Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Schneider.

Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began in corporate America. I remember my first day at Salesforce, working in the finance department. I thought to myself ‘if I have to do this everyday for the rest of my life, I simply won’t make it.’ I had no idea how people could feel happy and fulfilled going into an office 5 days per week, 8-9 hours/ day. What a waste of time, I thought.

A couple years later, I had a full on anxiety disorder, had been to the hospital several times for panic attacks, and experienced daily migraines due to stress. And that was when I got fired from a job that I hated, and yet it was all I knew.

I took a month off to travel and do some soul searching, and it was actually my now husband who told me to start blogging my life. We were actually at a winery in Napa after a 3 week trip to Australia when he told me that I had a pretty interesting life and should start sharing more of it online.

The next day, I started a blog and created a new Instagram account.

That was 5 years ago, and now I make more money than I ever made in corporate America, I am my own boss, I determine my own schedule, and I feel grateful every day getting to do this.

Then I somehow stumbled into the most incredible online community- the body positivity space. I had never met another person who could say that they genuinely loved themselves. I mean, what a concept!! I was born with more confidence in my little finger than most people have in their lives, so I knew I wanted to embark on this journey and help other women feel confident in their bodies.

And somehow, talking about feeling confident, made me feel even more confident! (minus the troll comments I started to get, which took me down a notch, but that’s a story for another day).

I started getting messages from women telling me that my content actually helped them. That they felt more confident simply because I was showing up online. Revolutionary!!

Then, I discovered I could actually make money doing this. I never in my life expected that this could become my full time job!! For years, even when I was making money, I told people this was just a hobby, a side hustle, a passion project. I continued looking for full time jobs, and I continued shedding tears and absolutely hating every part of that life.

When I finally quit my last job, the freedom I felt was unmatched. It was finally time for me to go out in the world and do that I do best- try on cute outfits and inspire a person or two ;)

And now, no part of me would change this journey. The lessons and experiences I had when working in corporate America changed my view of the world and really helped me approach my business as just that- a business. Even though I hated pretty much every day in that world, I learned sooo many valuable lessons that I now implement in my business and my every day life.

Everyone has a journey that molds and shapes them. Mine just happened to be traumatic, but I wouldn’t change it for the world, because where I am in life now is so, so good.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Is the journey ever smooth? I’ve discovered that every endeavor in life comes with its own set of challenges, so you might as well pursue what you’re passionate about. Over the years, I’ve realized that the most crucial and challenging aspect of any business is the people involved. In my five years of experience, I’ve encountered some truly amazing individuals, but I’ve also faced interactions that made things more difficult. Life is about safeguarding your peace and surrounding yourself with those who uplift you, and I believe the same principle applies to business.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I absolutely love my job as a full-time content creator, or ‘influencer’ if you prefer. The moment I sat down at a corporate desk, I knew I had to find a way to work for myself, and now that I do, it’s truly the best decision I’ve ever made.

I entered this industry with no prior knowledge. Many people believe it’s crucial to fully understand an industry before diving in, but I thrive on learning as I go. Today is always a great day to start something new.

Relationships have always been important to me, and this field is definitely relationship-heavy. Initially, I found my niche in the online community, which was an incredible experience. I’ve made so many amazing friends on the internet—what a time to be alive! Once I had a strong community, I began building relationships with brands. Forming connections with people you may never meet in person can be challenging, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my brand partners.

I’m incredibly proud to have built a global community of kind and supportive people. Preaching body positivity is a passion of mine, and I love seeing the positive impact it has on others. Growing my community to over 115k followers across various platforms is a milestone that fills me with pride.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Protect your peace! Nothing is as important as that.

Contact Info:

• Website: hannahleelifestyle.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/hannahleelifestyle
• Facebook: facebook.com/hannahleelifestyle
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1JxeTf-hZb_XtpDWUVDIZg
• Other: tiktok.com/@hannahleelifestyle