Letting go of corporate control led me to discover that freedom creates clarity, not chaos. I found purpose in pet sitting and learned that growth comes from release.
What Women Learned About Themselves After Letting Go Of Control
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Influential Woman · Pet Care and Animal Services
Hannah Marie Reed
Business Owner/Operator, Reliable Red House & Pet Sitting
Woodstock, GA 30188
1Article published
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I attended an HR conference without expecting clients, but ended up gaining a new pet sitting client from it, which I'm grateful for.
Hannah Marie Reed · In Her Own Words
From How She Did It
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Her Story
About Hannah
Hannah Reed is an accomplished Overnight Pet Specialist and entrepreneur, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care for pets through her business, Reliable Red House & Pet Sitting, and as part of K-9 & Katnip Pet Services LLC. With certifications in Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid, she prioritizes safety and well-being while delivering personalized, attentive care. From daily visits to overnight stays, Hannah ensures pets feel secure, happy, and engaged, building lasting relationships with both animals and their families.
Before focusing on her passion for animal care, Hannah gained over seven years of experience as a Human Resources professional. Her corporate background, including her tenure at The Home Depot, provided her with expertise in onboarding, training, process improvement, and compensation. She led initiatives such as the Summer Internship Program, guiding over 100 interns and managers, and contributed to streamlining team communications and improving efficiency by 50%. This foundation in HR strengthened her skills in relationship-building, client communication, and operational organization, which she now applies to her work in pet care.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Hannah is an active volunteer and animal advocate, supporting organizations like Hidden Acres Animal Sanctuary and contributing to her local community through food bank and social services work. She is also a dog mom to Bella, a miniature dachshund, and enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading across diverse genres. Hannah’s approach combines compassion, professionalism, and attention to detail, making her a trusted partner for both pets and their owners while continuously seeking opportunities to make a positive impact in every aspect of her life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hannah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of the people, experiences, and passions that have shaped who I am today. My foundation was built through more than seven years in the corporate HR world, where I learned the importance of communication, professionalism, and integrity. Those years — along with earning my SHRM‑CP certification — gave me the discipline and confidence to build something of my own.
I also credit my growth to the incredible support of the pet‑loving community I serve. Reliable Red House & Pet Sitting has thrived since 2022 because of the trust, referrals, and kindness of clients who believe in the care I provide. My Canine & Feline CPR & First Aid certification strengthened my commitment to safety, but it’s the relationships with pets and their families that truly inspire me.
Volunteering with animal advocacy organizations has also shaped my purpose, reminding me why compassionate care matters and fueling my dedication to making a difference. And, of course, my sweet dog Bella has been one of my greatest teachers — showing me every day what unconditional love, patience, and loyalty look like.
My success is the result of all these influences working together: professional training, community support, a passion for animal welfare, and the joy of being a devoted dog mom.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to maintain resilience and never give up on myself. Throughout my professional journey — from navigating the demands of the corporate HR world to building my own pet‑sitting business — that mindset has carried me through every challenge and transition. Resilience has taught me to stay grounded, keep learning, and trust my ability to grow, even when the path isn’t straightforward. Believing in myself has been the key to moving forward with confidence and purpose.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to minimize self-doubt and silence negative self-talk. Embrace opportunities to take risks, challenge yourself, and consistently go above and beyond. By believing in your abilities and pushing beyond your comfort zone, you can achieve remarkable growth and success.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is navigating the unknown. Client demand can fluctuate, especially around holidays and school schedules, which requires a high degree of flexibility and adaptability. At the same time, these fluctuations present opportunities to innovate, refine my services, and find creative ways to meet clients’ evolving needs.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are open communication, trust, and compassion. I prioritize building strong, meaningful relationships and am committed to continuous growth and improvement in everything I do. These principles guide how I interact with others and approach every opportunity.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Hannah
A personal journey from corporate HR to full-time pet sitting entrepreneurship, exploring the challenges, lessons, and transformative power of following your passion despite uncertainty.
Trading Cubicles for Collars
From Corporate Cubicle to Pet Care Entrepreneur: How I Built a Life Aligned with My Heart
For more than seven years, I lived in the structured world of corporate Human Resources. I learned how to navigate policies, support leaders and associates, and manage the constant rhythm of deadlines and expectations. But even as I built a solid career, a different kind of fulfillment was quietly growing in the background.
For three of those years, I spent my evenings, weekends, and early mornings caring for pets — a side hustle that never felt like “work,” only joy. What started as a small passion project slowly became the part of my life that felt the most like me. Still, the idea of leaving a stable corporate job felt impossible. I had responsibilities, a reputation, and a predictable path ahead. But I also had a growing sense that I needed something different — something more aligned with my heart.
Taking the leap to leave corporate life and become a full-time entrepreneur with Reliable Red House & Pet Sitting was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t easy. And it certainly wasn’t guaranteed.
The Hardships Behind the Leap
The transition came with more than its share of challenges. There were moments of doubt — wondering whether I had made a mistake, whether clients would come, or whether I could truly build something sustainable on my own. There were long days, unpredictable schedules, and the pressure of being solely responsible for my income.
I had to learn how to market myself, manage finances, build trust with clients, and carry the emotional weight of running a business that depends entirely on reliability. There were times when exhaustion hit hard and I questioned whether passion was enough to carry me through the uncertainty.
But every challenge taught me something essential: resilience, patience, and the power of believing in my own capability even when the path wasn’t clear.
Lessons That Changed Everything
Stepping away from corporate life taught me lessons I never expected:
- Growth happens when comfort ends. Leaving stability forced me to stretch in ways I never would have inside a cubicle.
- Passion is a powerful compass. The joy I feel caring for pets and supporting their families has guided every decision — even the hard ones.
- Community matters. Reliable Red House & Pet Sitting didn’t grow because I did everything alone; it grew because people believed in me.
- Success isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like a wagging tail, a grateful client, or the quiet pride of knowing I built something from the ground up.
Looking Back with Gratitude
When I pause and look back at the past few years, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. I’m grateful for the courage it took to step away from a predictable path. I’m grateful for every client who trusted me with their pets, every friend who encouraged me, and every challenge that pushed me to grow.
Most of all, I’m grateful for the people and pets who have shaped this journey — the ones who welcomed me into their homes, supported my business, and reminded me why I chose this path in the first place.
Reliable Red House & Pet Sitting is more than a business. It’s a reflection of resilience, heart, and the belief that life can be rebuilt into something more meaningful than you ever imagined.
I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
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