In my five-part series on mental health and entrepreneurship, I’m sharing the personal stories of women managing diagnoses like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and PTSD while building their businesses. Over the past few articles, I’ve explored why those of us with mental health diagnoses often turn to entrepreneurship, how the demands of the job can intensify mental health struggles, and the strategies used to maintain well-being and achieve success. Stay tuned for the final installment, when I’ll share the stories of women who have built mental-health related businesses based on their own journeys.
Mental health diagnoses often come with heavy burdens—ones that can sometimes feel insurmountable. For some, however, they also uncover unexpected gifts, like deeper empathy, sharper focus, a spirit of resilience, and a knack for curiosity.
Certainly, these gifts don’t diminish the difficulties of living with conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or ADHD. But they do highlight a dual truth: the same traits that can make mental health diagnoses daunting can also foster strengths that propel growth and innovation—especially for entrepreneurs forging their own paths.
As as a therapist and executive coach, I get to both live and witness this duality daily. Today, I’m sharing inspiring narratives from seven women founders, whose journeys remind us of the nuances of our mental health.
‘Anxiety Makes Me A Master Planner’
For Adebukola Ajao, her diagnosis of anxiety is both a challenge and tool. The founder of digital marketing agency B.D.Y. CONSULT LLC, she describes how her worry-driven tendencies have transformed into meticulous organization.
“The constant worry and fear of the unknown have pushed me to anticipate every possible scenario and prepare for it,” Ajao shares. “While this can sometimes be overwhelming, it has also helped me to be efficient, reliable, and always three steps ahead. Anxiety has given me a unique superpower: the ability to turn potential chaos into organized calm.”
Recognizing the gift in the overwhelm has helped Ajao find fulfillment in her journey. “The sense of accomplishment and the joy of building something successful are what truly motivate me as an entrepreneur,” she says. “I haven’t found this level of satisfaction elsewhere in my life.”
‘My ADHD Brain Led Me To Create A Unique Business Model’
Evan Sargent, who has ADHD, knows her entrepreneurial path comes with both hurdles and superpowers. “I have hyperfocus, which makes it extremely challenging for me to stop working when I’m in the flow,” she admits. “At the same time, I can get a lot done in a day and I have tools and practices built in that (usually) keep me on task.”
Sargent has built her branding agency, Leap_year, which operates in short collaborative sprints, to align with how she operates. “Looking back, I can see that I subconsciously created my entire business model in a way that supports my ADHD brain,” Sargent says. “Scheduled blocks hold me accountable to clients, and a repeatable process eliminates the need to constantly make micro decisions.”
‘I’ve Learned To Lead With Compassion’
Dora Rankin spent much of her career as a high-powered banking executive. When she was diagnosed with panic attack disorder at age 40, her therapist told her that it was “just part of being a woman leader inside a high-pressure, high-profile role.” But it wasn’t until a personal crisis—the loss of her mother and her job—that she stepped back to reflect on her mental health and take control of her life.
Now the founder of Dora L. Rankin Consulting, a growth advisory for women entrepreneurs, Rankin says her challenges have become an asset. “Sharing my hardships—from sobriety to living with panic attacks—allows me to meet women with compassion and a complete freedom from judgment.”
Rankin also credits her mental health journey with teaching her the importance of prioritizing self-care. “If the mother ship goes down, everything goes down,” she says. “I have to take care of myself first, just like the oxygen mask on a plane.”
‘I Understand Myself Better’
Stephanie Barchetti’s journey with anxiety and ADHD has given her a deeper understanding of herself and how she operates best—a crucial asset in her journey of founding AI health companion innermore.
“Being more aware of how my brain works, what makes me feel anxious, what setting and structure are optimal, and what practices feel supportive for me gives me a stronger sense of self that I can be grounded in,” she explains. “This creates a shield, in a sense, where you aren’t as impressionable or vulnerable to situations and opinions that distort your vision.”
For Barchetti, embracing the duality of her experiences has been key. “With anxiety, it creates opportunities to pause and check in. With ADHD, it creates opportunities to work in non-conventional and exciting ways,” she says. “I think the wisdom here is not to identify with mental health but to integrate with it.”
‘Anxiety Taught Me Resilience’
Ila Corcoran, founder of community investing platform Sengo, has navigated anxiety since she was a child and says her struggles over the years have taught her resilience, empathy, and the importance of self-compassion.
“In my work, I’ve become highly attuned to managing stress and creating sustainable routines to stay grounded,” she says. “Anxiety has also made me more thoughtful about my faith, my limits, and my priorities, which has led me to design a business culture that values balance and mental wellness.”
Entrepreneurship, Corcoran adds, has been a way to take control of her life and work. “My journey with anxiety has made this path even more meaningful … building a life and business on my terms so that I feel more in control of the outcomes.”
‘Anxiety Sharpened My Curiosity’
For Aishwarya Balaji, anxiety isn’t just a challenge—it’s also the source of some of her greatest strengths as CEO and co-founder of non-alcoholic beverage marketplace A Fresh Sip.
“I naturally possess an innate curiosity and get curious whenever I meet someone new or when I’m in a new situation,” she explains. “I believe that curiosity directly drove me into finding solutions for various problems and even identifying trends before they became mainstream. I bet part of my hypervigilance and extra keen awareness to subtle patterns was in part due to my anxiety.”
Her journey has also given her a deeper empathy for those walking non-traditional paths. “We know so little about people’s backgrounds, experiences, and what really lies behind the flashy optics,” Balaji says. “My own diagnosis allows me to approach others with more compassion, grace, and default to giving people the benefit of the doubt.”
‘Self-Awareness Is My Guiding Force’
Kelly Hubbell’s mental health journey navigating anxiety and depression has made her more self-aware of who she is and what truly matters to her. This clarity has reshaped how Hubbell approaches her work as founder and CEO of Sage Haus, a platform that helps busy parents reclaim their time.
“It’s given me the ability to focus on what brings joy and fulfillment while learning to let go of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations,” Hubbell explains. “This self-awareness has been a guiding force, helping me prioritize meaningful connections and sustainable growth.”
Hubbell’s personal growth has also deepened her empathy for her clients. “It’s shaped how I support others in finding balance and relief from their own mental loads,” she says. “I strive to help my clients create systems and communities that give them space to thrive.”
The stories of these women show that navigating entrepreneurship alongside a mental health diagnosis isn’t easy—far from it—but it’s often through the struggle that they uncover their greatest strengths. Stay tuned for my final installment of this series, where I share the stories of women who have not only leaned into those strengths, they’ve created entire businesses around their mental health journeys.