Ep. 305 Tilly Levine
Tilly Levine is an amazing example of resilience, purpose, and the power of a positive mindset. Tilly immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 23 with her then-husband, Hezy Shaked, with nothing but a single suitcase and a lot of positivity. Together, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit, they began selling clothes and toys at a local swap meet before saving enough to open the first Tilly’s retail store in Orange County in 1982. This single shop would eventually grow into a nationally recognized NYSE retail chain with over 200 locations.
Her personal journey continued to evolve after her divorce. Instead of allowing this to be a source of strife, she and her ex-husband focused on a positive, solution-oriented approach, successfully keeping their family and business partnership together. This experience reinforced her core philosophy of positivity, a belief that positive thoughts lead to positive feelings, which in turn lead to positive action. This same philosophy, which she credits for her success in business and in life, would become the foundation for her next, and most important, chapter.
Tilly's "aha" moment came after years of philanthropic work. While donating money to provide food and shelter for teens, she noticed that many of them would unfortunately return to negative lifestyles. She realized what they truly needed were tools to build confidence, find purpose, and cope with life's challenges. In 2012, this realization led her to found Tilly's Life Center (TLC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth with social-emotional learning. Tilly believes that TLC is her true purpose on this planet, as the center's "I Am Me" curriculum helps young people learn how to regulate their emotions and make better decisions, providing them with hope and the skills to create a happy, healthy, and productive future. TLC’s provides teens with the tools they need to cope with the complex challenges of today. Tilly's journey is a powerful reminder that our personal struggles can be transformed into a force for good, creating a lasting legacy that helps others find their way.