We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Rawiszer, Ph.D. recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah , appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The journey to creating Helping Hannah Professional Services began with years of experience in operations management and executive assistance. Before venturing out on my own, I worked as an Executive Assistant and Operations Manager at a nonprofit, where I developed a deep understanding of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps organizations running smoothly. Prior to that, I led a department at a local PBS station as the Director of Education and Community Engagement, managing a team and overseeing large projects. Throughout these roles, I saw firsthand how important systems and processes are to success, and I started to realize how many business owners were missing these key components in their operations.

When I started my business, I initially offered virtual assistant retainer packages to small business owners. I handled administrative tasks, project management and occasionally acted as a strategic partner. But over time, I noticed a recurring theme: many of these entrepreneurs were overwhelmed by inefficient client processes and lacked the systems to scale effectively. They wanted to grow, but their operations were holding them back.

That’s when I realized I could provide more than just administrative support. What I could offer was the expertise to help them build systems, especially around mapping out their client journey and creating SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). This wasn’t just about creating a few documents; this was about giving business owners the tools to delegate tasks effectively, train new hires and set their teams up for success. It was about helping them move from chaos to clarity, so they could spend more time on what they love.

As I refined my service offerings, I created The Client Journey Accelerator, my signature program. This service is unique because I don’t just give clients a roadmap and walk away. I work closely with them, side by side, for 2- 4 months, shaping their business processes and solutions so that their operations run smoothly. By focusing on processes, systems and workflows, I help business owners make their client experiences seamless and repeatable, freeing them up to focus on growing their business. The result isn’t just efficiency; it’s sustainable growth.

What excites me most about this work is knowing that I’m helping my clients set up their businesses in a way that lets them scale without burning out. I do the hard work, the process mapping; the SOP creation and the workflow design that many business owners shy away from, so they don’t have to. And what makes The Client Journey Accelerator stand out is that it’s not just a one-time service; it’s a partnership that empowers them to build a solid foundation for long-term success.

Hannah , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Dr. Hannah Rawiszer, the founder of Helping Hannah Professional Services, and I’m passionate about helping women solopreneurs simplify their operations and build systems that drive sustainable growth by defining and mapping processes and creating customized standard operating procedures (SOPs). My journey into this industry began with a strong foundation in education. I spent several years as a classroom teacher, working with students at both the secondary and university levels. As an educator, I learned how to communicate complex ideas in clear, actionable ways, an essential skill that I later carried into my work as an Executive Assistant and Operations Manager.

These experiences gave me a deep understanding of what makes businesses run smoothly behind the scenes; however, I noticed that many small business owners, especially those working solo, were struggling to organize their processes while scaling their business.

When I started Helping Hannah Professional Services, I offered virtual assistant retainer packages, providing support with administrative tasks, project management and operations. Over time, I realized that the real pain point wasn’t just about handling the day-to-day tasks; it was about building systems that allowed business owners to scale without getting overwhelmed. That’s when I shifted my focus to process mapping and creating SOPs.

Today, my signature service, The Client Journey Accelerator, helps small business owners map out their entire client journey, from initial contact to post-service follow-up, and create systems that ensure a seamless, repeatable client experience. I also work closely with my clients to develop SOPs that make it easier for them to delegate tasks, train new hires and optimize team performance.

The main problem I solve for my clients is helping them overcome the chaos of disorganized systems. Many clients come to me feeling overwhelmed by inefficient processes, leading to burnout and missed opportunities. By building structured, sustainable systems, I help them reclaim their time, reduce stress and focus on the parts of their business they truly love.
What sets me apart is the level of collaboration I bring to the table. I don’t just consult and walk away. I work alongside my clients, helping them implement the solutions we create together, ensuring that their operations run smoothly long after our work is done.

I’m most proud of the transformations I’ve seen in my clients. From feeling scattered and burnt out to confidently scaling their businesses with systems that work for them, it’s incredibly fulfilling to know that my work helps them grow in a sustainable, stress-free way.

At Helping Hannah Professional Services, the focus is always on building systems for long-term growth. If you’re ready to streamline your client processes and scale your business efficiently, I’m here to help you make that happen.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There was a time when I almost let Helping Hannah Professional Services go. After several years of offering virtual assistant services, I found myself completely burned out. I was doing everything on my own, from handling administrative tasks and project management to operations for multiple clients. The variety of work was exciting at first, but eventually, the constant demands of different customized scopes of work for each client became overwhelming. It was no longer sustainable. I had reached a breaking point where I realized I either needed to outsource help or completely change my business model.

Feeling disconnected from my original passion, I let my website go and began exploring full-time work elsewhere. I was at a crossroads, unsure of where to go next. But just as I was ready to walk away, a new client came my way, and it reignited something in me. The challenge they presented aligned perfectly with my skills and sparked a renewed sense of purpose. It reminded me why I started my business in the first place.

This was the turning point where The Client Journey Accelerator was born. I shifted my focus from providing general VA services to a more sustainable model, helping business owners map out their processes and create SOPs that streamlined their operations. This pivot gave me the flexibility I needed in my schedule. I was no longer on call for multiple clients with different customized scopes of work. Now, I offer one signature service to all my clients, creating consistency and allowing me to manage multiple clients each month without feeling overwhelmed.

This change wasn’t just about work, it was about creating a business that worked for me, rather than the other way around. The transformation in my business not only gave me more time and space but also allowed me to offer a service that was aligned with my true strengths. Now, I’m able to empower my clients to create sustainable systems while reclaiming my own time.

That pivot taught me an invaluable lesson in resilience: it’s about recognizing when something isn’t working, making the necessary changes and trusting that there’s a better path ahead. For me, Helping Hannah Professional Services isn’t just about business growth—it’s about building systems that make growth sustainable for everyone involved.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As an entrepreneur, especially early on in my journey, I had this mindset that being busy all the time was a sign of success. I thought that the more hours I worked and the more tasks I juggled, the better I was doing. I wasn’t just working hard, I was constantly working! And it felt like I had to hustle nonstop to build my business.

But that mentality led to burnout. I was wearing myself thin, managing every detail of my business on my own, trying to stay on top of everything from client communication to project management. I thought that if I wasn’t busy, I wasn’t doing enough. And that’s when I realized I had to unlearn that idea.

The truth is, being busy doesn’t always mean being productive. And being busy doesn’t equal success. It means you’re likely operating without a plan, wasting time on things that don’t move the needle. The breakthrough came when I realized that to grow my business sustainably, I needed to work smarter, not harder.

Once I let go of that mindset, everything changed. I realized that the secret to success wasn’t about hustling more, but about creating systems and processes that allow you to work efficiently, scale sustainably and focus on what truly matters. This shift in perspective has not only shaped how I run my business but also how I help my clients build businesses that don’t require constant busyness to thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://helpinghannahpro.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpinghannahpro/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-rawiszer-ph-d-30795876/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@helpinghannahpro

Image Credits

The first 2 headshots of me with a light blue shirt on were taken by me on my iPhone.

(1) The group photo on the couch, (2) the photo of me and another woman looking at each other in pink, (3) the photo of me in a pink colored top with my hand on my hip standing next to a woman in a beige top and (4) the headshot of me with long hair in a blue sleeveless top – these 4 photos taken by photographer Kyndal Jackson

(5) The photo of me standing in front of a water fountain with a woman in a yellow top – photo taken by photographer Bekah Beckman

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