Yesterday marked another impactful day of community building for us here at Goodie Nation, as we celebrated Women’s History Month with two powerful events aimed at addressing the mental health needs of innovators navigating today’s turbulent business landscape: “All Founders Need Therapy” and “All Community Builders Need Therapy” sessions. Amidst the current chaos across the United States, especially in the innovation economy, prioritizing mental well-being isn’t just a luxury—it’s a must.

All Founders Need Therapy: Women’s History Month Edition

This impactful gathering, designed to remind founders they’re not alone, offered women entrepreneurs a safe space to voice personal challenges and triumphs authentically. Throughout the session, powerful stories resonated deeply as participants discussed the realities of entrepreneurship with raw and powerful insights:

• Balancing personal relationships alongside ambitious professional goals.
• Being terminated from a full-time role for daring to pursue their startup vision.
• Challenges with investor perceptions, often labeled as “too nice,” reflecting biases women founders uniquely encounter.
• Executive-level hires that feel they are helping out the founder, almost as a charity case, instead of being there to execute the vision.

• The sacrifice of relationships with loved ones abroad that immigrant entrepreneurs face when pursuing their entrepreneurial journey in the U.S.
• The importance of maintaining authenticity as both a mother and a founder, especially when advocating for ethical values.
• The frustration of achieving prestigious milestones yet feeling unrecognized.
• The journey of a single Black mother entrepreneur, and the complexities of personal relationships amidst entrepreneurial setbacks.

A clear theme emerged—women entrepreneurs must continuously navigate cognitive dissonance, maintain authenticity, and establish boundaries to thrive amidst hostile environments.

All Community Builders Need Therapy: Women’s History Month Edition

Just a few hours later, we underscored the overlooked mental health needs of community builders—the unsung heroes and visionaries who tirelessly weave networks of innovation and collaboration.

This empowering discussion, structured around the “Heroine’s Journey” narrative, brought together women leaders in community-building roles who candidly shared their struggles with maintaining boundaries, practicing self-care, and managing emotional resilience:

• Ongoing struggles with boundary-setting to avoid burnout cycles.
• The emotional strain of balancing urgent responses to current events against long-term business goals.
• Practical strategies like time blocking, personal mission statements, and self-kindness.
• Balancing community support without neglecting personal well-being.

• The crucial distinction between recovery (post-exertion) and genuine rest, encouraging intentional “rituals of recovery.”
• Reminders to embrace small, joyful actions rather than overwhelming habits.
• The relentless pressure to compete with technology and constant connectivity.

The conversation deepened with strategies to manage the emotional states of communities:

• Personal challenges in regulating their own emotional well-being while managing others’ anxieties.
• The critical importance of transparent communication and collective problem-solving.
• The innovative concept of “emotional breastfeeding,” advocating empowering others towards self-sufficiency rather than dependency.

Why Mental Health Matters Right Now

Given today’s volatile business climate, it’s vital to prioritize mental wellness. At Goodie Nation, our programs are more than events—they’re lifelines for entrepreneurs and community builders. We understand that those who drive innovation also deserve support, recognition, and care.

Join us as we continue championing mental health, empowering change-makers, and building resilient communities ready to shape a brighter, healthier, and more sustainable future for us all.