We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stephanie Thoma a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

I learned a lot from an investment in a coaching container that was multiple 5-figures, that I logically thought would work out in ROI based on my perception of the coach being similar to myself, only with a heightened income. It turned out to not be profitable, and not be a value-fit, which was clear early on. I stuck with it due to her no refund policy, however, this present version of myself would have initiated the hard conversation to ask her about mutual fit and what our options were. I now know that it’s often the illogical, embodied decisions that are a silent but knowing, ‘yes, let’s try this,’ that can move the needle the most and not the ones we work out in our mind that are ‘supposed’ to work.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m here to help you embrace your unique strengths and build the confidence you need to thrive—whether in social settings, your career, or your personal relationships. As an author, speaker, and coach, my work is all about empowering you to express your best, most authentic self.

My debut book, Confident Introvert, shows people who are sensitive or reserved how to excel in social and professional environments by leaning into their natural qualities. In my latest release, Not That Sweet, I dive into modern relationships and self-discovery, offering a refreshing perspective on how to set boundaries, live with purpose, and stay true to who you really are.

Featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Psychology Today, I blend emotional insight with actionable advice, making my coaching, online courses, and signature talks a powerful toolkit for building social confidence, fostering self-acceptance, and creating the community you’ve always wanted.

My approach is all about you—helping you feel more confident, connected, and empowered to navigate life with clarity and purpose. Ready to unlock your potential? I’m here to guide you to connect with confidence every step of the way.

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

I had to unlearn the idea that if I am true to myself that I am necessarily going to be disconnected from love and alone, growing up in an environment that wasn’t conducive to celebrating my authenticity. It’s been a journey of perfectionism and only showing the good parts of myself, to accepting, processing and integrating what had once felt shameful, and celebrating the polarizing nature of owning all of who you are and can be.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I have maintained a weekly email newsletter for over 5 years. I get an opt-in from those who attend my in-person events or enroll online, but they can count on it each week, getting what’s both public-facing and behind-the-scenes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stephaniethoma.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@stephaniemthoma
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/stephaniemthoma
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/stephaniemthoma
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@stephaniemthoma

Image Credits

Stephanie Thoma images