The Resilient Entrepreneur:
Transforming Trauma into Business Strength for Haitian Business Owners
April 2025 | written By: Dr. Erlange Elisme
April is nationally recognized as Stress Awareness Month, offering a timely opportunity to explore how stress, trauma, and unspoken emotional wounds impact not only individuals but also organizations.
For Haitian-owned businesses and enterprises serving the Haitian community, integrating trauma-informed leadership can be a powerful strategy for healing, innovation, and sustainable success—even for sole proprietors operating with limited resources.
"Our resilience is our greatest asset, but only when paired with self-awareness and community."
According to a 2023 study, immigrant entrepreneurs face 37% higher levels of stress while typically having access to 60% less capital than non-immigrant business owners.
As a trauma-informed care leadership specialist and proud member of the Haitian diaspora and the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, I understand that many of our businesses begin with just a dream and tremendous resilience. I've witnessed how unaddressed trauma can further complicate our entrepreneurial journey, showing up as:
What Is Trauma-Informed Leadership?
Trauma-informed leadership recognizes that past experiences, including migration, cultural adjustments, and historical traumas, can shape how we respond to business challenges. It integrates awareness of these influences into business practices, creating environments that support healing while building success.
What Trauma-Informed Leadership Looks Like for Sole Proprietors
For the majority of Haitian businesses that operate as sole proprietorships, trauma-informed practices don't require large budgets or staff. It begins with understanding that trauma is not always visible. Past hardships, migration experiences, and generational wounds can shape how we respond to business challenges, financial stress, or setbacks.
For Haitian-owned businesses and enterprises serving the Haitian community, integrating trauma-informed leadership can be a powerful strategy for healing, innovation, and sustainable success—even for sole proprietors operating with limited resources.
"Our resilience is our greatest asset, but only when paired with self-awareness and community."
According to a 2023 study, immigrant entrepreneurs face 37% higher levels of stress while typically having access to 60% less capital than non-immigrant business owners.
As a trauma-informed care leadership specialist and proud member of the Haitian diaspora and the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, I understand that many of our businesses begin with just a dream and tremendous resilience. I've witnessed how unaddressed trauma can further complicate our entrepreneurial journey, showing up as:
- Decision fatigue
- Isolation
- Difficulty delegating or seeking support
What Is Trauma-Informed Leadership?
Trauma-informed leadership recognizes that past experiences, including migration, cultural adjustments, and historical traumas, can shape how we respond to business challenges. It integrates awareness of these influences into business practices, creating environments that support healing while building success.
What Trauma-Informed Leadership Looks Like for Sole Proprietors
For the majority of Haitian businesses that operate as sole proprietorships, trauma-informed practices don't require large budgets or staff. It begins with understanding that trauma is not always visible. Past hardships, migration experiences, and generational wounds can shape how we respond to business challenges, financial stress, or setbacks.
My E.L.I.S.M.E. Resilience Model can be adapted for businesses of any size:
For Haitian entrepreneurs who started with just a dream, this approach honors our cultural values of "degaje" (making do with what you have) while adding crucial elements of sustainability and self-compassion.
The Business Case: Why This Matters to Your Profitability
Even for sole proprietors operating with limited resources, trauma-informed practices can translate to tangible business outcomes:
Success Story
Consider the case of Marie, who runs a small Haitian catering business in Boston. After participating in a trauma-informed business workshop through their local Haitian business network, she found the confidence to raise her prices appropriately, improved her relationships with vendors, and built a small network of fellow entrepreneurs for mutual support—all without spending money she didn't have.
Seven Essential Resilience Tools That Cost Nothing
1. Mental Health Practices
Time commitment: 5-10 minutes daily
Even five minutes of mindfulness or breathing exercises at the start of your business day can significantly reduce anxiety and enhance focus. The entrepreneurial journey comes with unpredictable challenges, making these practices essential rather than optional.
Try this: Use the following entrepreneur-focused meditation each morning before checking emails:
5-Minute Grounding Meditation for Entrepreneurs
A simple practice to start your business day with clarity and purpose
When to Use This Meditation
The Practice (5 Minutes)
1. Find Your Seat (30 seconds)
Sit comfortably in your chair, feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on your lap or desk. Gently close your eyes or keep them softly focused on a spot in front of you.
2. Connect with Your Breath (1 minute)
Take three deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.
3. Ground Your Body (1 minute)
Bring awareness to the physical sensations of being supported:
4. Set Your Entrepreneurial Intention (1 minute)
As you continue breathing naturally, silently ask yourself:
5. Remember Your Resources (1 minute)
Briefly call to mind:
- Empowerment: Recognizing your own voice and worth, setting sustainable boundaries with clients and yourself.
- Leadership: Creating transparent systems, even as a one-person operation, that support your wellbeing.
- Insight: Understanding how past experiences might influence your comfort with financial risk or seeking help.
- Safety: Designing your work environment and client interactions to minimize unnecessary stress triggers.
