Today we’d like to introduce you to Milan-devi Labrey

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

My journey with children began in my early 20s, driven by a desire to give back during the holidays. Without my own family to share those special moments, I would gather friends and colleagues to donate gifts and spend time at youth homes and orphanages during Christmas. It was during this time that I also became a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The profound impact of working with these children, especially those in foster care or facing traumatic experiences, inspired me to write children’s books. At the time, there was a noticeable lack of representation for these children in the literary world, a gap that I was passionate about filling.

A young girl named Tiffany was the catalyst for my first book. Her story, like many others I encountered, resonated deeply with me because I saw in her the same pain and loneliness I had felt as a child. Writing that first book sparked a passion in me that has only grown stronger over the years. As a university professor specializing in Child Psychology and Theories of Personalities for over 20 years, I have dedicated my career to understanding and supporting children’s emotional and psychological development.

All of this work and these experiences naturally led to the creation of KIDEOGO and the development of the TAEI Method—The Advancement of Empathy and Integrity. Today, KIDEOGO is committed to creating Social-Emotional content that empowers children worldwide by nurturing empathy, integrity, and emotional intelligence. We do this through innovative, character-driven educational content supported by cutting-edge, research-backed methodologies. The work we do at KIDEOGO is not just about education; it’s about making a lasting impact on the lives of children by helping them grow into emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and resilient individuals.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

Absolutely not! The challenges are overwhelming, to say the least. One of the most significant obstacles I’ve faced, and continue to face, is the stark disparity in startup funding between men and women. In 2022, for instance, only a shocking 2.1% of venture capital went to all-women teams. Securing the support I needed has been an uphill battle. Investors often seek quick, measurable returns, and unfortunately, initiatives focused on children’s emotional health and well-being don’t promise the rapid financial gains that many are looking for.

What people fail to recognize is that investing in children’s mental health yields significant long-term savings for society. Research consistently shows that for every dollar invested in early childhood programs, society can save up to $7 in future costs related to issues like incarceration, healthcare, and social services. It’s baffling to me that despite widespread complaints about high taxes, there isn’t more support for educational programs that foster emotional intelligence, empathy, and integrity. These programs could drastically reduce the societal costs of crises such as gun violence, drug abuse, self-harm, and the high rates of youth incarceration.

The bureaucratic hurdles are another nightmare. The process to access what little funding is available is mind-bendingly complex, and that’s just scratching the surface of the challenges involved. Yet, despite these obstacles, I am confident that what we’ve created at KIDEOGO and the TAEI Academy have the potential to revolutionize education and mental health. Our approach could lead to fewer behavioral issues in classrooms, reduced mental health challenges among youth, lower incarceration rates, and even a decrease in teacher attrition.

The impact is profound, and it’s time for society and the government to recognize the immense value in supporting these types of initiatives. The long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment, both in financial terms and in creating a healthier, more empathetic, and emotionally resilient society.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

At KIDEOGO, our mission is to develop educational content that nurtures emotional intelligence, empathy, and integrity in children. The TAEI Academy teaches the TAEI Method (The Advancement of Empathy and Integrity), which is a comprehensive teaching approach designed to instill these essential values from an early age and support teachers in effective, empathetic classroom and behavior management. Additionally, we offer free training through the TAEI Academy, empowering educators to implement these principles effectively in their classrooms without worrying about cost.

What sets KIDEOGO apart is our commitment to creating engaging, interactive, and emotionally intelligent content that resonates with young learners of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Our approach goes beyond traditional educational models that focus solely on academics. Instead, we prioritize the holistic development of children, ensuring they grow into empathetic, resilient, and morally grounded individuals. This focus on social and emotional learning is what I’m most proud of, particularly the positive feedback we receive from educators and parents who see the tangible impact our methods have on children’s lives.

Our global mission is expanding rapidly. We’ve already brought KIDEOGO and the TAEI Method to countries like India and Nigeria, where we recently built Lia’s Library and Social Emotional Learning Center for a school in India. We also completed free training for educators in Nigeria, equipping them with the tools to implement our methodologies. But these are just the beginning. Our goal is to extend our innovative teaching methods and educational content worldwide, helping children everywhere develop the crucial skills of empathy, integrity, and emotional intelligence.

The TAEI Method is truly unique in its approach. It includes reflection components like Super Power Sitting and Quiet Quest, which help foster meaningful and secure connections between children, teachers, and caregivers. We also use interactive storytelling, role-playing scenarios, collaborative projects, and community involvement initiatives like our Pay-It-Forward (PIF) program, which creates immersive learning experiences that are both fun and impactful. Moreover, we provide resources such as games, animated videos, activities, and songs that make learning an engaging and enjoyable process.

In essence, KIDEOGO and the partnership with TAEI are dedicated to transforming education into a tool for emotional and social growth. By focusing on these core values and offering innovative, research-backed content, we’re not just teaching children—we’re helping to shape a more empathetic and morally grounded generation for the future.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.

In truth, I wouldn’t say I like change. People are often surprised when they hear that, especially from someone who has lived in seven countries and multiple cities around the world. But the reality is that embracing change doesn’t always mean you enjoy it. I believe that anyone who is brave enough to try something new and risk failure is a true risk-taker. Every time we open ourselves up to the possibility of heartbreak, failure, or loss, we’re taking a leap of faith. It’s a part of being human—stepping onto the ledge of life, not knowing what will happen next.

Do I take my risk-taking to the next level? I suppose I do when it comes to standing up for what I believe in or supporting those I care about. But when it comes to high-adrenaline activities like bungee jumping or other extreme adventures, the answer is an emphatic “hard no.” Even I have my limits. However, as an entrepreneur, you must be willing to risk everything—your time, relationships, personal finances, and even your physical and mental health to some degree. It’s not easy to tell yourself, “No matter what, I’m giving this my all,” but it’s often necessary to pursue your vision.

That said, risk-taking isn’t for everyone. In fact, research shows that around 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years. So, I wouldn’t recommend entrepreneurship to everyone, as we all have different paths and personal journeys. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. And if I’m being completely honest, sometimes I envy those with a steady 9-to-5 job. There’s a certain simplicity and rhythm to that lifestyle—the stability of a regular paycheck can help keep one’s sanity intact. But ultimately, we need all kinds of people to make the world work effectively and efficiently. That’s the beauty of diversity and the dance of life, where each of us plays our unique part.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kideogo.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kideogo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KIDEOGO/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kideogo
• Other: https://www.premastar.com

Image Credits

Raymond Hamlin