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Life and Work with Hannah Gay Keao

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Gay Keao.

Hannah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey to business ownership began as a teacher. I joined Teach For America and taught middle school on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico after college. After four years in the classroom teaching in low-income communities – two in NM and two in the founding years of STRIVE Prep here in Denver – I was really interested in more strategic leadership in the community and economic development. That brought me to Chicago to get my MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. I learned a ton there and got really involved in both social impact and entrepreneurship, but never really saw myself starting my own business… I always thought I’d be the one supporting other social entrepreneurs. But three years into my business, I’m doing that… as the owner of a strategic consulting and coaching practice for social entrepreneurs and nonprofit/social enterprise leaders.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh my gosh, never, haha. There’s no coursework or guidebook on how to be a solopreneur or even start a small business on your own. There are a ton of helpful things out there (including some entrepreneurial basics I learned in business school), but it’s up to you as a founder to piece them all together. Even a business coach isn’t necessarily going to make sure you’re doing the mundane stuff, like paying quarterly taxes. From that mundane stuff to finding a sustainable business model to building a brand and marketing it, I’ve relied on a constant mix of trial and error, support from other solopreneurs, and paying for and investing in outside help. A business coach was invaluable, and I hope to invest in some courses later this year. You HAVE to invest in your business; not just with your time, but with your money. At first, I was like “I’m consulting, so my costs are just my time!” but no. It doesn’t work that way. From systems and tools to knowledge to help, almost every penny I’ve spent has been worth it. Some haven’t, but that’s how I learn.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I help social entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and nonprofits that aim to make people’s lives better to get more money and have more impact without a lot of time and fluff. I came up with the motto “social impact without the BS” early on because the pace of things and time that went into planning and deciding without actually taking action in this space was exhausting to me in past jobs and roles. Social change doesn’t have time for that; the needs are urgent and so our strategy should follow suit. I love being that calm but focused guide for my clients, many of whom are very small and just starting out (and others who are more established). I decided very deliberately in the past few months that I’d not grow and be just me – my clients hire me (and then hire me again) as much for my attitude and tough love personality as they do for my expertise.

I also recently launched my Impact Boss Lifestyle Coaching program, for any individual who wants more guidance and accountability in making an impact on this world and its people. I built it from a lot of the self-work I’ve been doing on myself, and while that’s not the core of my work right now, it’s something I also love doing.

At the very least, I encourage everyone to sign up for my Impact Boss Digest! It’s weekly newsletter-only content and meticulously curated resources for social entrepreneurs, nonprofit and social enterprise leaders, and purpose-driven individuals committed to social equity and justice. You can sign up at hannahgay.com/impactbossdigest.

Who have you been inspired by?
My mom, first and foremost. She doesn’t consider herself an entrepreneur but she is in every sense. She got really involved in independent literature and poetry and publishing in the 60s and 70s, kind of following the movement started by the Beatnik writers and poets. She launched and founded and published several independent literary magazines and overviews, co-authored a book on the history of a small press with one of her friends, and was the first female board president of an industry association. I remember traveling to meetings and conferences with her when I was little; she also published everything out of our house, first with a typewriter and mimeograph machine than with a very cool at the time Apple computer in 1995. She also worked several other jobs – a full-time job and teaching English at our local university – while running her stuff. Many other women have followed, but my mom is always my OG inspiration for leading with what she loved and just making it happen.

Pricing:

  • My business consulting often starts with a $2397 Impact Tuneup
  • My business & nonprofit coaching starts at $300 per session
  • My Impact Boss Lifestyle Coaching starts at $200 per session

Contact Info:

 

Image Credit:
Lea Peterson

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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