Entrepreneurship Born from Grief: Building a Business with Heart and Healing
- Jul 31, 2025
- 3 min read
By Hannah Darby
I never set out to become an entrepreneur. My journey didn’t begin with a business plan or big investment. It began with grief, illness, and a whisper from my soul that said: There is more for you than this.
After losing my father at 13, surviving bullying throughout my education, and living with multiple chronic health challenges, I knew pain intimately. But, what I didn’t yet know was that pain could also be a path to purpose. That the pieces of myself I thought were lost forever would someday become the foundations of the business I now run and love.
Today, I am the founder of Healing with Hannah, an award-winning grief therapy and coaching practice where I guide others through their darkest moments with compassion,
courage, and safety. My clients often feel stuck in unspoken grief, for lost loved ones, lost versions of themselves, or a life that no longer feels like their own. Through my signature Kintsugi Programme with H.E.A.L. method, I help them move forward, not by forgetting their pain, but by embracing it as part of their story.
But let me be honest: this road hasn’t been easy.
Business as a Path of Healing
Starting a business with a disability is not for the faint-hearted. I had to rebuild from the ground up, emotionally, physically, and professionally. I wore every hat: CEO, web designer, marketing manager, therapist.
But I did it all while honouring my body’s need to rest and finding ways to make my symptoms work with, not against, my mission.
Visibility was one of my biggest challenges. After years of bullying, I feared showing my face and speaking my truth. But slowly, through social media posts, live videos, and book collaborations, I began to own my story. I realised that my vulnerability wasn’t a weakness, it was my superpower.
I’ve now achieved lifelong dreams, becoming an international bestselling author, writing for international magazines, creating a brand that reflects my soul, and most importantly, impacting lives.
Why I Do This Work
Grief has shaped every part of my life. It’s a strange master, invisible yet ever-present. It’s not just about death; it’s about all the losses we carry silently. Yet, I believe grief always deserves a safe space to be honoured.
My clients don’t want quick fixes. They want to feel seen, heard, and safe. They want to reconnect with their joy, find meaning after loss, and reclaim the parts of themselves that feel broken. That’s exactly what I offer, not just through tools and techniques, but through lived empathy and heart-led guidance.
From Rock Bottom to Rising
I often say that chronic illness didn’t ruin my life, it redirected it. If not for ME/CFS, I might never have stopped long enough to listen to what I truly needed. That pause gave me space for Reiki, training as a HeartHealing™ practitioner, and ultimately stepping into the role I was always meant for: guide, healer, and voice for those navigating invisible pain.
My Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Start before you feel ready. Let your values not fear lead the way. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be real. Your story is your strength. Even your greatest pain can become your greatest gift if you choose to use it.
I’m proof that you can build a heart-led, impactful business, even when life doesn’t go to plan.If you’re reading this wondering whether you’re “enough” to begin, let me tell you now: you are.
Her Path to Entrepreneurship: A Journey of Courage, Vision and Success is available now on Amazon.
Connect With Hannah
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