Krystal Tomlinson: Living a purpose-driven life

KRYSTAL Tomlinson may be known for a multiplicity of things. However, the founder and CEO of The Success Farm Life Academy, says the main things she wants to be known for are her courage and resilience to live a deliberate and purpose-driven life, and helping other women to boldly and confidently use their voices to speak up for themselves.

Growing up, the public speaker, coach and event host, said she never imagined that her career path would lead to entrepreneurship, primarily because she didn’t have many examples of that around her. “I saw my mom and aunt having their ‘side hustles’, but never giving up their nine to five jobs. I never witnessed anyone close to me taking on the risk of entrepreneurship, so it is something I never considered seriously,” she said.

However, in a courageous career move, Tomlinson bet on herself and her abilities, and in 2017 the World Public Speaking Champion made the decision to exit corporate life to pursue her own purpose.

Her ambition was clear — to make a significant impact in women’s lives. “I always knew that I wanted to do meaningful work with women, and after realising that I was no longer fulfilled by what I was doing in corporate, I decided to take a risk on myself and build a legacy where I could use the knowledge and skills gained over the years to empower other women to be more assertive and secure in expressing themselves,” she shared.

Reflecting on her formative years, from age five to 12 years old, Tomlinson recalls being a very vocal, expressive and articulate child — traits many believed would lead to a teaching career. And though not a teacher in the formal education sector, Tomlinson considers her chosen path a “full-circle” moment, as she believes she is imparting vital information and skills through her public speaking and self-management coaching programmes to enhance the lives of her clients, leading to more productive and fulfilled lives.

Looking back at her many accolades and accomplishments, including several debating championship titles, being ranked as one of Success Magazine’s 125 most influential voices, serving as event host for numerous corporate functions, and coaching over 5,000 women in public speaking, self-management and emotional intelligence, it may be difficult to imagine that there was a time when Tomlinson was unsure of how her future would unfold.

“I had a challenging high school journey, attending four different schools between the seventh grade and sixth form,” Tomlinson shared, noting that at the time she was not using her voice or influence to empower others positively.

“My defining moment came after I completed fifth form at Manchester High School, and despite getting the qualifying grades for sixth form, I was not accepted because of the perception of my negative influence.”

It was at deCarteret College, where Tomlinson completed sixth form, that her metamorphosis started. There she experienced tremendous growth, finding her voice and honing her talents and skills for good, as well as getting involved in extracurricular activities that would further develop her leadership skills and capacity.

“Manchester High and deCarteret College will always hold a significant place in my journey. One gave me a wake-up call, and the other not only took a chance on me, but provided a platform, through debating, for me to use my voice positively. That ignited a passion within me that continued into my university years at The University of the West Indies, Mona. There I joined the debating team and went on to win several titles, which was further motivation and fuel for my confidence,” Tomlinson said.

Since then, Tomlinson has had many more wins, but she has also experienced setbacks. In 2020, the pandemic tested her resilience as she navigated the financial pressures of creating new income streams, eliminating debt, and keeping the business operational. Through determination and adaptation, she not only overcame the challenges, but also propelled her business to new heights — expanding her suite of products, services and client base.

“That period between 2020 and 2021 was extremely challenging, but it gave me pause to reflect on my processes and implement the relevant systems to ensure financial stability going forward. It was a dry patch, but it didn’t leave me barren. In many ways it steeled my resolve to persist and excel,” she said.

This year will mark eight years since Tomlinson made that bold step to venture into entrepreneurship, and she continues to thrive, grow her business, and pursue opportunities to diversify and improve the services offered at The Success Farm Life Academy.

“My next exciting project is the launch of our Speakers Academy on March 4, which will be a hub for all public speaking resources and coaching. Additionally, I will be hosting the first in a series of group coaching workshops targeting women in the corporate sector who struggle with assertive communication and public speaking,” Tomlinson shared.

Krystal Tomlinson with her Thrive Planner .