The Confident Introvert, Stephanie Thoma, on Helping Thousands of People Celebrate their Strengths

Hello Stephanie! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

Stephanie Thoma is a Forbes-featured author of the best-selling networking book, Confident Introvert and founder of the personal growth company, Holistic Ambition. Stephanie helps ambitious professionals uncover their tangible next career steps into a fulfilling career. To date, Stephanie has helped thousands of people celebrate their strengths, step into their authentic confidence, and make meaningful connections through building out community at organizations like YPOSF, speaking at places like Harvard University, years behind-the-scenes at TEDx, and 1:1 coaching.

So Stephanie, what excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

I am excited to connect with other ambitious, people-first female founders, and to contribute what I can to an even more connected and helpful community.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

When I began getting inbound inquiries for coaching, touring my workshop, “Networking for Introverts”, and learning best practices to scale high-ticket coaching from a trusted value-aligned mentor.

Prior to coaching, what did your career entail?

Before staring my biz I was a freelancer who learned the value of value based fees working in market research recruitment, moderation and topline analysis, instead of hourly wages- it changed everything.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I had no idea until a previous partner told me I was trying on so many different job functions, that I ‘seemed like I wanted to be an entrepreneur.’ I would go from being an employee, to freelancer to business owner in a variety of verticals and industries including natural food, cpg, education, market research, recruitment, professional growth and personal growth.

So Stephanie, when you first launched your business, how did you go about marketing?

When I first launched my business, it was what came before my book “Confident Introvert”. I focused on hosting a LOT of community events and workshops. I hosted 1k events 2015-2020 in San Francisco and am glad I did but wouldn’t do it again- it was a high volume several years, but I still reap the benefits today.

Challenges arise daily when starting your own business. What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way?

Differentiating between my personal brand and my business. You are not your business! When you’re a personal brand, this can take some time to make sense of.

Stephanie, you have lots to be proud of! What accomplishment would you say you are proudest of?

Publishing my first book about networking, Confident Introvert, having it become a best-seller on Amazon, and helping other women craft and launch their self published books as one of the ways I serve.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

I believe in work life integration that is fueled by Holistic Ambition (my biz name and concept). Some tips include (Confident Introvert book concepts) 1. The daily 3-2-1 which is a daily power hour starting with 30-minutes of reading, 20-minutes of journaling, then 10-minutes of meditation. 2. The Tech free code of 1-1-1: spend 1 hour per day, 1 day per week, and 1 week per year tech free and in nature.

What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?

Do what you love, and act from that energy. Embrace the sacred pause in order to align and connect with others from that space.

What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

Drafting my memoir. The next phase is editing then publishing which will be a new level of vulnerability and empowerment.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

You can expect 2 more books in the next few years, and a deepening in the way that I serve to connect people with themselves, others and their purpose. My next book is my memoir, and the other is about the future of ambition.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!