Contributor Bio: Holly Harding

Holly is a writer, patient advocate, and nonprofit leader dedicated to improving the lives of people living with migraine and other headache disorders. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Carolina Headache Foundation [link: https://carolinaheadachefoundation.org/] where she leads efforts to expand education, access to care, and evidence-based treatment for patients and providers alike.

Holly’s connection to migraine is both professional and deeply personal. She began experiencing migraine attacks at age six, with the condition intensifying in adulthood and ultimately disrupting her career path in her 30s. That lived experience has shaped her approach to advocacy—grounded in empathy, practicality, and a commitment to helping others navigate the often complex and isolating realities of chronic illness.

For over a decade, Holly was a contributor, moderator, and video content creator for Migraine.com, where she built a trusted voice within the online migraine community. Her work centers on sharing real-life experience with honesty and depth—offering compassion, validation, and practical strategies for those living with migraine.

In parallel, Holly brings more than 30 years of leadership and fundraising experience across nonprofit and social advocacy organizations, with a focus on HIV/AIDS, sexual assault, domestic violence, early childhood education, global health, and migraine. She is drawn to building thoughtful, sustainable structures that make meaningful work—and everyday life—more manageable and effective.

Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Holly has a background in dance and music and has toured nationally as a singer. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys time with friends and family, and hiking with her dog.