Chronics — A Chronic Entrepreneur

Alecia is a driven consultant and public speaker based in Perth. Alecia has put together her love and skills for writing and teaching to support like-minded businesses reach their goals and make a positive impact in the world we live in. After years of experiencing symptoms but getting no answers or explanations, she was finally diagnosed with Bahcet’s Disease, an auto-immune disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout the body. Most recently, Alecia was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder characterised by widespread pain accompanied by fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. What some may have taken as a red-light in life, Alecia took as an opportunity to utilize her strengths and help others change the world for the better.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Michelle Irving

Michelle Irving is a gifted teacher, speaker, writer and mentor. Having been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition of the liver at age 35 and Migraine Associated Vertigo at 45, Michelle has learned to take in her experience with chronic illness throughout the years and use it to connect with herself in levels she never knew she could. Now, Michelle is determined to guide women around the world who are also experiencing illness and help them be able to reach new levels of inner-power, love, and acceptance for themselves.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Brenda Moore

Brenda Moore is the successful and thriving founder of Happen Consulting. Most of us have experienced a migraine or a few in our lives as a result of stress, sensory overload or hormonal changes. We take a day or two off to rest up and come back stronger. For Brenda however, these migraines became so frequent and so disabling that she was forced to resign from her job. She likely didn’t see it this way at the time, but this moment marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for her as the circumstances allowed her to begin her entrepreneurial journey and gave her the flexibility to mould her days in a way that’s sustainable for her and her health.

Neurological SystemByzantine Design11 November 2022migraines, chronic migraines, migraine

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Christine Innes

After being diagnosed with Adult Asthma in 2015 at the age of 38, Christine had the courage to stop and press the restart button on every aspect of her life. Despite going through an incredibly dark period in her life she found the strength to share her story in hopes that people out there would be able to resonate and find inspiration from it in the same way she found inspiration from others. Today, Christine is the thriving founder of The Corporate Escapist, has her very own magazine and is a proud author, speaker and coach.

Respiratory System, Mental HealthByzantine Design21 October 2022Asthma, Adult Asthma

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Daniel Tolson

Daniel Tolson is the successful Founder of The Tolson Institute. At the age of 11 Daniel was diagnosed with Linear Sequential Learning Disability and had severe allergies, Asthma and chronic migraines. Being so young he didn’t quite fully understand why in comparison to his peers he struggled so much. At the age of 16 Daniel was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr Virus and Chronic Fatigue. His resilience, work-ethic and goal-focused mindset have carried him through and allowed him to become a successful entrepreneur.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Ainslee Hooper

Ainslee Hooper is committed to making the lives of disabled people easier, by consulting with providers of services to make the experiences of consumers with disability free of stigma and ableism. After suffering a nervous breakdown due to bullying at work, Ainslee realised that she needed to start doing things her way - and starting her own business allowed her to achieve so much more for herself and her clients than she felt she was able to achieve at a traditional job. Ainslee is now a consultant anthropologist specialising in disability inclusion with her business Ainslee Hooper Consulting. Read on to learn more about Ainslee’s inspiring story.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Zoe Simmons

Zoe Simmons has been searching for a proper diagnosis for years. After an incredibly extensive period of uncertainty, she finally has some answers. But her diagnosis journey is not over - and she is still investigating other possible chronic conditions, which cause her consistent pain and fatigue. Despite this, Zoe is a successful journalist; SEO copywriter; editor and author. First published at only 16 years of age, Zoe has written for numerous well known publications including Daily Mail, news.com.au, Kidspot, Popsugar Australia, Herald Sun, and the Daily Telegraph, among others. She’s even writing a book on her town’s survival in the Black Summer Bushfires!

Reproductive System, Nervous SystemByzantine Design20 December 2021Fibromyalgia

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Jimmy Clare

Jimmy Clare is the founder of Crazy Fitness Guy - “Healthy Living Through Autistic Eyes.” Clare has been on over 94 podcasts and is a motivational speaker. Though diagnosed with autism at a young age, it was only as he became an adult and started his own business that he started to discover that being different is a good thing. Jimmy Clare’s resilience and process of overcoming adversity has helped to turn him into the speaker that he is today.

Byzantine Design13 December 2021autism

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Tyla Hodgson

Tyla Hodgson is a kick-ass entrepreneur who is de-stigmatising women’s pleasure and making it fun with her business, Oh My Vibes. Tyla describes the process of creating this business as “unlearning and relearning of what it means to be a woman.” It also helped her in her process of learning to manage her chronic illnesses. Read on to find out more about Tyla Hodgson and Oh My Vibes.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: JL Keez

JL Keez is a passionate advocate for those experiencing eating disorders, as someone who has experienced one herself. After a 9-year battle with anorexia that started when she was just 15, JL Keez went on to develop chronic fatigue, migraines, depersonalisation, OCD and suicidal depression. Keez describes her journey as one where she continually seesawed between despair and hope due to the frustration and pain that she experienced during her recovery process. Today, JL Keez has recovered from all but the depersonalisation and the odd migraine. For her, joining the entrepreneur world was inevitable. She has used her experiences with anorexia and other associated conditions to build a business as a Certified Reality Therapy Counsellor with her business JL Keez: Anorexia Unlocked, and is also an author and speaker.

