The Slow Businesswoman: Empowering Women with Chronic Illness to Build A Business at Their Own Pace

In today’s fast-paced world, where success is often tied to hustle culture, long hours, relentless energy, and constant production, the idea of starting and growing a business can feel overwhelming, especially for women living with chronic illness, neurodivergence, and disability. For many, the pressures of work are too much, and the thought of entrepreneurship can seem like an impossible challenge.

Enter The Slow Businesswoman, a transformative, empowering initiative founded by Emmaline McAndrew, a woman who knows firsthand what it’s like to balance chronic illness and disability with the dream of building a successful business. Through The Slow Businesswoman, Emmaline is offering a fresh approach to female entrepreneurship that is grounded in sustainability, balance, and compassion. With the upcoming launch of The Slow Business Method course in January 2026, Emmaline is taking this empowering journey a step further by offering women a comprehensive program to build their business at their own pace plus scholarships to ensure accessibility for all.

For Emmaline, building a business was never about competing in the race against time. It was about creating a way to work that aligned with her health needs and allowed her to thrive on her own terms. Today, she is committed to helping other women do the same by providing the tools, resources, and support they need to build businesses at a pace that suits their health and complex lifestyle.

A Personal Mission: Transforming Entrepreneurship for Women with Chronic Illness

Emmaline’s entrepreneurial journey began, like many others, with frustration. As someone with chronic illness, she often found herself struggling to meet the demands of traditional entrepreneurial models that emphasized fast growth and constant productivity. She burned out trying to meet these expectations, only to realize that this path was unsustainable for her, and many others like her.

“I realized that the traditional approach to entrepreneurship wasn’t sustainable for me,” she recalls. “I couldn’t keep up with the expectations of nonstop productivity. I knew there had to be another way, something that would allow me to build a meaningful, fulfilling business without sacrificing my health or income.”

The Slow Businesswoman was born. It’s a platform designed to help women with limited energy build and grow a business or freelance gig at a sustainable pace, one that accommodates their health and recognizes their personal energy limitations. Emmaline’s award-nominated approach teaches women of all backgrounds, career paths, and incomes to set up and build their own business with more intentional progress.

“Women with chronic illness don’t need to keep up with the outdated model of what a business or self-employment should look like - they were designed for people who don’t have any health challenges,” Emmaline explains. “I built The Slow Businesswoman to help women create an income that aligns with their lives, not the other way around.”

The Slow Business Method: Building a Business on Your Terms

The cornerstone of The Slow Businesswoman is The Slow Business Method, an 8-week course launching in January 2026. This course is specifically designed for women living with chronic illness, disability, neurodivergence, or caregiving responsibilities and teaches them how to build their businesses slowly, intentionally, and sustainably. Unlike traditional courses that focus on fast growth or rapid scaling and impossible sales targets, The Slow Business Method prioritizes quality and sustainability over speed, allowing women to grow their businesses without sacrificing their health.

Throughout the course, women will learn how to:

• Build a business that works for their health: Emmaline offers step-by-step guidance on creating business models that fit within individual energy limitations, ensuring that health is always a priority.
  
  

• Develop long-term strategies for growth: Instead of focusing on quick wins, the course emphasizes sustainable growth that respects personal and health needs.
  
  

• Integrate self-care into entrepreneurship: Emmaline teaches how to balance business tasks with self-care, showing that success doesn't have to come at the expense of well-being.
  
  

• Utilize proven tools and systems: For those managing fatigue, Emmaline incorporates digital tools that automate processes and streamline business tasks, making entrepreneurship more manageable.

“I wanted to create a business-building experience that didn’t just focus on what you could do, because of course, it’s easy to just tell someone to work harder. I wanted to give women the tools to build a business that fits into their life,” Emmaline explains.

This unique approach helps women with chronic illness create businesses that allow them to thrive, without the fear of burnout or overwhelm. The waitlist for The Slow Business Method is now open and 1,000s of women have already expressed interest so you’ll be in good company should you join them.

Breaking Down Barriers: Scholarships and Accessibility

A key component of The Slow Businesswoman is its commitment to inclusivity. Emmaline understands that financial barriers can prevent many women, particularly those with chronic illness, from accessing the resources they need to succeed. To ensure that as many women as possible can benefit from her course, she offers scholarships and maintains an affordable pricing structure for the Slow Business Method.

“I’m passionate about making sure that women who need this method the most aren’t held back by money,” Emmaline says. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a business that fits their life, and financial barriers shouldn’t stand in the way.”

In addition to scholarships, The Slow Businesswoman ensures that the course is priced affordably so as many women as possible can benefit from this alternative approach to entrepreneurship. This commitment to accessibility ensures that all women, regardless of their financial situation, can pursue their entrepreneurial dreams at a pace that works for them.

A Community of Support: More Than Just Business

What sets The Slow Businesswoman apart from other entrepreneurship programs is its emphasis on the human side of entrepreneurship. Emmaline understands that building a business while managing chronic illness can feel isolating, which is why community support plays such a central role in her program.

By creating a safe space for women with chronic illnesses to connect, share experiences, and support one another, The Slow Businesswoman fosters a sense of belonging that is often missing from traditional business coaching. Through a dedicated online portal,, live Q&A sessions, and a private community, participants have the opportunity to share challenges, breakthroughs, and advice, creating a network of women who are all navigating similar journeys.

“Building a business is tough enough without feeling like you’re doing it alone,” Emmaline says. “At The Slow Businesswoman, we make sure that women know they’re supported every step of the way.”

This community-focused approach not only provides practical advice but also offers emotional support, helping women feel empowered and motivated as they work toward their business goals.

The Slow Businesswoman Movement: Changing the Face of Entrepreneurship

Emmaline’s vision extends beyond creating a business coaching program. The Slow Businesswoman is about shifting the definition of success in entrepreneurship, proving that success can look different from the traditional, fast-paced, hustle-driven model. As more women join The Slow Businesswoman, they are embracing a new way of working, one that values health, sustainability, and well-being over the pressure of rapid growth and burnout. This movement is not just transforming businesses, it’s redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur in the modern world.

“The hustle culture has become so ingrained in entrepreneurship, but it’s time to break that cycle,” Emmaline says. “The Slow Businesswoman is about creating something that’s built to last, both for the business and the entrepreneur.”

As more women join The Slow Businesswoman, they are embracing a new way of working, one that values health, sustainability, and well-being over the pressure of rapid growth and burnout. This movement is not just transforming businesses, it’s redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur in the modern world.

Take the First Step with The Slow Businesswoman

If you’re a woman living with chronic illness and have dreamed of building your own business, The Slow Businesswoman offers the support, tools, and resources you need to get started. It’s a space where you can grow at your own pace, receive the support you need, and create a business that aligns with your life.

Exciting news: As Emmaline McAndrew prepares to launch The Slow Business Method in 2026, she is already providing valuable resources through The Slow Businesswoman website. Women can access free guides on how to use AI for Women with Chronic Illness and a comprehensive guide with 25 income ideas for women with chronic illness, designed to help women start, learn, and grow their businesses without sacrificing their health.

For those ready to take the next step, The Slow Businesswoman offers a waitlist for The Slow Business Method, guiding women toward sustainable, mindful entrepreneurship.