We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tammy Hickey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tammy below.

Hi Tammy, thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Picture this…. I was recovering from my unilateral mastectomy in June of 2020. I had finished 3 months of chemo. Was recovering on my back deck with no hair, no eye brows, drains hanging from my body and made a life changing decision that I was going to make this traumatic season MEAN something. I had done so much work on body acceptance over the years, yet this took me to a whole other level. I believe it was a divine intervention. I reached out to a woman I had heard speak at a retreat 10 years prior on inside out beauty. After a brief e-mail, followed by a phone conversation, I signed up for her program to become a certified image consultant!

After building my practice over the next couple of years (as a side gig while working my FT corporate job in HR), I started to catch the vision for something even greater. I loved the style work and loved seeing my clients implement the strategies to look and feel confident, yet the INNER work is what I truly craved to create with them. Fast forward to the end of 2024, where I was struggling in my health again, struggling in my own confidence level, struggling to see a vision for where my work was headed and SO close to throwing in the towel. Enter subconscious reprogramming.

I was researching different coaching certifications to add to my portfolio as a means to do the inner work and came across a program that focused on Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP. Essentially NLP is the study of thought patterns and how it affects our daily behaviors and actions. I was intrigued! Over the next 6+ months, I but my style business on the back burner and immersed myself in NLP and subconscious reprogramming work. I needed to first be a student of the work and see it at play in my own life, before bringing it to my clients. It was a LOT of work. Deep work. Mind transforming work that has changed me from the inside out.

Now with 6 different board accredited certifications, I’m completely changing my business model to focus on the INNER work first – to help professional women and female CEO’s get clear on their inner flame or identity, affirm and ground that into their mind, body, spirit and SOUL – and then help them create a look and a style that brings that special sauce to LIFE.

Introducing Rebel Style – coming in September of 2025 – for the powerhouse woman who is ready to break the rules, own her power, and dress the part!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As shared in my inception to launch story, my story has been a very personal one. Growing up in Corporate America, I learned very quickly how to dress, act and speak the ‘part’ that generates success. I was a student of my environment. Watched successful people, then do what they did in order to get ahead. During my quest to climb the corporate ladder, I lost myself. I got so caught up in shape shifting myself in order to be successful, that it cost me my inner peace.

When I received my cancer diagnosis after my 50th birthday in December of 2019, that was my wake up call. I started my journey back to ME. The road is not easy. It’s full of road blocks, pot holes, turns you do not expect. But so very worth it. As always the rebel at heart, Rebel Style is a celebration of authenticity. Of breaking the mold of the expected. Permission to be fully who you are. It’s a very welcome rebellion. The culmination and celebration of the power that is within us women. Untamed. Raw. Real and Oh So Beautiful.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

While climbing the corporate ladder and then later when starting my business, everyone tells you that ‘success leaves clues’. In other words, pay close attention to those who have gone before you and are where you want to be and then DO what they do. That advice cost me so much and is total BS. This is how I completely LOST myself in Corporate. While climbing the ladder and building a really nice life and cushy salary for myself, I completely lost sight of who I was. Similarly in my business, I hired coaches and joined masterminds who shared their path to success. Then when it didn’t work for me – I found myself believing that something was wrong with ME.

While there is an appreciation and respect for those who have gone me, if I try to do what they have done, it may work for a sort period of time, yet in the long run it’s double suicide. First, I lose myself in the process and keep feeding the shape shifting monster. I then build a career or business on something that isn’t REAL. Second, I rob others of a true authentic experience with ME, and the beauty of showing them that they do NOT need to sacrifice who they are in order to succeed.

This is what makes me SO passionate about Rebel Style. You do NOT need to sacrifice who you are (and what you look like) in order to succeed or live a rich full life. On the contrary. When you step fully into the person you were created to BE and own that on ALL levels – that is where true power resides. It’s time to rise up!!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media can be both a blessing and a curse in business. It’s like anything else – you have to use it as a tool to enable your vision. I have no creative strategies nor secrets to success to share here. I can only offer this wisdom: use social media as a tool to give your audience insight into the real YOU. Share your life. Share your story. Share your gifts and wisdom. Don’t worry about the algorithm. Don’t pay attention to what others are doing. Don’t pay attention to the number of followers, reel views, or shares. Just show up. Put your blinders on and share YOUR goodness. End of story.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mstammyhickey.com
• Instagram: @mstammyhickey
• Linkedin: Coming SOON!
• Other: New website and social handles coming soon with the rebrand in September!