Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Natalie Jovanic, Founder of Bright Horizon Therapies, located in Calgary, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business focuses on three main areas that are close to my heart - breaking the cycle of violence, building bridges for diverse relationships, and social justice. I work with people who have experienced trauma and violence and support them in finding more joy and fulfillment in their lives. I enjoy working with my clients because they come from diverse backgrounds and have different intersectional identities. Many of my clients connect with me due to my unique identities, whether it is that I am an immigrant or that I am non-binary.
Additionally, I also work with relationships in crisis or relationships with diverse cultures. Crisis in relationships can have many different faces - whether it is immigration, mental health issues, or coming out. I support my clients to explore their relationships, deepen their connections, and navigate the crisis constructively.
My approach to counseling is quite innovative since it integrates anti-oppressive/ anti-racist practices. We live in a diverse world; however, we need to be mindful that oppression is part of today's society. These social power dynamics also play out in the lives of our clients as well as in the client-therapist relationship. It is important that they are acknowledged and navigated healthily; however, many coaches or counselors are not trained in these principles. Therefore, I offer workshops, mentoring, and consultancy services for professionals who want to integrate work around power and privilege into their services.
Tell us about yourself
I started my business after my healing journey from the violence I had experienced during my childhood. While I have valuable knowledge and tools due to my education and training, my healing journey taught me what recovery means and how powerful stigma can be to avoid seeking professional support. I wrote a memoir, A Brave, True Story, about my healing journey to stand up against stigma and give hope that recovery is possible (while it might look different for everyone). I am now doing this work for more than ten years. My biggest motivator is my clients: I feel honored to be able to listen to their stories and see their transformation.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is that I never gave up on my business. I had some rocky times with my business due to many different reasons. I moved from Spain to Canada, which was a profound cultural change. COVID was another challenge that I successfully mastered with my business. Sometimes, it felt easier to just give up on it, but I stuck with it and improved the quality of my services. I sense that my business is currently more powerful than it has ever been.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I guess it depends on what your business is and what your intersecting identities are. Having a business in the coaching or counseling field as a non-binary individual can be quite isolating. The hardest thing for me is the loneliness associated with it. I am grateful that I now have found some meaningful connections to exchange ideas and get feedback, but it took me a while to find them.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Stay in integrity: There are many pressures on us if we want to grow a business, and some of them may test our integrity. People can evaluate your success in many different ways. What really matters is the question of whether your business is aligned with your values and whether you are in integrity with yourself.
- Be flexible and experiment with ideas: Many paths lead to success. A path may work well for one business but doesn't turn out well for the other. Experiment with ideas and see how they work for you. When I first started my business, I never thought that I would ever write a book or launch a podcast. I accomplished both of them. Trust your intuition and create your path.
- Allow your business to grow with you: Being a business owner requires that we grow as a person. If things don't work out as we want to, it is easy to feel discouraged. However, it is useful to ask oneself: what can I learn from it? How can I grow and overcome this challenge?
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://nataliejovanic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrightHorizonTherapies
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliejovanic/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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