Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Chen.
Hi Renee, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Renee Chen (she/they), an entrepreneur, creative, and proud co-founder of HeartWorks Writing. These days, I live in Austin, Texas, but my story is stitched together from many places. I was born in Houston, raised between Texas, Jamaica, and Canada, and that global shuffle gave me a front-row seat to different ways of living, thinking, and connecting.
I graduated from Sam Houston State University with degrees in International Business and Economics. (Yes, I used to be all about the spreadsheets!) My early career was steeped in building and managing businesses: training teams, launching operations, and solving problems. But somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t lit up by the hustle for hustle’s sake. Systems that prioritized profit over people were not my thing.
So, I pivoted. I taught and traveled abroad, then came back to the U.S. and found myself drawn to the nonprofit world and, eventually, the mental health field. That’s where it really started to click. Supporting people who support others felt like coming home.
With over a decade in mental health spaces, working where clinical care meets communication, I began to see a need. Documentation was dragging down clinicians who just wanted to help people. And so, my wife, Codi, and I created HeartWorks Writing, a company rooted in compassion, compliance, and clarity. We offered specialized writing support to therapy offices and treatment centers, easing the paperwork burden so clinicians could get back to what they do best: healing.
HeartWorks Writing was more than a business; it was a labor of love, built with care, intention, and a deep respect for the mental health heroes we served. In 2021, we sold the assets of the company to a specialized mental health writing group we helped shape; bittersweet, yes, but we were (and are!) incredibly proud of what we created. Now, our business is focused on more creative ventures, such as book writing, copywriting, editing, and book coaching.
These days, I’ve also stepped into a new chapter. After leaving my role as a Programs Manager at a nonprofit I worked with, I’ve been diving into the world of e-commerce. I now source and resell products and am developing a line of digital products. It’s a space that keeps me on my toes, fast-moving, full of creativity, and potential. And it’s been fun blending my business brain with my love for innovation and experimentation!
From the corporate world to mental health advocacy, from building a writing business to building something entirely new online, my journey has always centered around one thing: people. Helping them. Supporting them. Uplifting their stories. Whether through words, systems, or service, that’s where my heart lives.
And no matter what comes next, I’m grateful to be walking this ever-evolving path, one bold, heart-led step at a time.
Alright, 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?
Smooth definitely isn’t the word I’d use! My journey has felt more like a winding road, with potholes, surprise detours, and plenty of learning curves along the way. I’ve pivoted across multiple industries: restaurant management, teaching English, business training, nonprofit work, and the mental health field. Each transition brought its own challenges. Shifting gears often meant starting from scratch, proving myself repeatedly, and adapting quickly to new systems and cultures. But over time, that flexibility became one of my greatest strengths.
In 2018, I experienced a life-altering health event that deeply shaped my perspective. What began as a simple surgery turned into five days of intubation and a long recovery. I woke up having to relearn how to walk, dress myself, and regain basic cognitive functioning. It was a traumatic and humbling season, but with the love and support of my wife, family, and friends, I pushed through with resilience and grace. That experience renewed my sense of purpose and became a turning point in how I approached both life and work.
One of the most difficult and recurring challenges I’ve faced professionally has been navigating toxic work cultures, especially environments where ego, politics, or profit were placed above people. As someone who strongly values diversity, equity, inclusion, and integrity, I’ve had to walk away from roles that didn’t align with who I am or how I believe people should be treated. Those decisions are never easy, especially when financial stability is at stake, but they’ve been necessary for my growth and well-being.
Leading and building teams over the years taught me how emotionally demanding true leadership can be. It’s not about masking struggle, it’s about showing up honestly, leading with empathy, and fostering a space where people feel safe and supported, even in chaos. That mindset carried over into entrepreneurship, where I co-founded HeartWorks Writing with my wife, Codi. We built it from the ground up, serving mental health professionals with specialized documentation support.
Eventually, I decided to resign from my role as a Program Manager for a business we were working with and fully pivot into entrepreneurship. I now work in the e-commerce space and am developing a line of digital products designed to educate and empower others. This shift has allowed me to integrate my love for problem-solving and creative thinking with the freedom and innovation of online business. The financial ups and downs are real, but every phase has taught me something invaluable.
So no, the path hasn’t been smooth. But it’s been honest, intentional, and absolutely worth it.
We’ve been impressed with HeartWorks Writing, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At the heart of everything we do is this simple belief: your words matter.
Our business is all about helping people get those words out there, whether it’s through copywriting, ghostwriting, book coaching, editing, or crafting digital products that bring ideas to life. At HeartWorks Writing, we specialize in capturing the voice behind the message. That means we don’t just write for you, we write with you, making sure every piece reflects your heart, your story, and your purpose.
These days, our offerings have expanded beyond mental health documentation. We now work with entrepreneurs, artists, nonprofits, and businesses to develop content that truly resonates. That might mean helping someone shape their first book, coaching through content strategy, or simply editing with care and precision. We also love supporting others in the online space, especially through social media coaching and guidance for creatives looking to grow authentically.
What sets us apart? Honestly, our intention. We care deeply about the people we work with. This isn’t just about polishing words; it’s about helping people feel seen, heard, and confident in how they show up in the world. We believe in collaboration over competition and in lifting others as we grow.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the integrity behind what we do. We’ve never taken a one-size-fits-all approach, and we never will. Every project is a partnership, every client is unique, and every story deserves to be told with care.
So if you’ve got something to say but don’t know how to say it, or just need help shaping it, consider us your creative co-pilots. We’re here to help you find your voice, refine your message, and bring your vision to life.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was a fearless little firecracker, equal parts curious, adventurous, and goofy. Total tomboy energy. I was the kid climbing trees, asking a million questions, and trying to figure out how things worked and why people did what they did. I’ve always had a big imagination and a deep desire to explore, not just the world, but people’s hearts and minds too.
I’m a first-generation American, born to immigrant parents who worked tirelessly to build a life here. Our family owned restaurants, and from a young age, like, before I could even reach the counter properly, I was working alongside them. Hosting, serving, helping in the kitchen… whatever needed to be done. My sister and I had to grow up fast. With our parents hustling to keep the business running, we learned early on how to take care of ourselves and each other.
That experience shaped and taught me the value of hard work, honesty, and showing up for people. It gave me a strong backbone, a serious work ethic, and a heart that cares deeply, sometimes too much. And while things weren’t always easy, those years instilled a sense of resilience and maturity that I still carry with me today.
Looking back, I can see that even as a kid, I was already building the foundation for the work I do now, connecting, problem-solving, lifting others up, and finding creative ways to make things happen. It’s funny how life plants those seeds early, even when you don’t know what they’re growing into yet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heartworksw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dagratitudegangsta/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renee.ney.5/
Image Credits
Headshot – Yellow Background – Photographer: Lucero Valle
