Chronics — A Chronic Entrepreneur

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: 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: 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: 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: Jay Crisp Crow

It’s no wonder Jay Crisp Crow works in words – when you land on her website, it’s a sassy, engaging and above all, real, story that takes you on a journey – a little like her life. Jay is a professional writer, copywriting teacher, speaker and self-identified #fullsickbusinesschick.

Immune System, Endocrine SystemMeirav Dulberg9 December 2020Chronic Fatigue

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Sharon Pegrum

Sharon Pegrum knows the power of validation – she lived for years with a condition called Pyrroles disorder which can manifest in social anxiety, depression, mood swings, poor stress control and many more symptoms.

Endocrine SystemMeirav Dulberg23 September 2020Pyrroles

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Khadine Aharon

Khadine Aharon has always been an entrepreneur and she’s always been passionate about supporting others in living and feeling their best. Early on she founded her own massage therapy practice, however at age 25, she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia, which meant she could not longer continue providing the services she loved. Instead, she went on to study further in her mission to support, heal and empower others and 21 years on, she’s the founder of Embrace Empowerment – where she provides service sin energetic healing (such as Emotional Freedom Techniques) and colour therapy.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Veronica Fil

Veronica Fil has a no bullshit approach to life, health, work, love and everything in between. When discussing chronic illness with Veronica, in her words, she’s been ‘collecting conditions since birth’ – among them the overarching Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder, as well as Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus and Narcolepsy.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Olivia Djouadi

Olivia Djouadi was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was just one year old. She was told she wouldn’t live past 30. She made decisions and lived her life, studying, marrying her husband and having children, but it wasn’t until she passed that milestone – the age of 30 – that she finally realised she was going to live and began to live her life in a different way because of it.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Jo Gifford

Jo Gifford is an expert in creative thinking and content creation. In her words, she helps ‘awesome peeps show the world their brilliance without #samesame syndrome and biz BS.’ After burning out and breaking down at age 29, Jo was forced to step back and tune into her body. Since then, she’s embraced her entrepreneurism and crafted a life that works for her and her chronics, not the other way around. With a passion for making things easier and finding joy in life, she’s the creator of the Brilliance Ignition Process and founder of the Brilliance Hub.

A Chronic Entrepreneur: Tina McDonald

Tina McDonald is the founder of Avalanche Coaching where she offers services in professional coaching and mentoring for businesses and individuals wanting to explore and reach their potential. When she was in a car accident that further aggravated her conditions, she realised something had to give. That’s when Tina made the decision to prioritise her family and her health, and left her job. What followed was her entrepreneurism which allowed Tina, in her words, to work alongside her conditions, not against them. Now, she makes time for her rewarding career in coaching, alongside making time for her family and listening to her body. Find out more and read Tina’s story below.

Stories.