- Mindfulness: Incorporating small practices that keep you grounded when business pressures mount.
- Education: Continuing to learn both business skills and self-care practices that support your growth.
For Haitian entrepreneurs who started with just a dream, this approach honors our cultural values of "degaje" (making do with what you have) while adding crucial elements of sustainability and self-compassion.
The Business Case: Why This Matters to Your Profitability
Even for sole proprietors operating with limited resources, trauma-informed practices can translate to tangible business outcomes:
- Improved decision-making during financial stress
- Better boundary-setting with clients (including pricing your services appropriately)
- Increased capacity to seek support and partnerships
- Enhanced creativity and problem-solving under pressure
Success Story
Consider the case of Marie, who runs a small Haitian catering business in Boston. After participating in a trauma-informed business workshop through their local Haitian business network, she found the confidence to raise her prices appropriately, improved her relationships with vendors, and built a small network of fellow entrepreneurs for mutual support—all without spending money she didn't have.
Seven Essential Resilience Tools That Cost Nothing
1. Mental Health Practices
Time commitment: 5-10 minutes daily
Even five minutes of mindfulness or breathing exercises at the start of your business day can significantly reduce anxiety and enhance focus. The entrepreneurial journey comes with unpredictable challenges, making these practices essential rather than optional.
Try this: Use the following entrepreneur-focused meditation each morning before checking emails:
5-Minute Grounding Meditation for Entrepreneurs
A simple practice to start your business day with clarity and purpose
When to Use This Meditation
- Before making important business decisions
- When feeling overwhelmed by tasks or responsibilities
- At the start of your workday to set positive intentions
- During moments of financial stress or uncertainty
The Practice (5 Minutes)
1. Find Your Seat (30 seconds)
Sit comfortably in your chair, feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on your lap or desk. Gently close your eyes or keep them softly focused on a spot in front of you.
2. Connect with Your Breath (1 minute)
Take three deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.
- On the inhale: Feel your chest and belly expand
- On the exhale: Release any tension in your shoulders, jaw, and hands
3. Ground Your Body (1 minute)
Bring awareness to the physical sensations of being supported:
- Notice where your feet touch the floor
- Feel the chair supporting your body
- Sense the weight of your hands resting on your lap or desk
4. Set Your Entrepreneurial Intention (1 minute)
As you continue breathing naturally, silently ask yourself:
- "What one quality do I want to bring to my business today?"
- It might be patience, courage, creativity, or wisdom
5. Remember Your Resources (1 minute)
Briefly call to mind:
- A past business challenge you successfully navigated
- One strength you bring to your entrepreneurship
- A person or community that supports your journey
6. Return to Your Day (30 seconds)
Take one more deep breath. As you exhale, gently open your eyes. Carry this centered awareness into your next business task.
Remember: This practice is available to you anytime you need to reconnect with your entrepreneurial purpose and strength. Even a single mindful breath can shift your perspective in challenging moments.
2. Time Management Techniques
Time commitment: 15 minutes weekly planning
Try time-blocking by assigning specific hours for different activities. Break down larger projects into manageable tasks with realistic deadlines. This structure creates clarity and reduces the overwhelm that often triggers stress responses.
Try this: Dedicate 15 minutes every Sunday to plan your week using time blocks for different business activities.
3. Financial Planning Strategies
Time commitment: 30 minutes weekly
Creating a detailed budget and monitoring expenses closely can significantly enhance your stability. Build even a small emergency fund by setting aside just 1-2% of each transaction, creating a safety net that allows you to make decisions from a place of choice rather than desperation.
Try this: Create a simple spreadsheet tracking weekly income, expenses, and your growing emergency fund.
4. Networking and Community Building
Time commitment: 1-2 hours monthly
The isolation of solo entrepreneurship can intensify trauma responses. Attending Chamber events or participating in online forums connects you with others who understand your challenges. These connections can lead to collaborations that expand your business while providing crucial emotional support.
Try this: Join our free monthly virtual coffee hour for Haitian entrepreneurs through the Chamber website.
5. Continuous Learning
Time commitment: Flexible
Stay informed about industry trends through free resources like podcasts, YouTube tutorials, or library books. This proactive approach not only prepares you for upcoming challenges but opens doors to new opportunities that align with your strengths.
Try this: Listen to business podcasts during your commute or while preparing meals.
6. Adaptability and Problem-Solving
Time commitment: Ongoing mindset work
View change as an opportunity rather than a threat. When unexpected challenges arise, break them down into manageable parts using critical thinking. Maintaining flexible business strategies allows you to pivot quickly when necessary.
Try this: When facing a challenge, write down three possible solutions before deciding on your approach.
7. Stress Management Techniques
Time commitment: 2-3 minutes as needed
Identify your specific stress triggers and develop personalized coping strategies. The 4-7-8 breathing technique (inhale for four counts, hold for seven, exhale for eight) can calm your nervous system in moments of pressure, allowing you to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.
