Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee (she/they) Chen.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My story begins in Houston, but my life has always been a global shuffle. I was raised between Texas, Jamaica, and Canada, and as a first-generation American, I learned the value of hard work at an early age. My immigrant parents owned restaurants, and from a young age, I worked alongside them—hosting, serving, and helping in the kitchen. Those early experiences taught me responsibility, adaptability, and how to read people long before I had language for leadership.
I later attended Sam Houston State University, where I dual majored in International Business and Economics. After graduating, my career naturally took shape around building and managing businesses, training teams, and solving complex problems. I opened and managed multiple coffee shops for various corporations and gained a deep understanding of operations, systems, and leadership under pressure. But over time, it became clear that environments prioritizing profit over people weren’t aligned with my values.
That realization pushed me toward a major turning point: moving to Seoul, South Korea, to teach English as a second language. It was there that I met my wife, Codi. Together, we spent several years teaching and traveling, learning what it meant to live intentionally and in alignment with our values. When we decided to return to the United States, we made one promise to ourselves: our work had to impact the communities around us positively.
That promise led me into the mental health field, where I worked with youth in foster care and helped open residential treatment centers. The work was intense, meaningful, and deeply human. I found myself operating at the intersection of clinical care and communication, where clarity, empathy, and structure could genuinely change outcomes. As a queer person of color, this work also reinforced how essential representation, safety, and compassion are within care systems.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My life shifted dramatically in 2018 after a scheduled surgery resulted in me being placed on life support for five days due to medical neglect. While I was recovering, the company Codi and I both worked for shut down. Overnight, we lost our income and health insurance. It was destabilizing and terrifying—and also clarifying. We realized that traditional employment could be just as fragile as entrepreneurship, and if we were going to take risks, they would be in the service of our own vision.
Out of that experience, HeartWorks Writing was born. The company was built on three core pillars: compassion, compliance, and clarity. We initially focused on technical writing, helping clinicians navigate documentation requirements with confidence and care. Over the course of three years, we grew that side of the business and eventually sold it, creating space for a new and more creative chapter.
Today, HeartWorks Writing has evolved into a creative business specializing in copywriting, book coaching, and editing. We’ve also launched a digital copywriting bundle designed to support entrepreneurs—especially those building something meaningful without traditional access to resources. At the core of everything we do is my mission to help people tell their stories clearly and authentically. I lead idea development, editing, and project management, working closely in partnership with Codi, the primary writer. Our business is not only a professional collaboration, but a reflection of how we move through the world together.
My journey across industries—from restaurant management and teaching to nonprofit and mental health work—has made adaptability one of my greatest strengths. I’m now exploring a new chapter in e-commerce, but my purpose remains unchanged: to help people, support them, and uplift their stories. Every pivot I’ve made has reinforced the same truth—when we center humanity, clarity, and care, meaningful work follows.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Codi Chen is the creative heart and primary writer behind HeartWorks Writing, known for her ability to translate complex ideas into clear, emotionally resonant language. Her specialty lies in copywriting, storytelling, and long-form content that centers authenticity, accessibility, and impact—especially for purpose-driven entrepreneurs and creatives. Her work is grounded in deep listening and intention, allowing her to honor each client’s voice while shaping messaging that connects and converts. Alongside Codi’s expertise, HeartWorks Writing has been supported and strengthened by digital product mentor Annie Fuller @findyourmore, whose guidance has been instrumental in helping turn meaningful ideas into sustainable, scalable offerings. Equally essential is Shannon Hale @youaremagicmedia, affectionately known as the “connection queen,” whose generosity, relationship-building, and community-minded approach have opened doors, fostered collaborations, and reminded us that success is rarely built alone.
Pricing:
- $17.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heartworksw.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartworkswriting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HeartWorks-Writing/61580848297301/
Image Credits
Headshots with yellow background – by 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲
