HFC alumna and motivational speaker empowers women to be their best selves

Motivational speaker Linda Hannah had her doubts about higher education. Then she came to HFC, where she found the confidence and tools she needed to succeed.

“After getting married, having three children, and owning my own business, I realized I could handle college. It was not as hard as I had made it out to be,” recalled Hannah. “My mother has also profoundly shaped my approach to business professionalism and lifelong learning. In her 50s, she attended community college and earned an associate degree in business administration.”

Since 2006, Hannah has worked for ITC Holdings Corp. in Novi. She also owns Linda Hannah Speaks and is a member of Toastmasters International. In 2022, Hannah competed in the Toastmasters International Speech Contest for the Bloomfield Club in District 28 and placed third. Hannah has also contributed a chapter called “To Love and Love Again” to the 2021 anthology, A Widow’s Resilience: Wisdom Keys for Moving Forward in Life and Love After Death Do Us Part.

“The editor, LaTanya Orr, had been widowed. She compiled the 14 stories,” explained Hannah. “There aren’t many books about widowhood. You feel so alone, but you’re not alone. All the contributing writers are widows who went through similar things. We share topics and tools to cope with trigger points, such as the first birthday without your spouse, the 6-month anniversary after your spouse’s death. The purpose of this book is to empower women as they heal and to be a source of comfort and to encourage them.”

The adult-student experience

Born in Detroit, Hannah is the middle of three children. Hannah was married to the late Howard Sweeney, Jr. for more than 30 years. She has three children and two grandchildren. She lives in Farmington Hills with Keith Hannah, her husband of 10 years.

Hannah graduated from Finney High School in Detroit and earned a certificate in court reporting from the Detroit Institute of Commerce. She later attended HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) and earned her associate degree in general business, graduating with honors. At HFC, she was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She transferred to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in general studies and human resources, again graduating with honors.

“I was working full-time, taking classes full-time, and raising three teenagers,” said Hannah. “HFC was a great experience. I had good interactions with the teachers, who were very encouraging, especially since I was a non-traditional student in my 40s whose classmates were mostly 18-year-olds.”

When she was attending HFC and later UM-Dearborn, Hannah worked at AAA Michigan in Dearborn as the executive assistant to then-President and COO Douglas Bower. She worked at AAA Michigan from 1999-2006.

“I worked in Dearborn and went to school in Dearborn, which saved me time and money. That was a win-win for me,” said Hannah. “UM-Dearborn was right next door to HFC. The College had a partnership with UM-Dearborn that made transferring there not just convenient for me, but also for so many other students. I couldn’t have had it any better than that.”

First foray into entrepreneurship as a hatmaker

For 27 years, Hannah designed hats. She had her own business called Forever Sweeney Millinery (initially called Uniquely Yours Millinery).

“I’ve been a crafter all my life. I’ve been sewing since I was 12. I was a stay-at-home mom who homeschooled her kids and made money on the side by designing hats. My dining room was a classroom, complete with chalkboard; my living room was a studio, complete with mannequins, hat trees, and shelving. I had a separate sewing room where all the production took place,” she explained.

Hannah didn’t plan to make it into a business; it was just something that happened. Her hats have been featured in The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and The Michigan Chronicle.

“A buyer for the giftshop at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Detroit asked if she could sell my hats in the boutique. It started off little by little, then I made it into a business. My husband helped me with the hats, which were sold at local boutiques. I ended up joining the Michigan Women’s and Children’s Apparel Association, where I started wholesaling my hats.”

Entrepreneurship is in her bones. Her father was a successful TV repairman, and her uncle owned one of the first unisex barbershops in Detroit.

“It was a perfect fit: HFC teaching me business in addition to watching my dad run his business. HFC was the icing on the cake for me to help me learn the practical things I didn’t know how to grow and develop,” she explained. “The business classes I took taught me corporate norms, which are expectations and behaviors considered acceptable for employees. That enhanced my professionalism and business mindset. Being around other students and professors sharing stories equipped me to go on the path to get a degree, learn what I could about management and psychology, and what it takes to get ahead. My professors at HFC and UM-Dearborn encouraged me to develop and grow long after I graduated.”

From millinery to motivational metaphors

Hannah gradually transformed her hat business into her speaking business. From 2017-22, she spoke about the history of hats at the Detroit Historical Museum and libraries across Metro Detroit.

“I used to showcase my vintage collection of hats while telling stories about their place in history. It was so much fun. Afterward, one or two people would share their own hat-related stories,” she said

What was originally called Hat Moments became Linda Hannah Speaks, which came about through different life experiences.

“I had all these clients who’d tell me personal stories. I’d share things with them. I was a good listener, and I’d encourage them with all the different things they were going through,” said Hannah. “I started using hats as metaphor about the different hats we wear in life. If you’re wearing the hat of mourning, you may feel hopeless and empty for a time, but you will move forward and put on the hat of hope because there’s still a future for you.”

Unleash your brilliance

Hannah’s goal is to encourage women, especially young women in high school, to unleash their brilliance.

“I talk about four crowns: The Crown of Knowledge, the Crown of Confidence, the Crown of Courage, and the Crown of Resilience,” she explained. “Each crown symbolizes a unique aspect. The crowns empower people to expand their mindsets. They are tools to encourage and empower young women to reach their full potential. My passion is to inspire, motivate, and uplift women to excel and achieve to become their best, helping them realize and exceed their capabilities!”