We were lucky to catch up with Heather Hans recently and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

As a child, I especially loved to do puzzles, math, and read, but I also loved to act out my wishes and daydreams, wear costumes, do comedy skits, and draw. By my teens, I was figuring out the world through film, photography, psychology, and philosophy. I found my love of teaching as a university professor during my 20s, planning lectures, paying close attention to students, and using creativity to support their growth. Becoming a mother inspired me to make my teaching about self-love.

I wanted my son’s health & happiness above all and I knew I was his first teacher. I had been studying various forms of healing and doing art projects and performing arts classes on the side for years. At 33, I abandoned my secure career as a CPA and business professor to combine all my passions and start my own business. I got my second master’s degree and clinical social work training to be a psychotherapist while continuing to build my skills. My media business was created at the same time that I started my private practice, and I made over 500 videos, wrote two books, was featured in major publications, like Forbes, FastCompany, Popsugar, and YourTango, and did speaking events to help people through hardships in ways that were edgy and fun.

It was a very experimental time professionally and creatively. Several years later, I became a guest expert on TV and am now the weekly wellness expert on 9News Mornings Mental Health Mondays. I am currently getting my Ph.D., with a concentration in ethical & creative leadership, and I have a social justice interest in youth and women. My dissertation research centers on a novel approach to help people reach their highest potential. I conduct regular podcast interviews for Union Institute & University and am working on a creative leadership project. What made my ideas into something real was hard work, devotion, and that curiosity and creativity I had as a child. 

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have a private psychotherapy practice in Colorado and my clinical training was in attachment theory and patterns of human relationships. My certifications are in the clinical treatment of anxiety, intuitive coaching, and holistic healing. I am a TV expert, speaker, author, course creator, and former manager of the Boulder Valley School District’s substance abuse prevention program. My process involves analyzing and synthesizing interdisciplinary knowledge, writing about it, and then delivering it to help solve social and psychological problems. I am most proud of my son and my ability to persevere and contribute to positive social change.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to use creativity, attention to detail, and love of learning & teaching to nurture personal excellence and self-worth in young people. The goal driving my creative journey is to do what makes my heart happy. People are in their power when they do what they love. An artist is in their glory and most impactful when they are immersed in their craft for their own enjoyment, not when they abandon themselves to please everyone else. The enjoyment does most often, however, come from helping other people.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I put together the initial capital to start my business after getting an MBA and working hard at my first career as a CPA for 10 years and saving. I didn’t know it at the time, but being disciplined about saving is what allowed me to pursue my calling. Because a large part of my work is based on intellectual capital, I have also borrowed student loans for more education.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heatherhans.com/
• Instagram: @heatherhanstv
• Linkedin: @heatherhanstv
• Youtube: @heatherhans1

Image Credits

Silver Sparrow Photography @silversparrowphotography
Marla Rutherford @marla_rutherford