About Amanda
I’ve always been an observer, the child on the edge, noticing what others missed, sensing what wasn’t being said, and quietly learning how people connect, lead, and belong.
That perspective has shaped everything I’ve done since.
I became a teacher to be the kind of teacher I’d needed but never had.
Long before I had children, I was drawn to understanding people; endlessly curious about how we grow, relate, and make sense of ourselves and each other.
My fascination with human behaviour evolved into a lifelong study of emotional intelligence, psychology, and self-awareness, themes that now sit at the centre of my work.
Over the years, that work has taken me from classrooms to coaching rooms and into leadership programs with some of Australia’s largest organisations.
In every space, my purpose is the same: to help people see themselves clearly enough to lead and live with greater authenticity, empathy, and presence.
Alongside this, I’ve written books for mothers, supported young people through personal and mental-health challenges, and created spaces for families, educators, and leaders to connect through awareness and compassion.
Each chapter has deepened my understanding of what it truly means to lead.
I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about asking better questions, noticing what sits beneath the surface, and having the courage to go inward first.
The Knowing Self is where all of that converges: a space where science meets story, where lived experience meets evidence-based insight, and where awareness becomes the foundation for real, lasting change.
Amanda Stokes is an Emotional Intelligence Educator, Leadership & Family Coach, and Founder of The Knowing Self , a philosophy of living and leading, and suite of programs helping people lead themselves and others with greater awareness, compassion, and courage.
With a Master’s in Counselling and more than two decades of experience across education, leadership, and coaching, Amanda is known for her ability to read people and spaces, bringing clarity to what often sits unspoken.
Her work combines psychology, emotional intelligence, and lived experience to create environments where growth feels safe and connection runs deep.
Amanda’s impact spans schools, families, and organisations including ANZ, RACV, Major Road Projects Vic to name a few. Whether she’s supporting parents, guiding young people, or facilitating leaders, her message remains constant:
Real change begins with self-awareness, and the courage to look within.
As the author of The Tween Mother’s Toolbook, Amanda’s practical, human approach continues to resonate with those seeking to understand and support the next generation. She’s also known for her philosophy of 2% tweaks, small, intentional shifts that quietly transform how we see ourselves and each other.
Professional Bio
Awareness is where everything begins.
When we understand ourselves, we change how we lead, how we love, and how we live.
Begin where you are.