Mental Health, Endocrine SystemDara Shashoua29 November 2021anorexia, chronic fatigue, depression

A Chronic Entrepreneur: April Dawn White

April Dawn White took what she thought would be a short medical leave of absence from her job as a pharmacist in January 2016, after experiencing symptoms that she thought she would be able to quickly resolve. Little did she know that she would be unable to return to work as her health declined rapidly and she was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disorder. Through this period of grief, she found solace in journaling and writing, which helped her process her thoughts and emotions. White was eager to “name it, claim it, and move on” from her past… But little did she know that she would eventually return to her old life again through authorship.

Now, April Dawn White is a writer at aprildawnwhite.com and other publications, and author of the new book, ‘Destination Hope: A Travel Companion When Life Falls Apart (Ambassador International, Sept. 2021)’ which ‘offers camaraderie and a beacon of hope for women who feel alone in loss, struggle, or change of circumstance.’ Read on to learn more about April Dawn White’s inspiring story.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Justine Martin

Justine Martin is a professional artist, art wellness teacher, author, and resilience consultant and speaker. Being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2011, her successful corporate life was turned upside down. She has since battled three primary cancers at once and since then has overcome a long list of medical conditions. Entrepreneurship came naturally to her as she broke free from her “survival mode” in order to achieve the big dreams and goals that she set for herself. It wasn’t until she was diagnosed with her chronic that the entrepreneurship path truly took on its full meaning in Justine’s life.

Cancer, Nervous System, Neurological System, Immune SystemDara Shashoua15 November 2021Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Sayali Apte

Sayali Apte probably wouldn't have become an entrepreneur if it wasn't for her chronic illness. When she was 23, newly married, and working as a business consultant with a bright future ahead of her, she was involved in an accident which ended up leaving her blind in both eyes. But Sayali was determined to find a way to see again and turn her seemingly dire situation on it's head. Now, she is the proud and passionate founder of Mind Body Hope - where she has a mission to empower 10,000 women with the skills and strategies they need to confidently reclaim control of their physical, mental and spiritual health through hypnotherapy and health coaching.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Daryl Elliott Green

Daryl Elliott Green narrowly escaped death whilst on duty as a police officer in 2000, when he was ambushed and shot in the face and shoulder. He had years of on-going maxillofacial reconstruction surgery, however remained in the police force throughout that time. Fifteen years later, he was awarded a 12-month speaking scholarship by PSA, which led him to start TWICE SHOT®, his full time professional speaking business, where he has taken a horrific situation and turned it on it’s head to inspire and help others.

Mental HealthDara Shashoua18 October 2021Injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Sophie

Sophie’s diagnosis took place whilst she was working in a demanding corporate role - where she had to manage the guilt of feeling like a slacker due to her need to take sick days off work, combined with the frustration of being in an unempathetic work environment and the confusion of not yet having a diagnosis. Through the process of being diagnosed, Sophie realised the problem was never her illness, but rather the environment she was in; an organisation that always expected “overtime and more.” After being diagnosed, Sophie quit her job and then switched to freelancing as a social media manager, which helped her build on her existing skills and eventually lead her to start her own business, Kitsune Creative Co, where she now has the ability to create a successful and rewarding career, but also put her needs first when required.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Ilana K

Ilana K is a kinesiologist who has gone on a long health journey since her early childhood. Since hitting “rock bottom” and having to completely upend her life to focus on recovery, Ilana’s career has taken a full 180 degree shift from being in the corporate finance industry as a financial analyst, to now practising kinesthesiology where she helps people reclaim their health, wellbeing, inner joy and sparkle for life.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Mary-Anne Bennett

Mary-Anne Bennett is a Clinical Nutritionist who was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue in 2011. On her way to work one morning, she heard an advert on the radio about an open day for a natural health university, which had a course in nutrition. She went along, and enrolled on the spot. This was August 2014, 3 months before she turned 50. Fast forward to today, Mary-Anne has her own business, Adelaide Nutrition and Wellbeing, where she practices as a Clinical Nutritionist, and helps women heal from chronic illness.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Melissa Pepers

Melissa Pepers describes herself as ‘a business designer and a futurist.’ She’s the founder of Bonbo – where she makes businesses that have never existed before. Melissa has a metabolic myopathy which is a metabolic muscle disorder which can result in muscle weakness, severe pain and exercise intolerance. She also has interstitial cystitis.

Urinary System, Muscular SystemDara Shashoua20 September 2021Metabolic Myopathy, Interstitial Cystitis

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Grace Quantock

Grace Quantock is a multi-talented woman who has built her life on her core values: compassion, ethical living and the wild world of possibility. She is the founder of Trailblazing Wellness Coaching and works as a wellness coach, motivational speaker (watch her TEDx talk here and below), writer and teacher. She also helps others create bespoke ethical gifts through her social enterprise, Healing Boxes.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Kere Baker

Kere Baker is one of those humans who has an infectious personality, optimistic soul and wholehearted approach to life. She has built a lifestyle and a life, alongside multiple chronic illnesses, of which you’ll find out more about, and some incredibly hard moments that are hard to put into words which is why we’ll leave it to Kere to share her story in the way that feels right below

Nervous System, Neurological System, Reproductive SystemDara Shashoua17 September 2021Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia

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