Meet Tiffany-alysa Accardi

We recently connected with Tiffany-alysa Accardi and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffany-Alysa, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Purpose shows up like an inconvenient but deeply holy interruption. It whispers to you in the middle of your heartbreak, taps you on the shoulder during your disappointment, and says, This isn’t how it’s supposed to be, but what if you did something about it?
For me, purpose began with freedom. Freedom sounded good in theory—this big, sweeping idea of living without limits. But the reality? Freedom was a fight. It meant confronting the lies I’d come into agreement with for too long. Lies that said, You’re not enough. You’re too much. You’ll never have what you need to thrive.
Those lies didn’t just quietly take up space; they built chains. And breaking those chains wasn’t a one-time thing. It was—and still is—a daily decision to choose truth over shame, courage over fear, and faith over what feels impossible.

What breaks your heart might be your blueprint.
Purpose doesn’t come wrapped in comfort; it often comes through heartbreak. I found my purpose in the cracks of what felt missing—in the longing for family, connection, and belonging.
Growing up, my grid for family was chaos. There was addiction, brokenness, and deep pain. But threaded through all of it was this unrelenting, redemptive love of God, showing up in ways I couldn’t have predicted.
I had my grandma, who gave up everything to raise me. The kind church ladies and strangers who made sure I got home after school. Friends’ dads who took me to father-daughter dances. Teachers who saw my potential and fought for me. Families who took me in when we lost everything.
And while I didn’t have the Norman Rockwell version of family I dreamed of, what I did have was a village. And that village shaped me. It taught me what family really is—it’s not just DNA or tradition. Family is radical love. It’s grace that picks you up when you fall. It’s community that fills the gaps and reminds you that you’re never truly alone.

Out of heartbreak came a calling.
As I wept for family, family became my mission.
Out of my deepest longing, family became my message.
And out of the ache I carried, family became my greatest gift.
This isn’t just about the family I’ll raise someday, although I dream of that with my whole heart. It’s about a much bigger idea: creating spaces where everyone is invited into family. Where no one is left out. Where belonging isn’t a privilege—it’s a birthright.
That vision became Gals That Brunch—a simple idea of gathering women around a table that grew into a global movement. But here’s what I need you to hear: I didn’t start this because I had it all figured out. I started it because I didn’t. Because I knew what it felt like to long for connection, and I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else feeling that ache alone.

Purpose requires courage—and freedom.
Here’s what I’ve learned about freedom: it’s not always the absence of constraints. Sometimes, freedom means breaking up with the lies you’ve lived with for too long. It’s the daily choice to release the shame, fear, and doubt that keep you playing small.
And let’s be real—freedom isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it looks like wrestling with the hard questions:
• What breaks your heart?
• What fills you with compassion?
• What keeps you up at night, thinking, praying, dreaming of a better way?
For me, the answer to those questions was family and connection. But your answer might be something completely different. The important thing is to listen—to let the heartbreak guide you toward hope, because heartbreak and hope are two sides of the same coin.

The vision will propel you forward.
There have been so many days when this work felt too heavy. When I wanted to quit, to hide under the covers, to run from the heartbreak that led me here in the first place.
But here’s the thing about purpose: when you let the vision grow outside of yourself, it starts to carry you. The vision reminds you why you started in the first place. It becomes the fire that keeps burning, even on the hardest days.
My purpose wasn’t something I found in a moment of clarity—it was something I built, piece by piece, by showing up in the mess, in the heartbreak, and in the hope.

Start with what breaks your heart.
If you’re wondering how to find your purpose, start here: What breaks your heart? What makes you so mad you can feel it in your bones? What problem do you keep turning over in your mind, trying to figure out how to solve?
Your purpose is waiting in the answers to those questions. It’s not about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up, one step at a time, and trusting that the heartbreak you feel is the birthplace of hope.
Because here’s the truth: the world doesn’t need you to be perfect. It needs you to show up as you are, to let your heartbreak propel you into action, and to trust that what’s inside of you is enough.
So take the first step. Lean into the heartbreak. And remember: when you build your life around what matters most, you don’t just find your purpose—you create a legacy that changes the world.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Heyyy, thank you for giving me the space to share a piece of my heartbeat and DNA with you all today. For those I haven’t had the privilege of meeting yet, hiiii! I’m Tiffany Alysa Accardi, and my life’s work revolves around one unshakable belief: we were made for connection.

