Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Linda Akinbusuyi-Wilson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Linda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge in my industry to profitability, is the devaluation of childcare in its entirety.

Childcare has always been seen as one of the basic essentials of society, which has resulted in many professionals feeling undervalued and underpaid . If in fact it is one of the basic essentials of society, then we should feel even more compelled to prioritize that essential need .

As someone who has worked as a teacher, recess coach, children’s entertainer, and a behavioral therapist; I’ve often found myself having to negotiate pay rates, which still ultimately didn’t yield realistic financial outcomes compared to the daily expenses I faced .

Linda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Tots and giggles started from my interest in working with kids at the age of 15, where I was a babysitter for 4 children, who now call me aunty. This interest grew into a passion which led many people to inquire about my opinions and expertise on numerous occasions; thus launching my business .

T&G is a childcare company that provides event sitters for corporate, private, school functions, fundraising and community events. In addition to that, we also provide daycare consultation as far as hiring and placing childcare providers .

One of the differences in my company versus other companies is that I get involved with the events and placements so I can always have a first person point of view when addressing situations pertaining to my business . Due to this reason, I am able to build trust with my clients and establish rapport with my team members, as well as the children in our care .

I am most proud of the relationships we have built over the years with clients, sitters , parents, and most importantly children .

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I look back on the time when I first started my business and I was seeking out funds in order to buy inventory, market my brand and etc. I applied to many grants and loans and was seeking financial help . Ultimately, I worked several jobs including Uber and food delivery services, in addition to working a regular full time job, so I could build my own financial backing for my business. Fast forward 2 years later, and I still use my savings and personal income to support my business.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Just like many business professionals during Covid, I had to pivot when it came to my business due to lack of demand. However, this situation was not the first time I had to redirect myself, so I was a bit prepared for the storm. However, during the period of the pandemic, I lost all my childcare providers as well as clients.

This pivot encouraged me to change some aspects of my business approach, and challenged me to rethink the way I strategize and manage my company

Contact Info:

• Website: https://totsandgiggles2019.wixsite.com/mysite
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totsngiggles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totsngiggles?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@totsgiggles9731?si=ITbp4ohJjt5WFj7U