We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Edward a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Edward thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

One of the most unexpected and defining challenges I’ve faced as the founder of Humble Beginning Stories came during the COVID years. At the time, I was balancing the platform while working full-time in government roles focused on user research, service design, and communications. Life felt stable and forward-moving. I had plans—not just professionally, but personally—to spend more time with my family and enjoy the stage of life we had all worked so hard to reach.

Then everything changed.

Within the same COVID period, I lost both of my parents—my father first and then my mother later that year. Travel restrictions meant I was not able to be there to say goodbye. Just as I was still learning to process that grief, I lost my only sister in 2023. The emotional weight of those losses was something I never expected, especially while trying to continue performing at work and maintaining the platform I had built.

There were moments when I questioned whether I had the strength to keep going. Running Humble Beginning Stories, which highlights entrepreneurs and changemakers from around the world, suddenly took on a deeper meaning. Many of the people I was interviewing had also overcome hardship, migration, loss, and uncertainty. Their stories reminded me that resilience is rarely linear—it’s something we practice daily.

Instead of stepping away, I reframed the challenge. I leaned into community, sought support through grief counseling, and focused on creating structure in my life again. I continued working full time while growing the platform, publishing stories, supporting entrepreneurs with visibility, and building a global network of over 500 changemakers. What began as a passion project evolved into something larger—recognition through the Canada’s Volunteer Awards (Business Leader category) and the expansion of initiatives like the Canadian Global Awards.

The unexpected problem wasn’t just loss—it was learning how to rebuild purpose after it. What I discovered is that resilience often shows up quietly: in showing up to work, continuing to create, supporting others, and choosing not to give up on the vision you once imagined for your life. Humble Beginning Stories became more than a storytelling platform—it became part of how I honored the values my family instilled in me: perseverance, community, and the belief that every story matters.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Edward Anassah, and I’m the founder of Humble Beginning Stories, a global storytelling platform dedicated to highlighting entrepreneurs, changemakers, and community leaders whose journeys often begin with humble roots but lead to meaningful impact.

My path into storytelling and community-building has been shaped by both my professional career and my personal journey. I was born in Ghana, later lived in the United States for about ten years (in Florida and Alabama), and eventually built my life and career in Canada. Along the way, I developed a deep appreciation for the power of stories—especially the kinds of stories that don’t always get mainstream attention but carry powerful lessons about resilience, creativity, and leadership.

Professionally, I work in user experience research, service design, and public sector innovation. I’ve had the privilege of working with several Canadian federal organizations including the Canada Revenue Agency, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Shared Services Canada, Elections Canada, and the Canada Border Services Agency. In those roles, my work has focused on understanding people’s experiences, improving services, and helping organizations design programs and systems that truly serve the public. That mindset—listening to people’s journeys and translating them into meaningful narratives—naturally flowed into the work I do through Humble Beginning Stories.

Through the platform, I feature entrepreneurs, small business owners, creatives, and community leaders from around the world. Our work includes publishing in-depth stories, highlighting innovative ideas, and creating visibility for individuals who are making a difference in their communities. Over time, the platform has connected with more than 500 changemakers globally and has expanded into initiatives such as the Canadian Global Awards, which celebrates impactful entrepreneurs and organizations.

In addition to storytelling, I often support entrepreneurs by helping them think through ideas, shape their narratives, and clarify their vision—whether that involves brainstorming, wireframing concepts, or simply helping them articulate their mission in a compelling way. Many founders are doing incredible work but struggle to communicate their story effectively. That’s where I step in.

What sets my work apart is authenticity and perspective. Because of my background working across different sectors—technology, public service, research, and community initiatives—I approach storytelling with both a strategic lens and a human one. I’m not just interested in highlighting success; I’m interested in the journey behind it: the struggles, pivots, and lessons that truly inspire others.

One of the things I’m most proud of is that Humble Beginning Stories began as a simple passion project while I was working full-time. I believed there were countless inspiring individuals whose stories deserved to be told. Over time, that belief grew into a global platform that has amplified voices from different industries, cultures, and countries. In 2023, I was honored to receive the Canada’s Volunteer Award (Business Leader category) through Employment and Social Development Canada, which was a meaningful recognition of the impact the platform has had on communities and entrepreneurs.

My journey has also been shaped by significant personal challenges. During the COVID years, I lost both of my parents, and more recently my only sister. Those experiences changed my perspective on life and purpose. They reminded me that time is precious and that the work we do—especially work that uplifts others—matters deeply.

At its core, my brand and work are about celebrating resilience, amplifying voices, and building bridges between people and ideas. I want readers, collaborators, and entrepreneurs to know that Humble Beginning Stories is not just about storytelling—it’s about community, inspiration, and reminding people that extraordinary impact often begins with very humble beginnings.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is the belief that if you work hard enough and do everything “right,” life will unfold according to your plans.

For a long time, I believed in a very structured path: work hard, be responsible, build your career, and eventually enjoy the rewards of that stability with the people you love. I was building my professional career, working full-time in public service roles focused on research, service design, and communications, while also growing my storytelling platform, Humble Beginning Stories, on the side. I had long-term plans—not just professionally, but personally. I imagined spending more time with my parents, traveling to see them more often, and enjoying life together once things settled down.

But life had a very different timeline.
The lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that the future is guaranteed simply because we are planning for it. Instead, I’ve learned something deeper: life is unpredictable, and the most meaningful things often come from how we respond to the unexpected. In many ways, that experience reshaped my perspective on work, purpose, and time. It pushed me to focus more intentionally on the things that matter—community, storytelling, supporting others, and building something meaningful through Humble Beginning Stories.

Continuing to work full-time while growing the platform during such a difficult period wasn’t easy, but it also became part of my healing. The stories I was sharing—about entrepreneurs, changemakers, and people overcoming adversity—reminded me that resilience is not about avoiding hardship. It’s about finding purpose even when life takes turns you never expected.

So the lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that everything will go according to plan. The lesson I learned instead is that purpose is often discovered in how we adapt, rebuild, and keep moving forward even when life changes everything.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There were moments when it felt overwhelming, and I questioned how to move forward while managing grief and continuing my responsibilities at work and with the platform I had created. But over time, I realized resilience often looks like something very simple: showing up. Showing up to work. Showing up to continue building something meaningful. Showing up for the community of entrepreneurs and changemakers whose stories I was sharing.

Instead of stepping away from Humble Beginning Stories, I leaned into its purpose even more. The platform connected me with people across the world who had also faced hardship, loss, and setbacks yet continued to create, build, and contribute. Their stories reminded me that resilience is not about avoiding hardship—it’s about finding strength through it.

While navigating that period, I continued working full-time and growing the platform, eventually connecting with more than 500 changemakers globally. In 2023, I was honored to receive Canada’s Volunteer Award (Business Leader category) for the work behind the platform.

Looking back, resilience in my journey has been about learning that even when life disrupts your plans, you can still create purpose. Sometimes the most meaningful things we build come from the moments when we choose not to give up, even when everything feels uncertain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hbsblog.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hbsblog
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hbswow/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardanassah/

Image Credits

1. #sbstudios.ca

2. Kris Von Kleist – (Stratford, Ontario)
www.krisvonkleist.ca
Instagram: @krisvonkleist