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

Tammy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Absolutely, there was a defining moment that completely shifted the trajectory of my career and my life. It was the day my late husband was diagnosed with stage 4 Glioblastoma. We had been together since I was 16, and when he got sick, everything stopped. I had to pause my business, become his full-time caregiver, and navigate the most painful journey I’d ever faced.

But out of that pain came purpose. After he passed, I was broken, but I also knew I couldn’t let his life or his death be in vain. I founded The Anthony Lewis Foundation for Brain Tumors, Inc. in his honor. And that decision became a turning point for me.

It pushed me to look at success differently, not just in terms of money or recognition, but in impact, legacy, and healing. It inspired me to re-launch the Nurse Boss Summit, support other nurses in building their empires, and show them how to turn pain into power.

The lesson? Sometimes the most devastating moments plant the seeds for your greatest calling. You just have to be willing to grow through it.

Tammy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For those who may not be familiar with me, I am a mother of 3, a grandmother of 3, and as a three years ago, I am a widow. I’m a Registered Nurse, an author, entrepreneur and the founder of several businesses, including the Nurse Boss Summit, the National Healthcare Chamber of Commerce, and The Anthony Lewis Foundation for Brain Tumors, Inc. I also ran a successful home care agency for nearly a decade and have been featured in Forbes, Business Leader Magazine, and honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for my contributions to healthcare and business.

I got into healthcare after watching hospice nurses care for a family member. I saw the compassion they showed her and it just stuck. Nursing gave me the ability to care for others in their most vulnerable moments. But I didn’t stop there—I saw the gaps in the system, especially when it came to nurses wanting more but not having the guidance or support to transition into business. That’s what led me to become a nurse entrepreneur and eventually create platforms to help others do the same.

What I do now is help healthcare professionals, especially nurses leverage their knowledge and experience to build purpose-driven businesses. Through events like the Nurse Boss Summit, educational tools, consulting, and now the upcoming Nurse Boss Academy. I also offer support and advocacy through the National Healthcare Chamber of Commerce, helping healthcare business owners access funding, visibility, and growth opportunities.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just teach theory—I’ve lived it. I’ve built, scaled, and sold a healthcare business. I’ve navigated deep personal loss and still managed to create something meaningful out of the pain. I lead with heart, purpose, and authenticity. I don’t just want you to win in business—I want you to heal, thrive, and build something that lasts, a legacy!

What I’m most proud of is turning my grief into purpose through The Anthony Lewis Foundation, which I started in honor of my late husband who passed from Glioblastoma. A portion of everything I do, including proceeds from the Nurse Boss Summit goes toward supporting brain tumor patients and their families.

If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s this: You can build a business that honors your purpose, changes lives, and creates generational impact. I’m living proof, and I’m committed to helping others do the same. Whether you’re a nurse with a dream, a healthcare professional ready for something more, or someone who just needs a little push to believe again—I’m here to walk that journey with you.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story that really illustrates my resilience is when I had to start over from scratch after pouring my heart into a business I built. I had successfully started and grown a home care agency over five years. It was doing well, I had established a strong client base, and everything seemed to be moving in the right direction. At that point, I brought on a business partner and made her a 50/50 partner—trusting that it would lighten my load and help us grow even further.

But unfortunately, that trust backfired. After nearly a year of still doing the majority of the work, I walked into the office one day and she told me she had hired someone to replace me. It completely blindsided me. I was devastated. What followed was a legal battle involving attorneys on both sides. And in the end—it was a lose-lose situation. I ended up walking away from the very business I had built with my bare hands.

That experience was one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn. But it also taught me the power of resilience, self-worth, and protecting what you build. I had to start over, rebuild my confidence, and rediscover my “why.” And that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t let that moment define me—I used it as fuel to come back stronger. Today, I not only run multiple businesses, but I help other entrepreneurs protect and grow their own. That setback was painful, but it became the foundation of my comeback—and for that, I’m grateful.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Other than training and knowledge, I believe the most helpful thing for succeeding in my field is mindset—specifically, having a resilient, purpose-driven, and abundance-centered mindset.

Healthcare and entrepreneurship both come with serious challenges. You’re constantly juggling regulations, patient/client needs, business operations, and in many cases, your own personal battles. What separates those who succeed from those who give up isn’t just skill it’s the ability to keep showing up when things get hard.

You need confidence to advocate for yourself, discernment to protect your vision, and faith to keep going even when the path isn’t clear. You also need a servant’s heart, because at the end of the day, this work is about people. If you lead with impact, integrity, and intention, success will follow.

So yes, training is critical, but mindset is the glue that holds it all together. You’ve got to believe in yourself even when no one else does, be willing to pivot when necessary, and stay grounded in your “why.” That’s what sustains you for the long haul.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nursebosssummit.com www.iamtammylewis.com
• Instagram: @nursebosssummit @iamtammylewis
• Facebook: facebook.com/nursebossummit Dr. Tammy Jurnett-Lewis (personal) facebook.com/iamtammylewis
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamtammylewis
• Twitter: @iamtammylewis @nursebosssummit
• Other: www.alfbt for The Anthony Lewis Foundation for Brain Tumors, Inc