By Womaness Editors 2-Minute Read
Amanda Brinkman doesn’t just believe in purpose…she puts it to work. A sought-after keynote speaker, television host, educator, and creator of The Purpose Pursuit, Amanda has spent her career helping people and organizations do more than chase success—she helps them make it mean something.
During her time as Chief Brand and Communications Officer at Deluxe, she helped transform a century-old company by launching Small Business Revolution, the Emmy-nominated HULU series and a national movement celebrating and supporting small businesses across the country. Now, whether she’s hosting a PBS series centered on happiness and purpose, teaching purpose-driven leadership at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, speaking to companies and at conferences, or helping women build careers with more heart and less autopilot, Amanda brings the kind of clear-eyed wisdom we love: thoughtful, useful, and community-driven, with just the right amount of “let’s stop pretending work has to drain the life out of us.”
First thing I do each morning
“Drink the cup of coffee my husband brings me! I swear—it is the most romantic thing in the world (coffee is the nectar of the gods to me and saving me a trip downstairs is disproportionately meaningful).”
Three things I always keep on my nightstand
“Reading glasses (wtaf?), a notebook/pen (for writing down the swirling to-dos that wake me up in the middle of the night), and really effective hand cream (when exactly did I get my mother's hands?!).”
My go-to beauty hack or wellness ritual
“Water!! I try to drink 100 oz. a day and I swear it helps with everything from energy to digestion to skin appearance.”
“The older I get, I really love that I am not who I was two years ago…and I’m not who I will be in two years from now.”
My inner age (the age I really feel) and why
“35? That was the age where I had a wider perspective on the world around me than I did in my 20s, but still had my youthful spirit or mojo (and also…a waistline). In my Purpose Pursuit work and speaking, I have come across so much research about how we really do move into a place of wisdom and teaching. Our younger years were so focused on building and creating—and as we age, we are meant to use our experiences and journeys to help those coming on the path behind us.”
Advice I would give to my younger self
“I actually have a term for it! CTFO (Chill the F* Out). Goodness me. I would tell myself, 'It will all work out and will unfold with divine timing.' The older I get, the more I realize the things that are meant for us, can’t miss us. I spent a lot of time planning and wondering about my ‘nexts’ instead of just enjoying that season of my life for all the magic it was.”
Let's Neck
We don’t believe in “The Pause.” Tell us, what are you not pausing on?
“I am not pausing on ‘becoming.’ When I was younger, I really did think that there would be a time or age when you would arrive at who you were going to BE. But the older I get, I really love that I am not who I was two years ago…and I’m not who I will be in two years from now. That we are constantly evolving has become something I cherish about life. So I’m leaning all in to being open to what is in store for me and trusting the process. I'm ready to learn and grow in order to be ready to meet those moments.”
What's your favorite Womaness product?
“Let's Neck serum. Because it works!! And that roller feels so nice at the end of the day!”
Word that best describes your Womaness
“Joyfulness.”
More Interviews & Essays
10 Books for Women in Midlife Right Now
Womaness Woman: Dina Alvarez + Dina Aronson
Womaness Woman: Chris Freytag
