Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Strenger.
Hi Hannah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hello! I’ve been calling Minnesota home for over a decade after I crossed the border from Wisconsin to attend the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I live in Eden Prairie with my two rescue rabbits.
Arriving into coaching like-minded queer folks has definitely been a journey! I come from a background in animation and when I first started my entrepreneurial journey, I fell into what came naturally – coaching creatives. It took me a couple years to finally follow the pull to cater to my fellow LGBTQ+ business owners. Growing up in a small conservative town and being raised Catholic, I didn’t even consider the possibility that I could be queer until I was out of college and in my mid-twenties. Like the well-adjusted human I am, I was in therapy and suddenly found myself in a session with a therapist directly posing the question, “are you gay?”. Cue the awkward family conversations, identity crisis and undoing of internalized homophobia!
What made all the difference for me through all this was a healthy combination of therapy, friendship, and group support systems. It didn’t take me long to learn that having someone (or many someone’s) around to have your back and support you through this journey can make all the difference. Through my own experience I learned there is a severe need for folks to help others who, like me, want to be their authentic selves in their business and in life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not! Entrepreneurship is hard. Queer entrepreneurship is even harder. When I decided that it is important to me to be visible in my business and serve the LGBTQ+ community, it rocked some of my relationships. All of a sudden I was “too out” and was having my identity questioned by people I thought loved me the most. At first, it made me second guess everything and I had to learn how to detach from all that in order to stand proud in my truth. As a queer entrepreneur, you are basically coming out day after day. It’s taxing both mentally and emotionally. It really does affect how I show up on any given day depending on the bandwidth I have available.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Queer Guide who helps LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs bring their full selves to business and life. There is a gap between what is taught in the traditional online business space and what we experience as queer individuals. My quest is to bridge that gap so that more queer entrepreneurs can create the impact and income they desire. Doing this work means more than guiding my clients through the logistical steps of coming out, it means being there for all of the tough interactions, the undoing of old narratives, the confrontations and the challenges.
I am most proud of the fact that I am doing the work in real time right alongside my clients. Being just a couple steps ahead of them helps me to truly guide them on their journey and pull from my experiences to better serve them. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I believe that is the beauty of what I am building. It’s support. It’s community. It’s the guidance I wish I had when I started my own journey.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I owe so much to my support network! There are 4 people in particular who I have so much gratitude for. 1) My little brother, Zach Strenger, who has always been my biggest supporter and advocate. He got bit by the entrepreneur bug before I did and it is so inspiring to see him build not one, but three different companies! 2) Christine McAlister, my business mentor and the one who opened my eyes to all the possibilities life can offer. She truly changed the trajectory of my life. 3) My friend and biz bestie, Ashley Mondor. I met her through Christine and she is the most expansive person I have ever known. 4) Megs Pulvermacher who has helped me embrace my queerness and make it an integral part of my business.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@hannahstrenger.com
- Website: https://www.hannahstrenger.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahstrenger/
Image Credits
Angela Divine (The Divine Group)
