Personal Growth with Michael and Carolyn
At Loveworks, we believe that one of the ways that you can become one of the best versions of yourself is to focus on personal growth. We love curating things like books, music, organizations, blogs or resources that have encouraged your personal growth.
Today, we are going to share a couple of recommendations to refresh your back to school playlist that we hope may help fuel your leadership journey.
Tiffney Laing: Founder of Bevy and Dave
Tiffney Laing is the founder of Bevy & Dave; an award-winning educational toy company devoted to changing the narrative of Black history and building leaders through fun and engaging learning tools designed for preschool- elementary age students.
For many years she was frustrated with the presentation of Black history in school textbooks and teaching materials as the focus is always on slavery and oppression. With the belief that what we learn at a young age shapes and impacts our worldview and level of achievement, Tiffney decided to contribute towards a solution. After her daughter was born, Tiffney was reminded that children learn through play; soon after, she launched Bevy & Dave to serve as teaching tools for parents and teachers alike to share Black history through the lens of self-leadership, which focuses on achievements and contributions to our society.
Tiffney’s unique and unconventional work has been recognized among industry peers and featured in various media platforms, including GMA3 “Second Act Showdown.” Good Morning America with Strahan, Sara, and Keke and MSNBC with Stephanie Ruhle. Within Bevy & Dave’s first exhibition year, its flagship toy, the “History Makers Puzzle Block Set (HMPBS),” was a finalist for Toy of the Year Award, Rookie category, and is the winner of the 2018 Product of the Year Award by Creative Child Magazine and the 2018 Family Choice award.
Prior to Bevy & Dave, Tiffney served in higher education developing student leaders as an administrator and instructor of leadership studies. Tiffney was also enrolled in a doctoral program with research focused on how children learn and understand Black history and its impact on their achievement level. Tiffney left the program to focus on developing solutions to the problem rather than continue to study it.
I don’t want to be ordinary
Tiffney is 100% a more natural dreamer. She is constantly dreaming. Dreaming is a tool of encouragement; as she envisions the dream she imagines what is needed to accomplish it. If Tiffney can see the impact her dream can make she is encouraged to take the steps to accomplish it. She says, “It’s beautiful to dream. It is the dessert for life; to go somewhere else, see what we hope to see, what we want to experience.”
At the age of 11, Tiffney thought to herself, “I don’t want to be ordinary.” She knew at a young age that she wanted to do something incredible. In middle school her family moved across the country and she learned to be comfortable in your own skin. She learned through her middle school years that she had a bigger worldview, she was less judgmental, and more open minded.
Bevy and Dave
Born from a desire to create a solution to change the narrative of Black history, Tiffney founded Bevy & Dave because she understands what children learn at a young age shapes their worldview and impacts their level of achievement. The award-winning educational toy company shares Black history through the lens of self-leadership and inspire children to be their best selves and empower them to contribute their best to society.
Tiffney’s Advice – Leadership lives in you
Tiffney encourages everyone to record your hopes and dreams, gratitude – what you’re thankful for, your “aha” moments. She reminds us all that we are remarkable leaders, leadership already lives in all of us, love yourself and believe in yourself. You have no competition because there is no one like you. Your job is to love yourself enough and to love the world enough that you give it your all to be who you want to be.
You can find Tiffney online at https://bevyanddave.com/
Key Takeaways
- If we have a brain, why not use it for the positive.
- Focus is important but don’t ignore the dream in your heart.
- Find the freedom to be creative on your own terms.
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