Influencer Thamara Angel-Erdelyi

Interview 2022.

Thamara, could you share with us some information about your family life?
I was born in Venezuela, and at 3 years old I came with my family to Curaçao. My father was Hungarian, He fled the Hungarian revolution in the 1950s. My mom was a ‘Yu di Kòrsou’, with a Dutch father and a mother from Curaçao, but with descendants of German and French. I have 2 older brothers. My parents were always super supportive. And always encouraging me to jump. I’m now married and almost 11 years together and I have a beautiful, intelligent daughter of almost 13 years old.

Could you share something about any other aspect of your educational background and your experiences?
I went to Holland to study Psychology at the University of Tilburg, I did this for 2 years. But because mathematics is not my forte, I failed statistics. I decided then to go to do ‘Pedagogiek’ instead. When I finished, I did a ‘Post-hbo speltherapie’. My father was then sick during that time and I had to come back to Curaçao. Then I worked with children with Autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and children with developmental challenges. On 10-10-10, I went into the government as a young professional to help my island. I didn’t like working there. So I decided to go into Education.

I worked as a teacher for 7 years at 2 different SBO schools. In the meantime, I was studying coaching. And in the lockdown of 2020, I decided to jump and start my own coaching business.

We know you to be a life coach, among other things. Can you share with us what brought you to choose this?
Let me tell you this, I think coaching chose me. One morning around 1:30 AM I had a vision. I woke up and start writing everything down. How I saw ‘TaMi Coaching’.

While in the lockdown, I was test-driving my coaching and workshop online, and everything fell into alignment. It was happiness, a bliss I can’t explain. I found my purpose. I thought to myself, this is what I want to do.

We know that you are also an author? Can you expand a little bit on what is the quintessence of the book?
My book is an autobiography of a small part of my life that I wanted to share with the world. And my lessons learned in this period of my life. It’s about overcoming a toxic relationship and how I rebuild myself and become the woman I am today.

What is your BIG WHY or driving motivation to be who you are right now and do what you are doing now? 
I want to kick-start people to stand in their power again and to make coaching accessible. I love seeing people grow and take back the reins of their lives and are living a more intentional life. Instead of just living by default. I want to guide and support others to stand in their power again. To regain their strengths. In this way, they will function better as human beings. If they are a better version of themselves, they will be better mothers, fathers, children for their families, and better families will contribute to having a better world. I’m only the light for their path, their facilitator.

What are your plans for the coming years and when do you consider that you have been successful in your personal and business/professional life, let us say 5 years from now?  
I have many plans. I’m writing my 2nd book. I want to go to Bonaire and Aruba. I want to have a foundation to help women, and I envision the 2nd business. When am I successful in person and in business? I think as a person I consider myself already successful, because I enjoy every day with my family, what I have accomplished so far, and I enjoy my work. In business, I’m successful even more, when I can touch more lives, so I have to become a bit bigger and go international.

What are the challenges that you are dealing with? And how are you dealing with these different challenges you confront?
One of the challenges is still that coaching, mental health is taboo. So I want to make it also fun and accessible.

Do you use your inner voice to evaluate when dilemmas show up? How does that work for you?
Yes, I try to listen to my inner voice. That gut feeling. I do this through journaling, or going into nature and listening. I feel it in my body. It expands or contracts with the thought.

How are you trying also to keep up with your knowledge and skill levels?
I am always studying and reading. The topic is always human behavior, and psychology.

What are your strengths?
I am sweet, spontaneous, I am very empathetic. I can listen well. I’m funny and I connect easily. Many people feel safe with me, and I try not to judge others. And I’m courageous. I jump.

Do you have hobbies or interests that you are also passionate about?
Besides the books I read, I love coffee. Is that a hobby? Hahaha, I love to dance, but I don’t do that often. And I love to watch a movie, but on a big screen in a cinema. Oh, and I like to write.

If you as Thamara would meet a stranger on the bus (let’s say in New York or Bogota Columbia) and they would ask you to introduce yourself, what would you answer?
Hi, my name is Thamara I am a coach. I love my job and my purpose is to help people to find their full potential. I love coffee. Haha, Colombia is the perfect place for coffee. Let’s go!

How would you describe Thamara in one word or one sentence?
Kindhearted – compassionate.

Who are the persons that have inspired you the most in your career?
So many people. But one of my all-time favorite people is Tony Robbins. Since I was 18,19 I was listening to his CD’s back then. And my parents, how cliché that sounds. My parents were very courageous people. My mom always used to tell me, if I want something. Go for it! ‘Lansa bo mes’. And many friends who have inspired me too along the way.

What is a trait that is still a work in progress?
Saying no.

What was a defining moment in your life?
Many defining moments. When I graduated from Holland. When my dad died, when my mom died. When I left the toxic relationship. When I gave birth to my daughter.
Two years ago when I left my fixed job, to start my coaching business. At that moment in time, I felt so aligned, my mind, soul, and spirit were in perfect harmony, that this was something I had to pursue.

Where do you want to be 10 years from now with your career?
I’ve grown my business. I want to go international. I have a second business and a foundation. And I’ve published my 2nd book.

What would you want your Loved Ones, family, friends, and others to say about you let’s say 20 years from now?
I want them to say that I inspired and motivated them in one way or the other.

What makes you stay optimistic about the future of Curaçao as we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, and recession, and in the middle of growing environmental challenges because of the global warming consequences?
I’m a natural optimist myself. I always stay hopeful. I think that more people are more aware and slowly but surely more awakened. I see also many good initiatives on saving the planet, and being more aware of the planet.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Only today is guaranteed. So live your life to the fullest. Don’t wait.

More info or connect
Website: www.tamicoaching.com
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One of the 250 Influencers of Curaçao

Thamara Angel-Erdelyi is a passionate, dedicated, courageous, sweet, spontaneous, empathetic, funny life coach and author that can listen well, connects easily, and listens to her gut feelings when needed. “Coaching has chosen me,” she says as during the lockdown she realized how much she is driven by a desire to kick start people to stand in their power again, appreciating how people grow and take back the reins of their lives as her BIG WHY. On top of that, Thamara loves reading, and writing and works continuously on her further growth as a person and as a professional, with a special interest in human behavior and psychology. After her first book, she is considering writing more books and expanding her business, eyeing also going “international”. For all these reasons, we consider Thamara one of the 250 influencers of the island, representing the “Coaching and Educational” sector.
Look at the list of the Influencers we have interviewed or reported on, up to now.