We were lucky to catch up with Triandie Wold recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Triandie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

“My parents instilled in me a strong work ethic and emphasized the value of perseverance and dedication. They taught me the importance of integrity, honesty, and treating others with respect. These values have shaped my character and influenced my approach to both life and my career.

In particular, their emphasis on hard work has motivated me to strive for excellence in everything I do. Their guidance has helped me navigate challenges and setbacks with resilience, and their belief in me has given me the confidence to pursue my goals and dreams. I am grateful for the solid foundation they provided me, as it continues to guide me in my professional endeavors and personal growth.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Triandie Wold, and I am the Founder and CEO of “Littlest Playmates” Early Intervention Program. I get giddy when I say that because it’s genuinely a dream come true. If you don’t mind, I would love to explain what early intervention is because a lot of people don’t understand what it entails and then I can dive into my background of how I feel in love with this field.

Early intervention is the umbrella term for services and supports available to families caring for babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities. These services may include speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other services based on the child and family’s needs. My company, Littlest Playmates, currently provides in-home “Infant Stimulation.” Infant stimulation vastly differs from other early intervention services because it centers on parent empowerment and nurturing the parent-child dynamic through “play.”

I started teaching toddler gymnastics classes in high school and loved it. While in college, I worked as a teacher’s assistant in a preschool classroom, which was also a lot of fun. I studied Sociology and Child Development in college and graduated in 2000. Once I graduated, I continued teaching preschool for the next two years. During those years, I saw that some children in my classroom were more challenging to connect with than others. The knowledge I gained in college didn’t seem to answer my questions regarding the challenges I was facing in the classroom, so I went back to school, attended every conference and training I could, read a lot of books, and did everything possible to become a better teacher.

In 2003, I stumbled across the field of early intervention when I attended a conference entitled “Different Learners.” During that conference, I quickly realized the direction I wanted to go in my career and the next steps I needed to take. I applied for several early intervention positions and landed my first early interventionist job in 2003. I grew within that company quickly and stayed with that company for about five years before I moved on to a different early intervention company, where I stayed for the next 12 years.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I began to feel incredibly stagnant in my career. Working with the children and families was very rewarding, but I wanted to play a much larger role in the field of early intervention. So, every chance I had during the pandemic, I sat down and wrote out the “Littlest Playmates” program design and business plan. One hundred and sixty pages later, I submitted my proposal and program design to the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center in Los Angeles in 2021, who then submitted it on my behalf to the Department of Developmental Services for approval.

I had worked incredibly hard on my program design for over a year, so I felt confident in what I had put forward. In June 2021, I received a call and an official approval letter. To say I felt immense gratitude and excitement is an understatement. Currently and almost 3 years later, Littlest Playmates is thriving. I feel incredibly blessed to continue working with families in their homes, but I now also guide, train, and mentor other professionals in the field which I really enjoy.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team effectively and maintaining high morale are crucial aspects of leadership in any business. Here are some pieces of advice I have for managing a team:

1. Communicate openly and frequently: Keep your team informed about goals, priorities, and changes within the organization. Encourage open communication, listen to their feedback, and address any concerns they may have.

2. Provide support and development opportunities: Invest in your team’s growth by offering training, mentoring, and opportunities for advancement. Show that you care about their professional development and well-being.

3. Recognize and reward achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your team members’ successes and contributions. Recognition can boost morale and motivate employees to continue performing at their best… small bonuses are also always a good idea.

4. Foster a positive work environment:** Create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture where team members feel valued, respected, and empowered. Encourage collaboration, teamwork, and a healthy work-life balance.

5. Lead by example: Demonstrate strong leadership qualities by being transparent, fair, and consistent in your decision-making. Show integrity, empathy, and a commitment to the team’s success.

6. Encourage feedback and continuous improvement: Solicit feedback from your team on a regular basis and be open to suggestions for improvement. Encourage a culture of learning and growth within the team.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe that several key factors have helped me build a strong reputation with my market. Firstly, I prioritize delivering a high-quality service and exceptional individualized experiences for each child and family we work with.

Secondly, I place a strong emphasis on building and maintaining relationships with the families we work with. By actively listening to their feedback, addressing their needs, and providing personalized solutions, I have been able to forge meaningful connections that have contributed to positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Additionally, I have leveraged effective branding strategies to establish a strong presence in the market and differentiate myself from competitors. By showcasing my unique attention to detail and staying true to my program philosophies, I have been able to build credibility and attract new referrals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.littlestplaymates.com
• Instagram: @littlestplaymates

Image Credits
Thank you to all the families that have given me permission to use photos including their kiddos.