I’m the founder of Gals That Brunch, a global movement spanning over 150 cities and connecting more than 200,000 women across 30 nations. It started simply: women gathering around a table, sharing pancakes, stories, and laughter. But what it’s become is nothing short of transformational. Gals That Brunch has become a powerful answer to one of the greatest crises of our time: loneliness.

Here’s what I know: loneliness isn’t just an emotional ache—it’s a cultural epidemic. It isolates, erodes purpose, and convinces people they don’t belong. But connection? True, authentic connection? It changes everything. It doesn’t just meet a need—it restores people. It reminds them who they are and invites them to dream again. And when people come alive in community, the ripple effect is undeniable. Families are healed. Teams thrive. Movements are born.

Through Gals That Brunch, I’ve seen women walk into rooms carrying the weight of invisibility and leave with family. I’ve watched leaders rediscover their calling after years of burnout. I’ve witnessed belonging do what nothing else can—restore people to their identity, purpose, and rightful place.

But this work is bigger than brunch, bigger than events, and bigger than me. It’s about creating a cultural shift where connection becomes the foundation for how we live, lead, and build. Community isn’t a trend or a buzzword—it’s the birthplace of transformation. It has the power to set the lonely into family, restore leaders to wholeness, and release people into their destinies.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding Gals That Brunch even further—into more cities, more nations, and more spaces where connection can spark restoration. I’m partnering with powerhouse brands and visionary leaders to equip them with systems that build communities that don’t just survive—they thrive. My vision is clear: a world where loneliness is replaced with belonging, where leaders rise in freedom, and where community transforms cultures.

Here’s what I want you to hear: your voice, your story, and your dreams matter. There are people waiting on the other side of your courage—waiting for what only you can carry. So, lean in. Take up your space. Build boldly. Because when you say yes to what’s burning inside you, heaven roars over your life.

The world doesn’t need more noise. It needs leaders and movements who are willing to go deep, lead with intention, and create something that will outlast them. If you’ve been waiting for permission, consider this your sign: this is your time.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

If there’s anything I’m passionate about in life, let me just say this: let me save you the blood, sweat, tears, and oh-so-many Benjamins later, okay? 😂

I have in no way mastered it all (not even close), and I’m still over here taking it one day at a time. But if you’re reading this, let me tell you—I’ve managed to put one foot in front of the other every single day, even when it felt impossible. And you can, too.

So, here’s the deal. If you’re in the thick of building, dreaming, or just trying to figure out what’s next, let me give you a few recurring truths I’ve had to hold onto along the way. These are the things I keep coming back to when life feels messy, when the vision feels far away, or when I just need a little nudge to keep going.

1. Relentless Vision
Here’s what I’ve learned about vision: it’s not always loud. It doesn’t show up as a detailed plan or a crystal-clear roadmap. Most of the time, vision is a whisper. A small, persistent nudge that says, This isn’t it. There’s something more here.

For me, Gals That Brunch started with heartbreak. I was just trying to find friends, to feel like I belonged, to create a space where women could show up and connect without fear of judgment. That’s it. But as I kept showing up, something beautiful happened—the vision grew.

It grew legs.
It walked beyond me.
It became bigger than anything I could hold on my own.

And here’s the thing about vision: when it grows outside of you, it becomes the thing that carries you.

On the days I don’t want to get out of bed, when the work feels too heavy, when I’ve been hurt or betrayed or I just want to quit, it’s the vision that keeps me moving. It’s that constant whisper, reminding me why I started. The reminder that this isn’t just about me—it’s about us. It’s about creating something bigger than ourselves.