Try this: Practice the 4-7-8 breathing technique between client calls or whenever you feel tension rising.
Building Sustainable Success
For businesses born of dreams and resilience, these trauma-informed practices aren't luxuries—they're essential tools for sustainable success. By understanding how our past experiences shape our business behaviors, we can make more conscious choices that support both personal wellbeing and profitability.
As we observe Stress Awareness Month, I encourage fellow Chamber members to recognize that being resourceful also means tending to your most valuable resource: yourself. How might acknowledging your stress points lead to more sustainable business practices?
By embedding trauma-informed awareness into our entrepreneurship, we create businesses that can weather challenges and truly thrive.
Take one more deep breath. As you exhale, gently open your eyes. Carry this centered awareness into your next business task.
Remember: This practice is available to you anytime you need to reconnect with your entrepreneurial purpose and strength. Even a single mindful breath can shift your perspective in challenging moments.
2. Time Management Techniques
Time commitment: 15 minutes weekly planning
Try time-blocking by assigning specific hours for different activities. Break down larger projects into manageable tasks with realistic deadlines. This structure creates clarity and reduces the overwhelm that often triggers stress responses.
Try this: Dedicate 15 minutes every Sunday to plan your week using time blocks for different business activities.
3. Financial Planning Strategies
Time commitment: 30 minutes weekly
Creating a detailed budget and monitoring expenses closely can significantly enhance your stability. Build even a small emergency fund by setting aside just 1-2% of each transaction, creating a safety net that allows you to make decisions from a place of choice rather than desperation.
Try this: Create a simple spreadsheet tracking weekly income, expenses, and your growing emergency fund.
4. Networking and Community Building
Time commitment: 1-2 hours monthly
The isolation of solo entrepreneurship can intensify trauma responses. Attending Chamber events or participating in online forums connects you with others who understand your challenges. These connections can lead to collaborations that expand your business while providing crucial emotional support.
Try this: Join our free monthly virtual coffee hour for Haitian entrepreneurs through the Chamber website.
5. Continuous Learning
Time commitment: Flexible
Stay informed about industry trends through free resources like podcasts, YouTube tutorials, or library books. This proactive approach not only prepares you for upcoming challenges but opens doors to new opportunities that align with your strengths.
Try this: Listen to business podcasts during your commute or while preparing meals.
6. Adaptability and Problem-Solving
Time commitment: Ongoing mindset work
View change as an opportunity rather than a threat. When unexpected challenges arise, break them down into manageable parts using critical thinking. Maintaining flexible business strategies allows you to pivot quickly when necessary.
Try this: When facing a challenge, write down three possible solutions before deciding on your approach.
7. Stress Management Techniques
Time commitment: 2-3 minutes as needed
Identify your specific stress triggers and develop personalized coping strategies. The 4-7-8 breathing technique (inhale for four counts, hold for seven, exhale for eight) can calm your nervous system in moments of pressure, allowing you to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.
Try this: Practice the 4-7-8 breathing technique between client calls or whenever you feel tension rising.
Building Sustainable Success
For businesses born of dreams and resilience, these trauma-informed practices aren't luxuries—they're essential tools for sustainable success. By understanding how our past experiences shape our business behaviors, we can make more conscious choices that support both personal wellbeing and profitability.
As we observe Stress Awareness Month, I encourage fellow Chamber members to recognize that being resourceful also means tending to your most valuable resource: yourself. How might acknowledging your stress points lead to more sustainable business practices?
By embedding trauma-informed awareness into our entrepreneurship, we create businesses that can weather challenges and truly thrive.
Take the Next Step
[DOWNLOAD NOW] Our free "Solo-Entrepreneur Resilience Toolkit" designed specifically for businesses with limited resources at www.elismeconsultingservices.com
Dr. Erlange Elisme is a trauma-informed care leadership and practice specialist, CEO of Elisme Consulting Services, and an active member of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta. Understanding the resource constraints many Haitian businesses face, she offers scalable approaches to trauma-informed practices through accessible resources, peer support networks, and targeted coaching. Learn more at www.elismeconsultingservices.com.
[DOWNLOAD NOW] Our free "Solo-Entrepreneur Resilience Toolkit" designed specifically for businesses with limited resources at www.elismeconsultingservices.com
Dr. Erlange Elisme is a trauma-informed care leadership and practice specialist, CEO of Elisme Consulting Services, and an active member of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta. Understanding the resource constraints many Haitian businesses face, she offers scalable approaches to trauma-informed practices through accessible resources, peer support networks, and targeted coaching. Learn more at www.elismeconsultingservices.com.
Dr. Erlange Elisme, DSW
CEO / Owner & Author
Website: https://elismeconsultingservices.com
Phone number: 678-595-6446
Email: [email protected]
CEO / Owner & Author
Website: https://elismeconsultingservices.com
Phone number: 678-595-6446
Email: [email protected]