Today we’d like to introduce you to Diamond Hutchinson.
Hi Diamond, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story begins in 2015 as I attended Delaware State University as a nursing major. I chose nursing because it was a practical and reliable career choice. I chose an HBCU because I craved connection and inspiration. As I entered my junior year of college, I realized that I was not passionate about healthcare, so I decided to come back home and transfer to UMBC.
I changed my major to media and communications as I figured this was a better choice because of how broad the major was when it came to job opportunities. The change allowed me to feel less constricted and more open to exploring all the possibilities that this major had to offer. As I navigated through various career fields within media, I found it difficult to find my true passion. I liked a lot of the jobs that I worked but I never found myself falling in love with any of them and I yearned to love what I did.
As I progressed in my exploration of the different opportunities in the media field, I continued working towards completing my education. Following college, I was working as an executive administrator for a publishing company a job I enjoyed, and then COVID happened. The pandemic gave me an opportunity to stay home and focus on the kind of work I wanted to do, and what my next steps looked like.
Fast forward to 2022, I had my son and took my maternity leave and used this time to not only connect with my newborn but to also start the process of opening my daycare. This is something I have always wanted to do as I found my passion in working with children. Opening a daycare was a strenuous process that took over a year to complete and open. I had to take classes, put money aside for supplies, complete and pass 3 different inspections, and attend orientations all while being a new mom and working a full-time job.
Luckily, I have an amazing support system and village that supported and assisted me the whole way through. Currently, we are open as a licensed daycare center in Maryland. Within not even a full year of being opened, we have filled our vacant spots, filled our waitlist, hired staff, and are working towards our second location. It has been an amazing journey so far and we are looking forward to continued growth!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has honestly been a rollercoaster ride filled with ups and downs. Being an entrepreneur is a trying role because of the non-stop work that goes into it, especially within the first 1-3 years of business. In those first years, there can be a lot of moving pieces and a lot of learning lessons. Some struggles I faced along the way include pushbacks on inspections which then pushed back our opening date several times.
I was reluctant to pass my first 2 inspections on the first try but my 3rd one took over 3 months to even get scheduled. Some of the classes that I had to complete to receive my license were rescheduled or conflicted with my availability. I was on a tight budget because of all the materials I had to purchase for the daycare meaning I was restricted when it came to my social life. Overall, it was a trying experience, but I have enjoyed every bit of the process nonetheless.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Little Leaders Childcare Center?
Little Leaders is a Childcare Center located in PG County MD. We offer a variety of services such as daycare for ages 3 months-5 years, and Before and Aftercare and tutoring for school-age children ages 6-12 years old. Our Center offers a safe space for children to establish and develop the leadership qualities that will allow them to seamlessly transition into the next phases of their lives. We provide a stimulating environment that focuses on individualized learning and is flexible to the needs of busy working families.
What sets us apart other than all that we offer is our approach to learning. We advocate for the importance of Early Education and our curriculum represents that. We take the time to observe each child and create an individualized learning plan to tailor to them. We want learning to be enjoyable, so we incorporate STEM and play-based learning styles. As a Center, we encourage family involvement, so we do have MMM (monthly mom meetings). These meetings were created to bring together the families of the Center to create a community. We want everyone to feel comfortable and supported.
Brand wise I am most proud of the families that are a part of our center. They are all super involved, communicative, and supportive in our efforts to continue to grow and expand.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe my self-discipline is most important to my success. Owning a business can be challenging at times it requires a lot of hard work and dedication. My self-discipline is what helps me stay motivated and on track with my goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lttleleaders.wixsite.com/littleleaderschildca
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleleaderschildcarecenter?igsh=MW91aXFvaTIzY3Rjcw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095222799435&mibextid=9R9pXO
