Interview with Catherine Tamagni

In Gstaad, we are lucky to be surrounded by many successful individuals, each in their own way. Gstaad Life Magazine set out to meet some of them and, beyond their career paths, explore the tools and insights they have used to turn their ambitions into reality. Catherine Tamagni is one of them. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a military pilot, but had to give it up at the age of nine when she started wearing glasses. Still, after watching the movie Top Gun during a holiday in Austria, she decided she would become an actress instead. She trained at the European Film Actor School in Zurich, her hometown.

A twist of fate led her to Los Angeles in 2006, where she worked as an assistant to Jerry Weintraub, the producer of Ocean’s Eleven. Back in Europe, she studied film production and visual effects in Ludwigsburg, Germany, and went on to found her own company, Catherine Ackermann Production (her birth name), in Switzerland. She also developed a parallel career as a coach in presence and public speaking. During the COVID pandemic, she co-founded Haute Aviation, an aircraft and charter company, with her husband, Alexander Tamagni, in Gstaad.

You’ve managed to reach the goals you set for yourself in very different fields. How do you approach a new project?
There has always been something in me searching for more, more creativity, more freedom, more connection. I’ve always been drawn to creative people and places. Starting new projects energises me. In every venture, I see myself a bit like a mother of a

project. I am not a specialist, but a generalist, someone who grasps the big picture quickly. I rarely write things down, but I often record voice notes on my phone to help structure my thinking. I then surround myself with talented freelancers who help bring the vision to life. The key is to find people who are better than you in their fields. For me, passion is everything. I think I maintained that mindset from my time in the U.S.: to encourage

yourself and keep showing up every day with energy. A strong network is also essential. Go out, introduce yourself, connect authentically, and be fully present wherever you are. When you bring that kind of energy into your life, things begin to fall into place. I’ve always had faith in visualising what you want and presenting yourself to the world with confidence. Success doesn’t require control; it requires trust, sharing, and the courage to take the first step. You learn by failing and trying again.

Your determination has helped you achieve your goals, but fear has also played a role in your journey.
A major turning point came in my early twenties. I was on a flight to New York when I had a panic attack, despite flying having always been part of my life. The whole experience deeply shook me. I struggled with anxiety until my thirties. I researched it in depth and gradually changed my mindset, nutrition, and lifestyle, incorporating breathing techniques and more. That journey allowed me to help others do the same through my coaching activity.
I have come to realise that our greatest strengths often lie in the very areas where we feel the most fear.

MARY MEYER

Book recommendation from

Catherine Tamagni:
Think and Grow Rich, written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill. It helped me to clarify my vision and goals.

Breaking the habit of being yourself by Dr Joe Dispenza.