Serving Women, One System at a Time: Entrepreneurship, Empowerment & Community

What's the biggest surprise about entrepreneurship?

According to Dr. Hannah Rawiszer, who holds a PhD in Education and runs Helping Hannah Professional Services, entrepreneurship is the hardest thing she's ever done—even harder than earning her doctorate. And yet, she wouldn't trade it for anything.

With a diverse background in education, nonprofit leadership, and operations, Hannah brings a wealth of experience to her business and her role at FemFoundry, where she serves as the Head Concierge and Operations Lead. Her mission? To make sure every member who walks through FemFoundry's virtual doors feels seen, supported, and set up for success.

In our latest Power Profile, Hannah shares how she supports female entrepreneurs with streamlined client operations, why she joined FemFoundry from its inception, and what tools keep her grounded and productive.

Why did you decide to get involved with FemFoundry?

Kim Miller and I have been close friends for over 30 years. When she started talking about launching FemFoundry, it was a no-brainer—I wanted to be part of something that would make a real difference for women in business. Entrepreneurship can be isolating. It is invaluable to have a space like this where women can connect, get support, and find resources tailored to their needs.

What do you do at FemFoundry?

As Head Concierge and Operations Lead, I oversee the systems, processes, and member experience. I help vet and onboard new members, build backend workflows, and ensure that everything aligns with FemFoundry's mission of excellence, community, and empowerment.

Tell us about Helping Hannah Professional Services.

Helping Hannah creates a seamless, high-touch client experience for women-owned businesses. I work with clients to streamline their client journey—from intake to offboarding—so they can maximize time freedom and profitability without burnout. My signature offer is the Client Journey Accelerator, which helps business owners build sustainable systems that help care for their clients and themselves.

What led you to start your entrepreneurial journey?

I started a virtual assistant side hustle while working full-time at a nonprofit. But with my PhD, operational experience, and passion for strategy, I quickly realized I had more to offer. After some trial and error (and a false start as a copywriter!), I found my zone of genius in systems, structure, and client experience.

What experience helped prepare you for business ownership?

Teaching taught me how to break down complex ideas and communicate clearly. My nonprofit roles taught me how to build efficient systems. And being naturally organized helped me document and refine every part of my process from day one. All of that shows up in how I serve clients now.

What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?

I love freedom, flexibility, and the ability to choose the people and projects that align with my values. I love working remotely and having control over how and who I serve. It's gratifying to create a real impact in people's lives through my work.

And the most challenging part?

The financial uncertainty and loneliness in the early days were challenging. I had no backup plan—just me, trying to make it work. There were mindset hurdles around scarcity and burnout, but finding community (like FemFoundry) and prioritizing self-care helped me push through.

What tools keep you on track?

The Pomodoro Assistant browser extension keeps me focused and reminds me to take breaks. Insight Timer is my go-to for meditation and breathwork. I also use HoneyBook as my CRM to manage client touchpoints, contracts, and communications. For link management, Toby is a lifesaver—it keeps all my URLs organized by client or project.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

I would've built a financial cushion before leaving my full-time job. Starting a business is hard enough—doing it without a safety net made it even harder. Otherwise, I believe every challenge and mistake helped shape the entrepreneur I am today.

What are you most proud of?

After I left my nonprofit role, they rehired me as an independent contractor because the gap after I left was so noticeable. That validation was huge for me—it meant my work mattered.

What advice would you give a new female entrepreneur?

Start documenting your processes early—even just in a Google Doc. Systems create sustainability. Also, take imperfect action. You don't need to have it all figured out to get started. Just move forward, learn, and refine as you go.

Any female entrepreneurs who inspire you?

Mel Robbins and Marie Forleo have both significantly impacted me. I love how they speak to mindset, fear, and perseverance. Marie's "Everything is Figureoutable" motto is something I keep close—it reminds me that I can figure out the next step even when I don't have all the answers.

Final thoughts?

Earning a PhD was hard. Building and sustaining a business from the ground up is even harder—and more rewarding. My advice: don't give up. Stay connected. And know that support is out there—like the one we're building at FemFoundry.