We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Joy Argonza recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My family is from the Philippines. I was one of the few that were born and raised in New Jersey. I was the youngest of my generation, I didn’t speak the language and I often felt alone and like I didn’t fit in at home.
My best friends in high school embraced me as a part of their family, introducing me to their parents, aunts, uncles and all of their cousins. That’s how I met Mama Del.
Mama Del was a wife, mother and she was an entrepreneur. If I could describe her in any way I would say she was sunshine in human form and from what I observed, she was the one that brought everyone together.
Mama Del witnessed my journey from high school, college and into my professional career. During a family trip to Texas, she surprised me and said she wanted to buy me a dance studio. I asked her why. She explained that, she found joy in Zumba classes and she believed I would make a great instructor who deserved her own studio. I remember her exact words were “Bilib na bilib ako sa iyo”, (in Tagalog. This is translated to “I really believe in you”). These were words that I hadn’t heard before.
I told her that I had never even tried a Zumba class. So, I declined her offer, and she didn’t get the chance to purchase that dance studio.
Not long after, Mama Del got really sick. She was keeping the secret of her illness behind her infectious smile.
After she left us, I decided to try a Zumba class. I fell in love and found joy in dancing again. Becoming an instructor, I attended the Zumba convention and experienced thousands of people from different corners of the world, who didn’t speak the same language, yet were able to dance together as one.
I began teaching Zumba part-time while continuing my full-time corporate job to maintain my lifestyle. I met my husband, and together, we built our own family.
One year after our son was born, I got laid off from what I thought was going to be my forever corporate job. I had to figure out what we were going to do.
For years, I often looked through the windows into empty commercial units and imagined opening a studio. I knew it was time and I learned to believe in myself the way Mama Del believed in me.
My purpose is to continue her legacy of bringing people together, building a community where people feel safe, seen and feel like they belong.
I opened The Studio Ligaya. I went for my dream – the one that she gave me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the owner and founder of The Studio Ligaya. Ligaya translates to joy which is not only my name but it is also what I strive to share throughout my community.
The Studio Ligaya is an AAPI woman-owned fitness studio and event venue. We offer moms-to-be, new moms and mom’s mom a variety of group classes as well as a safe space for gatherings to celebrate all milestones big or small.
We are personal trainers that are also licensed to offer different forms of Zumba, Barre, CIRCL Mobility, STRONG Nation and Mommy-and-me Zumbini.
The Studio Ligaya is a special destination that brings people together. We learn to prioritize ourselves so that we may show up our best for our families, & our communities.
It is a destination to build connections and lifelong memories that spark ligaya.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three things that made the most impact on my journey were passion, resilience and a supportive network.
1. Passion: Find what truly fuels your ambition. Follow your passions, as they will drive you to work harder and stay committed. Let your enthusiasm and genuine love for what you do shine!
2. Resilience: Stay positive, fail forward, and focus on solutions instead of problems. Take care of your well-being and seek support from loved ones.
3. Building a Supportive Network: “Your net-worth is in your network!” Connect with like-minded people and participate in professional communities. Offer support and engage actively in these networks.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
A book that I recommended that has been impactful to my growth and development is Dare to Lead by Brene Brown. It reinforced the importance of identifying your own personal values, building strong connections as a leader and how to navigate difficult conversations and situations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thestudioligaya.com
- Instagram: @thestudioligaya
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestudioligaya
Image Credits
Malcolm Little, Michael Delacruz, Ninth Note Media & Dhaval Shah
