About Amanda

Amanda Stokes has always been an observer; attentive to what sits beneath words, behaviour, and moments of connection. From an early age, she noticed what was unspoken, how people belonged, and how leadership was expressed in quiet, often invisible ways.

That way of seeing has shaped her life’s work.

Beginning as a teacher, Amanda was drawn to understanding the whole person, not just behaviour, but the emotional, psychological, and relational forces that shape how humans learn, lead, and relate. Long before becoming a parent, she was deeply curious about how people grow, make meaning, and develop a sense of self in the world.

Over time, this curiosity became a sustained study of emotional intelligence, psychology, and self-awareness, themes that now sit at the centre of her work.

Amanda’s career has spanned classrooms, counselling rooms, leadership programs, and family spaces. Across each setting, her focus has remained consistent: helping people see themselves clearly enough to lead and live with greater presence, integrity, and compassion.

She has written books for mothers, supported young people through periods of personal and emotional challenge, and created spaces for families, educators, and leaders to reflect, connect, and grow. Each chapter of this work has deepened her understanding of leadership as an internal practice, one grounded in awareness rather than authority.

The Knowing Self brings this philosophy together. It is where science meets lived experience, where language gives shape to what is often felt but unnamed, and where self-awareness becomes the foundation for meaningful, lasting change.

Amanda holds a Master’s degree in Counselling and brings more than two decades of experience across education, leadership, and coaching. She is known for her ability to read people and systems, offering clarity where things feel complex, charged, or stuck.

Her work spans schools, families, and organisations across Australia, including ANZ, RACV, and Major Road Projects Victoria. Whether supporting parents, working with young people, or facilitating leaders, her message remains consistent:

Real change begins with awareness and the willingness to look inward first.

Amanda is the author of The Tween Mother’s Toolbook and is widely recognised for her grounded, human approach to growth. She is also known for her philosophy of small, intentional shifts, subtle changes that quietly transform how people see themselves, each other, and the systems they belong to.