Canvas Rebel – Meet Tammy Cohen

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tammy Cohen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tammy, thanks for joining us today. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

When I first shared my story with Canvas Rebel over a year ago, I spoke about how I came up with my idea, which felt fitting at the time as I was stepping into new spaces and launching new projects.

Today, the question that resonates most deeply with me is: “What is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?”

The reason I’m drawn to this topic now is because I’ve come to understand that kindness, along with love, gratitude, and appreciation, is the foundation on which we exist. In an upside-down world filled with anger and noise, acknowledging kindness feels more crucial than ever.

The truth is, there isn’t just one act of kindness that shaped me. It’s the many acts of kindness, both big and small, that have carried me through the seasons of my life. Over the years, mentors, friends, colleagues, and strangers have offered guidance, shared their wisdom, opened doors, and helped me see my own potential. Their generosity helped me grow into an entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and the author of Text Messages to My Sons: A Guide to Using Mobile Devices to Connect and Communicate with Your Kids.

But the depth of kindness revealed itself to me in a profoundly different way this past year when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, I experienced compassion on a level I had never known before. Family, friends, colleagues, my community, my doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and even strangers showed up with daily acts of care, empathy, and love.

What was truly transformative wasn’t just receiving kindness; it was learning to ask for help and allowing myself to receive it. That shift changed me. It reminded me that kindness isn’t just something we give; it’s something we must also be open to accepting.

So, when I think about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me, it isn’t one moment. It’s the collective power of kindness that has lifted me, guided me, and reminded me of what it means to be human.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve always described myself as a connector; someone who builds bridges between people, ideas, and opportunities. That thread has run through every chapter of my professional and personal journey.

For over two decades, I’ve led TC Brand Consulting, partnering with businesses in the gem and jewelry industry and beyond. My work is centered on helping brands uncover and articulate their mission, vision, and core values so they can communicate with clarity and authenticity. I guide clients through a deep, human-centered process to understand who their audience truly is, what they value, how they think, and what moves them. From there, we craft messaging that differentiates them from competitors, builds trust, and inspires connection. I also leverage my extensive networks to expand brand visibility and credibility, positioning clients to grow with purpose.

That same passion for connection inspired me to create spaces where women could thrive together. In 2020, I founded Women Beyond the Table, a vibrant virtual network and community designed to accelerate professional success and personal growth. What began as a way to bring women together has evolved into a powerful movement; a space where trailblazing women share insights, uplift one another, and build meaningful collaborations. Expanding on that mission, I launched the Women Beyond the Table Podcast, where I interview extraordinary women who share their stories of resilience, leadership, and impact. It’s a platform for amplifying voices that deserve to be heard.

One of the works I’m most proud of is my authorship. Writing my first book, the award-winning Text Messages to My Sons: Connecting Deeply in a World of Devices, helped me discover my larger mission: empowering parents to use the simple act of daily texting to express love, gratitude, accountability, resilience, wisdom, and inspiration — without expectation. This practice deepens connection and creates a consistent emotional anchor for our loved ones in a world that often tries to pull their attention elsewhere.

That mission grew with my expanded edition, Text Messages to My Sons: A Guide to Using Mobile Devices to Connect and Communicate with Your Kids. This book is about more than texting; it’s about being a steady, loving presence in someone’s digital world. When you send that message, whether to a child, partner, friend, or family member, you become a beacon of light and a safe space in a noisy world.

Beyond consulting and authorship, I’m also a speaker and media contributor. I speak on topics ranging from branding, leadership, and communication to parenting and human connection. My insights have been featured in podcasts and publications, and I bring warmth, humor, and actionable strategies to every stage and microphone I step onto.

I earned my BA from SUNY Albany and an MBA from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. I live in Manhattan with my husband and our three sons. Together, we also own Eighteen Restaurant, a beloved Upper East Side kosher dining spot where we welcome guests like family, creating a warm, communal space to connect over great food and conversation.

What sets my work apart is my unwavering commitment to human connection. Whether it’s guiding a business to find its voice, building a network for women to rise together, sending a text to deepen a bond, or welcoming someone to our restaurant, my mission is the same: to create meaningful, lasting connections that elevate lives and businesses.

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