By Bridget Ah-Long

Here at EmpowHERto, we strive to teach young womxn how to reach their potential as leaders through educating them to hone their independence, mental strength, and confidence. A shining example of a womxn who has successfully transformed her personal story into a business that advocates for mental and emotional health is Holly Soulié. Holly, an emotional health coach and founder of her own business, has dedicated her practice to providing clients with practical tips, tools and personal experiences to understand and process their emotions in a meaningful and productive way.

Was there a pivotal moment that inspired you to start your own business?

I come from generations of entrepreneurs and grew up with my parents running several businesses. Two of my sisters also have their own businesses. So, I always knew that starting my own business was very possible!

In fact, I’ve run a few businesses since I was eight years old, including lawn mowing, knitting and cleaning homes. I knew being an entrepreneur was something I loved and wanted to do long-term, but I wasn’t exactly sure which direction to take things in. Education was also extremely important to me, so I got my Bachelor’s degree in marketing.

After graduating, I opted to work as an employee to gain knowledge and experience. However, the corporate world was never a great fit for me. I often wondered if there was something wrong with me because it felt like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I just didn’t thrive in the corporate scenario.

I also always wanted my work to be meaningful, so I tried several different industries that interested me, searching for a place to make the impact I longed for. Those included non-profits, public television, electric vehicles and more. In the back of my mind, I wanted to somehow work in emotional health but wasn’t sure if or how I could make a profitable business out of it. So, I stayed in the corporate game for about eight years.

It was a trip to New York City in 2019 that changed the game for me.

While attending a social media convention, I was exposed to successful influencers and entrepreneurs. Each of their messages were similar: they were advised against starting their companies and going after their passions, and told that they should play it safe and keep their 9-5 jobs. But they each started their own companies anyway. Seeing all of that success firsthand encouraged me to take the leap and go for it.

So, in the summer of 2019 I launched my business, Holly Soulié Emotional Health.

What has been the most challenging aspect of starting your own business?

Self-doubt is by far the biggest challenge I face. Since my business is based on sharing my personal experiences in hopes that it will help others, there are so many times that I’ve questioned and doubted myself. It’s taken a lot of vulnerability to declare to the world that my knowledge and experiences are valuable.

Handling the business itself has been challenging at times because I didn’t start on Day One knowing what I’d be doing three years later. So, I’ve had to try a lot of different things, let myself make mistakes and keep evolving and adapting. It’s scary but so rewarding.

Can you describe what a day in your life looks like?

My day-to-day schedule varies quite a bit, which is one of my favorite things about working for myself. Usually, I’ll start the day by updating my social networks—Instagram is the one I focus on the most—and responding to comments and messages. Then I’ll start tackling my to-do list. This can include recording new podcasts, updating my Etsy shop or working on new content for my next course. It’s very self-paced, so it’s important that I keep myself on track and disciplined.

What are three main things you hope your business provides to others?

Helpful information, empathy and community. I want people to learn how to manage their emotions while seeing that they’re not alone; they’re not the only ones struggling with how they feel. The fact that I couple the information with personal stories to back it up helps people see how they can apply it in their own lives.

What is one piece of advice you would give a young entrepreneur, knowing what you know now?

If starting your own business is something you really want, go for it! Everything is possible in today’s world. So, if you have something you’re passionate about and are willing to dedicate yourself to it long-term, there’s no reason not to.

Taking the path of entrepreneurship is super challenging and requires a lot of you, both mentally and emotionally. But at the end of the day, doing what you love is absolutely worth it because the skills you gain and the lessons you learn are invaluable.