An Inspired Chat with Tiffany Mathias of Brooklyn

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Tiffany Mathias. Check out our conversation below.

Tiffany, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I have always loved dancing. As a little girl, I used to dream of being a dancer and traveling the world. That didn’t happen but my love of dance did not go away. In 2024, I joined a dance studio and now I take classes weekly with other women who seek joy through movement and community.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tiffany Mathias. a proud cyclebreaker and community builder. I create spaces where women and youth can thrive in their brilliance.

Since 2020, I have been a member of a writing collective called the Diamond Writers. In 2022, I was promoted to a leadership role at Transparent Gem Inc (TGI)-the publishing company for the Diamond Writers. I have supported over 15 women find the power of their voice and guide them on their healing journey via words and public speaking.

I am also the founder of The Phoenix Center for Youth Development, a communty based organization created to support youth in vulnerable communities with life and social skill development. My other company is Sisterhood & Shenanigans Events. Here I curate events and engagement actitivies for women to come together for networking, mentorship, and joy-filled connections.

At my core, I am a “girls girl” who wants to end intergenerational trauma and promote hollistic healing. My motto “Restore, Rise & Reign” reminds me to accept life’s imperfections, ascend through them, and live in the fullness of my greatness.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The resilent perfectionist. If I had a dollar for everytime someone mentioned my resilence, I could retire and finally travel the world, first class no less. And I birthed the perfectionist as a tool for survival. Somewhere along my life’s journey the resilent perfectionist became my identity. I only knew how to just keep pushing through and finding a way. Then I prettied up my mess to make it look good and as if I had it all together. I stopped allowing myself to be human. I no longer feel the need to put on shows for other people for their comfort. Of course, I am going to keep chasing my dreams, but I learned that my plan doesn’t have to make sense to others nor do I need to be single visioned to do it either.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I sat down and started writing my first chapter for the Diamond Writers. The anthology was titled “Pretty Broken”. My chapter was called “Pretty Lost”. I started my wrting process with free writing. I was writing, typing, and sending myself voice notes of all the different parts of my life I felt were broken or messy. Even though these thoughts were private, I was trying to hide my truth from myself. I realized I was writing history to spare other people and protect them. My fear was the reactions of other people to my truth. I was concerned what these people would say or do when they realized I made public the pain the played a part in. That Resilent Perfectionist tried to figure out a way to “keep cute” my ugly mess. After I read my first draft, I scrapped it. If I was going to heal me and possibly some random person who would read my words and be motivted to heal themselves, then I needed to stop hiding and embrace my pain.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
She is now. I used to be a transformer. Based on the space I was in, I would morph into a different version of me in order for me to fit in. As I have gotten older I realized I was changing myself to fit into places and spaces I wasn’t supposed to be in. Now, authenticity is key to me. I have to be myself. I now see me and my contributions as important.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I want people to remember me a whole person. There are so many levels to me. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a creative, a leader, a visionary and so much more. There have been times in my life where these identities competed with each other. There have been times when I have felt like a champion in this role and other times I have wanted to give up. So the story I want told about me is that I lived fully, loved deeply, and helped others. But above all else, I inspired others to find themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://phoenixcenternyc.com/
• Instagram: 1_truefionix
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-r-mathias/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.fosmire1

Image Credits
Malcolm King
Joshua Spencer