Hana Dhanji is a lawyer, executive coach, and founder of The Law School Edge, a career development platform for law students, and Integrated Feminine Authority, a new programme launching in 2024 for women in leadership.
Based in Toronto, Hana’s work helps professionals realign their success with clarity, purpose, and emotional intelligence.
Born in London and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, Hana grew up in a working-class immigrant family. She earned scholarships to prestigious institutions, including University of Toronto Schools (UTS), and later graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto. She holds a master’s in international affairs from the Graduate Institute in Geneva and a JD/MBA from U of T’s Faculty of Law and Rotman School of Management.
Hana has worked with the World Health Organization, the Canadian Mission to the UN, and top global law firms like Sullivan & Cromwell and Hogan Lovells. After years in corporate law, she pivoted into coaching to help others avoid burnout and build careers rooted in their values.
“I believed success was about titles and prestige. But real success is about alignment,” she says.
Today, she supports high-achievers—especially women—through career coaching, mindset work, and leadership development. She is also a board member at her former school, UTS, and an active mentor.
Whether coaching law students or entrepreneurs, Hana champions a new model of professional success: one built not just on performance, but on inner balance and lasting purpose.
Interview with Hana Dhanji
Career, Coaching, and the Path to Alignment
Q: Hana, let’s start at the beginning. What drew you to law and international policy?
I’ve always loved debate and public speaking. In school, I was the kid who signed up for Model UN and every speech competition. I got a scholarship to UTS, a top private school, and that really changed the direction of my life. It gave me access to spaces I hadn’t imagined before.
Q: What was university like for you?
I studied International Relations, Health Studies, and Psychology at the University of Toronto. I was very focused—I worked part-time from age 14 to help pay for books and supplies. I graduated with top honours and went on to Geneva to do my master’s. That led to internships at WHO and CSIS, and later working at the Canadian Mission to the UN.
Q: You transitioned into corporate law after that. How did that come about?
After Geneva, I felt I needed to understand the private sector. I did a JD/MBA at U of T and interned at BMO in compliance and capital markets. Then I joined Sullivan & Cromwell and worked in London and New York on bond offerings. Later, I moved to Hogan Lovells in Dubai. It was high-pressure, exciting work—but also very draining.
Q: What made you leave law?
Burnout, honestly. I was successful on paper but felt disconnected. I realised I wanted to help people—but in a more direct and human way. That’s when I turned to coaching.
Q: How did The Law School Edge come about?
Law school teaches theory, not how to actually get hired or stand out. I started coaching students informally. Then I saw the impact and built it into a full platform in 2023. It’s about helping students craft their narrative and build confidence.
Q: And now you’re launching Integrated Feminine Authority. What’s that about?
It’s for women in leadership who are burned out and misaligned. Many of them are top performers, but they’ve achieved that by over-functioning. I help them reconnect with their inner compass—what I call sacred feminine energy—and lead from a place of strength, not exhaustion.
Q: What are some common blocks you see in clients?
Perfectionism, people-pleasing, imposter syndrome. These patterns are rooted in survival, not leadership. We work on mindset, boundaries, and redefining success.
Q: What does success look like for you now?
It’s about peace, alignment, and impact. I track my progress across health, finances, relationships, and spirituality. Success is not just quarterly goals—it’s sleeping well, giving back, feeling centred.
Q: What’s next for you?
Growing Integrated Feminine Authority, for sure. I’m also focused on building community with other entrepreneurs. I recently joined EO Accelerator and went to their Women’s Summit. I’m always learning.
Q: Any advice for people navigating success today?
Ask yourself: Is this success making me whole, or is it costing me? That one question changed everything for me.
Read more:
Hana Dhanji on Leadership, Law, and Living in Alignment
