Welcome to the next installment of our Get to know... series - where we invite you to learn more about the amazing companies that make up our SHE Certified Community™. This feature highlights Maya's Cookies - a Black-owned and woman-led gourmet, vegan cookie company. Based in San Diego, they not only make delicious vegan cookies (that can be shipped anywhere in the US) they also give back to their community in ways. We had them answer some questions that give us insight into their business and why they're proud to be women-led. Read the interview below!
Introduce your company!
Maya’s Cookies is America’s #1 Black-owned gourmet, vegan cookie company. From the classic to unique and forward-thinking flavors such as "Chocolate Chip S'mores" and "Marble Fudge", every flavor has a story grounded in Maya's travels, memories, and experiences.
What is your mission as a company?
Maya’s aims to provide customers with delicious, gourmet, craft quality, plant-based cookies for vegans and non-vegans alike. Alongside providing the highest quality product that appeals to everyone, Maya's Cookies is committed to superior customer service and community engagement, with a focus on youth and underserved communities.
"Maya’s Cookies has always functioned with the understanding that as a Black-owned and woman-owned business, social responsibility is at the core of everything we do."
Show off some work or products you're excited about.
This year’s holiday offerings are our best yet and we are so thrilled to share them. From the warm and cozy comforts of cinnamon and vanilla in our Cinnamon Bun cookie to classic combinations like chocolate and peppermint in our Peppermint Bark Bliss, Maya’s Cookies has a little
something for everyone.
Which SHE marks have you been certified for?
We have been Certified SHEruns™ and SHEmakes™!
Introduce us to your team.
My name is Shelby Rodich and I am the Senior Marketing Manager here at Maya’s Cookies. A majority of not only our staff but our management team is comprised of women and it’s incredibly important that we nurture an environment of trust and compassion to help each other (and the business) grow. From retail employees to bakers to ecommerce specialists, the Maya’s Cookies team is packed with strong women who get the job done.
We carry a lot of responsibility, not only as women but also as representatives of a Black-owned business, to hold ourselves to a high standard as we work to overcome the inevitable gender and race disparities that create barriers along the way. We are incredibly proud of our brand identity and the cookie community we’ve built over the years.
Why are you proud to be a women-led company?
Each day that we succeed as a woman-owned, Black-owned business is a small step forward in closing the gender gap that so heavily dominates the business world around us. As we continue to grow, we are proud to add more powerful women and POC to our team and redistribute wealth among the community, locally and beyond.
What benefits have you experienced being a woman-run company?
It’s often so easy to talk about the challenges that come with being a woman in business, but having the support of a strong female-led team is so valuable to the overall success of our company. There is an undeniable foundation of support and understanding at Maya's Cookies that I personally have never experienced at any other company.
In what ways other than gender equity do you think your company is making the world a better place?
Maya’s Cookies has always functioned with the understanding that as a Black-owned and woman-owned business, social responsibility is at the core of everything we do. As a company, we seek out opportunities to collaborate with and uplift other Black or female entrepreneurs and often try to share resources that are not usually offered to BIPOC or woman-led businesses when starting out.
Additionally, a majority of our production staff come from Kitchens for Good, a local program which helps individuals facing barriers to employment gain the skills needed to create sustainable careers. Whether it be addiction, homelessness or domestic violence, Kitchens for Good and Maya’s Cookies gives folks an opportunity to start fresh in a professional kitchen environment.
Where can everyone find, shop, and connect with Maya's Cookies?
Website: https://www.mayascookies.com/
Instagram: @MayasCookiesSanDiego
Twitter: @MayasCookies
Store Locations: San Diego, CA & San Marcos, CA
