As an award-winning leadership expert, keynote speaker, and consultant, Tammy Heermann is dedicated to accelerating women’s advancement to the C-Suite and beyond. She is passionate about helping women break through barriers—both organizational and self-imposed—to reach their full potential.

We are thrilled to be helping Tammy reach even more women with her upcoming book, Reframe Your Story (Fall 2021), a life-changing guide to confronting the self-limiting narratives that we tell ourselves. Read on to learn more about Tammy, her book, and her empowering attitude toward life.

Which three words best describe you?
Practical, passionate, persevering (and apparently alliterative).

What is your book about?
My book is about changing your inner monologue to fuel potential and possibility. Reframe Your Story outlines the common ways women can be their own worst enemy instead of their best ally. It’s about normalizing the self-sabotaging things we think, say, and do that can hold us back. But most importantly, it’s about how to move forward with a different story. I’ve been told the book helps women feel understood, and then inspires them to do something different.

I describe its tone as: “This shit is hard—but you got this.” It’s a warm hug combined with a kick in the pants. This is the magical warmth-strength combination that spurs personal change and a collective call to action to change the story for all women.

I describe my book’s tone as: “This shit is hard—but you got this.” It’s a warm hug combined with a kick in the pants.

What is the last book you read?
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. I have read a lot about stress and burnout, but this book was completely different. We expect stress to cease when the stressful event is over; somehow we believe it will just go away over time. In fact, the opposite is true. Stress remains as emotions that live in our body, causing physical and emotional turmoil. It needs to be completed and released.

The book explains what happens in our bodies in a way that is both commiserative and empowering. As a reader you feel understood, accepted, and driven to make change in a way that is helpful to you—beyond the typical “eat healthy, get exercise” advice.

Who is your favorite author?
I actually don’t have a favorite author. I’m consumed with variety. Whether it’s books, music, food, or travel, I’m at once invigorated and, at the same time, overwhelmed with all the choices. How will I read, listen, eat, or see all the books, music, food and places?

When do you get your best work done?
Strangely, my best time of day for working is between 3 and 7 p.m. It’s the time most people are done or getting sleepy, yet I’m just getting started. Sadly, it doesn’t mesh well with normal daily family routines.

My primary inspiration is my daughter. I want to help create a world where she believes in possibility.

What is your proudest accomplishment?
Besides my daughter, I’d have to say this book. Writing a book was never a dream of mine, nor did I think it was possible. But it was, it is, and I’m proud of the book and the journey that has come with it.

What is your personal motto?
“You belong here.”

Where do you find inspiration?
My primary inspiration is my daughter. I want to help create a world where she believes in possibility. I want her to feel as though she can succeed at whatever she puts her mind to, that she trusts her voice has value, and that she learns to fill her mind with positive thoughts and not those that limit her, despite what the world around her is reinforcing. I want this for all the world’s daughters.

Secondly, I am inspired by the women I’ve relished taking through grueling workshops, mentored, or who reached out to chat after listening to a keynote or reading an article. They have been vulnerable in sharing their stories and struggles, and have been brave in trying new things. Hearing about their transformations, their breakthrough conversations, and how they changed the stories they tell themselves is what keeps me doing this rewarding and important work. Nothing brings a greater smile to my face than seeing their promotions pop up on LinkedIn.