Relentless vision propels us forward. It anchors us when the waves feel too strong. It says, Get up. Keep going. This matters.

And here’s the truth: Sometimes vision is born out of heartbreak. Sometimes it’s the ache in your heart that says, This is NOT it that pushes you to build something better. And often, the very strategy you need to move forward comes from life’s greatest disappointments. But those same disappointments? They can lead to your greatest victories.

So, if you’re building or dreaming right now, lean into that whisper. Let the vision grow beyond you, and when you’re ready to quit, let it carry you forward. Because that’s how you move through the hard days—one little yes at a time.

2. The Courage to Let People In
Okay, this one’s big. Because let me tell you, I’ve been there—the girl who wants to carry it all alone. The leader who wants to protect her vision and keep people at arm’s length because, well, letting people in feels scary.

But here’s what I’ve learned: when you hold people at a distance, you lose the very thing that makes this whole thing worth it—connection.

Shame will tell you that your pain is a burden. That asking for help is weakness. That you need to “protect” the people you love by hiding when life feels messy. But let me call that what it is: a lie.

Here’s the truth:

Asking for help doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human.
Vulnerability doesn’t push people away; it draws them closer.
And letting people in isn’t just freeing for you—it’s empowering for them.
The moment I started letting people into the messy middle—my team, my friends, even my community—it changed everything. People don’t need you to have it all together. They need you to be real.

So ask yourself:

Who do you need to let in?
Where do you need to ask for help today?
What’s one step you can take to stop doing it all on your own?
When we let people in, we give them permission to do the same. Vulnerability doesn’t just transform you—it transforms the culture around you.

3. Building That Confidence Muscle
Here’s the deal: confidence is not something you wake up with—it’s a muscle. And like any muscle, it grows when you work it.

For me, every small yes built that muscle. Saying yes to hosting my first brunch, yes to sharing my story, yes to expanding this movement when I didn’t feel ready—it all added up.

It wasn’t about knowing all the answers or having it all together. It was about showing up scared, doing the thing anyway, and realizing along the way that I was stronger than I thought.

And let me tell you this: You already have everything you need. The blueprint is inside you. Every resource, tool, and ounce of wisdom—it’s already there. The trick is trusting it.

So, start small. Say yes to the next thing. And remember, you don’t have to feel ready to step into your calling. Confidence will come as you go.

If we were sitting across the table right now, here’s what I’d tell you:
1. Listen to the whisper. That nudge in your heart? It’s not random. It’s your divine blueprint, already woven into you. You don’t need a perfect plan. Just take the next small step.

2. Let people in. Stop trying to do this alone. You weren’t meant to carry it all by yourself. Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s strength.

3. Build the muscle. Confidence doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect moment. It comes from taking messy, courageous action, one small step at a time.

Truths to hold onto when you’re in the thick of it:
Sometimes vision is born from heartbreak—it’s the ache that says, This is NOT it. Let it lead you to build something better.
Confidence comes from courage, and courage comes from small, whispered yeses.
Relentless vision will anchor you on the hard days and propel you forward when you’re ready to quit.
You don’t have to carry it all alone—let people in.
Your vision is already inside you—lean into the whisper and take the next step.
And here’s the best part: When you step into your calling, heaven roars over your life. So go, do, be—you. The world is waiting, and friend, you are so ready for this.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

f there’s one thing I’ve learned through this journey of building Gals That Brunch, it’s that people crave connection. They’re desperate for community, for belonging, for that feeling of being truly known. And yet, here’s the tension: we don’t always know how to get there anymore.

We live in a culture that celebrates busyness, wears hustle like a badge of honor, and measures success by the grind. Add to that the curated highlight reels of social media, and we’ve convinced ourselves that real connection should be easy. “Look at their life—it’s so perfect. Look at their friends—it’s so effortless.” But that’s a lie, my loves.

Real connection is messy. It’s vulnerable. It takes work. And the truth is, while people crave it more than ever, we’ve lost the tools to build it.

