Meet Tammi Kirkness

Tammi Kirkness wears a lot of hats, she is a Life Coach, Author, Speaker, Mum, and Mental Health Advocate. Tammi is a world of knowledge, spend 5 minutes with her & you will leave feeling motivated to take on anything in your life!

Let’s get to know you in 5 words- what are they?

Driven, mindful, curious, a lover of learning, a maker of things happening.

The perfect day to Tammi looks like:

Sleeping in, yoga and meditation, a slow breakfast, sandy time splashing in the ocean with my toddler and husband, a massage, cooking dinner and reading before bed.

Let’s rewind to when you decided to change career paths. What led you to this decision?

I had been burning out in my corporate job over a long period, but the wakeup call came when mid-step on the way to our boardroom, I blacked out from fatigue. I realised that my health and my spirit were taking a beating from the huge workload and constant stress and that I couldn’t have that as my everyday anymore.

What would your advice to your younger self be?

Relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw, breathe deeper and longer. Keep reading all the time, spend more time outdoors in nature and have faith that your brain and your heart will keep pointing you in the right direction. 

Who is an empowering woman that you looked up to growing up?

Oprah – what a woman!

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

The opportunity to celebrate and amplify the gifts that each woman is bringing to the world and help them feel seen along the way. And just as importantly, a reminder to refocus our attention on creating real, everyday gender equality. 

Has public speaking always come naturally to you? Any advice to someone who struggles from stage fright!?

Definitely not! Even now I still get some buzzy nerves before I speak in front of a group. For anyone who feels stage fright, I recommend having your first word or sentence ready to go, drinking water within reach and a reminder of your worthiness by listing five reasons to yourself why you deserve to be speaking in front of this group.

What was it that led you to writing your book “The Panic Button Book”?

After having a panic attack, I wanted to create an in-the-moment handbook for me to use whenever I started feeling overwhelmed or anxious. After a year of using it to neutralise my worries and it working really well, I decided I was ready to share it with others who might find it useful too.

If there was only ONE quote from the book you could share what would it be?

“I believe that people with anxiety are some of the strongest, most courageous people on the planet. Despite feeling as though there’s danger in the room, they often pull themselves together and put on a brave face. If you are the brave person who worries all the time, I see you.”

What is the biggest learning curve you have had in your career?

Starting a business and needing to wear many, many hats at once to create and maintain a successful company.

Finish this sentence: I love what I do because….

It helps people feel seen and to see themselves. It’s from this place that they can make an impact on the world. 

Check out Tammi's website https://www.tammikirkness.com/