing Partner at Odyssey Capital Ventures, found that entrepreneurship gave her the freedom to reclaim her sense of self amidst severe depression and social anxiety. Running her own business allowed her to prioritize her mental health day to day and take care of herself during difficult times.
Vanessa Farino, founder of Creative CEO, used entrepreneurship as a vehicle for healing and self-discovery. Struggling with depression and anxiety, she found that stepping into the entrepreneurial space allowed her to confront her limitations, redefine success on her terms, and build something deeply aligned with her values.
Grace Nguyen, founder and CEO of LOUPN, has struggled with anxiety since her youth and found that entrepreneurship allowed her to transform her relationship with anxiety. By exploring ways to give back to the world and brighten communities around her, she has found fulfillment and joy in her work.
Caroline Crawford, founder of Cultiveight Communications, turned to entrepreneurship to take back control of her career and mental health. Dealing with anxiety throughout her life, she found that starting her own business allowed her to decide for herself how far she wanted to go and whether it would make her happy in her day-to-day life.
Ariana Rodriguez, founder of corxly, built her business to address her own challenges with ADHD, anxiety, and PMDD, as well as those of others. By creating a project management platform designed to simplify task management for neurodivergent entrepreneurs, she found a way to accommodate her cognitive needs and support others facing similar challenges.
Entrepreneurship isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but for those who feel constrained by traditional employment, it offers a way to reclaim agency, align work with personal values, and make mental health a priority. In the next installments of this series, we will explore the unique mental health challenges facing entrepreneurs and share strategies and resources to ensure that their businesses—and their well-being—thrive.