This disconnect didn’t happen overnight. It’s what’s been modeled for us—this culture of isolation disguised as independence, of achievement at the expense of relationships. Throw in a global pandemic that kept us home and comfortable behind screens, and now the idea of face-to-face connection feels almost foreign.

For brands and businesses, it’s no different. Community gets dismissed as this fuzzy, feel-good word that’s hard to measure, hard to define. But here’s what I want every leader to know: community isn’t extra—it’s essential. It’s the difference between being a business people use and being a movement people love.

And yes, I know it can feel overwhelming. After all, we’re human, right? Sometimes it feels like connection should just happen, like it did when we were kids running up to someone on the playground saying, “Hey, I like your jelly shoes!” But now, it’s layered, nuanced, and tangled up in the noise of modern life.

What I’m doing to address this:
I’m doubling down on the basics.
Because at the end of the day, connection isn’t about algorithms or perfectly curated feeds—it’s about showing up. It’s about courageously choosing vulnerability, leaning in when it’s messy, and remembering that being known is worth the work.

Here’s how I’m tackling this:

I’m challenging the lie that connection should be easy.
I’m having real, raw conversations about what it takes to build community. Because connection? It doesn’t just fall into your lap. It takes time, intention, and the willingness to show up—even when it’s awkward, even when it’s hard.

I’m helping people and brands get back to the basics.
Remember when making friends was as simple as, “Hey, I like your jelly shoes”? That kind of simplicity doesn’t have to be lost. I’m teaching leaders, brands, and individuals to step out from behind their screens and rediscover the magic of showing up for each other.

I’m modeling what I believe.
Whether it’s creating spaces through Gals That Brunch, teaching brands to embed connection into their culture, or just being intentional in my own relationships, I’m walking this out. People don’t need more soapbox preaching—they need to see what real connection looks like in action.

I’m extending grace for where we’ve been.
Listen, this disconnection didn’t happen out of nowhere. It’s what’s been modeled for so many of us—this idea that relationships are “extra,” that independence is strength, that intimacy is weakness. I’m committed to helping people unlearn those lies and step into something better.

I’m doubling down on in-real-life moments.
Yes, technology has its place, but nothing replaces the power of being face-to-face. COVID taught us how to survive apart, but now we need to relearn how to thrive together. Making America great at making friends again? Let’s do it.

Why this matters:
Because community isn’t optional.

For individuals, it’s the antidote to loneliness and the key to living a life that’s full and thriving. For brands, it’s the secret sauce that turns customers into loyal advocates. And for our culture as a whole, it’s what will bring us back to life.

We were created for connection. It’s in our DNA. It’s the one thing that makes everything else possible. And yes, I know it can feel hard, especially in a world that’s convinced us it should be easy. But let me tell you this: the work is worth it.

Real connection is awkward sometimes. It’s messy. It’s not always convenient. But it’s also where the magic happens. It’s where walls come down, burdens are shared, and hearts are healed.

So, here’s my challenge to you: Stop believing the lie that this should be effortless. Connection is work—but it’s the most worthwhile work there is.

Final thought:
Let’s make connection a priority again. Let’s make friends like kids on a playground. Let’s show up for each other, not with perfectly polished lives, but with the messy, beautiful truth of who we are.

Because when we do that—when we lean into the hard and holy work of community—we remember what it means to be human. And isn’t that what we’re all craving anyway?

So, go ahead. Take the first step. Say, “Hey, I like your jelly shoes.” Invite someone in. Show up, even if it feels awkward. Because your life, your work, and your community will be better for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.galsthatbrunch.com | www.tiffanyalysa.com
• Instagram: @galsthatbrunch @galsthatbrunchsd @tiffanyalysa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TiffanyAlysaAccardi + https://www.facebook.com/GalsThatBrunch
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyaccardi/

Image Credits

@lovecaptured_photography brand shoot
@JaydaIYE – Italy photos
@Tlpweddings @KellieViagem – GTB photos