The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship: Why Mentorship Matters
Heather Dobbin mentors sustainable fashion entrepreneur Urvashi J Kumar at a HerRise session in Tokyo, supporting women founders through Startup Lady Japan and Shibuya Startup Support.
I’m proud to be a mentor for HerRise, a program supported by Shibuya Startup Support through my work with Startup Lady Japan.
The emotional journey of entrepreneurship is often the hardest part. Behind every pitch, product launch, and milestone is an unseen battle: self-doubt, decision fatigue, and the weight of carrying both vision and responsibility.
What many don’t realize is that entrepreneurship isn’t just a business journey—it’s a deeply personal one. It tests your resilience, your relationships, your ability to stay clear when everything feels uncertain, and your capacity to keep moving forward even when the path is winding.
This is a firsthand experience for me. Like all entrepreneurs, leaders, and founders, I've walked through the highs of hope and the lows of burnout, and I’ve learned that success is never just about strategy—it’s about presence, mindset, clarity, and support.
I've had access to some pretty fantastic mentors, formally and informally. Through those experiences, I've learned that working with a mentor helps:
To help you see blind spots before they cost you.
To guide you through tough choices with perspective and compassion, for yourself and others.
To keep you grounded, aligned, and thriving—both professionally and personally.
If you’re building something big, you don’t have to do it alone. Mentorship can be the difference between burning out and breaking through.
And a huge hat tip to my fellow mentors who generously gave their time, energy and expertise to an amazing, ambitious group of women last week. Guillaume Hansali, 🟡 Helen Iwata - Women's Success Coach, Apolline Daimaru (Coat), Dr. Joe Hüg, and of course Moeko Suzuki-- thank you for your service!
The baddie in this photo is Urvashi J Kumar-- she's doing some great work in sustainable fashion. If you like to look good and feel good about it while you're at it, check out her online shop.
If you’re a woman entrepreneur in Japan, check out HerRise. We offer mentorship, seminars, practical tips and community support.
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