New Jersey is home to many ambitious and talented women who juggle family, career and home. A select few of these women are also extremely busy building their own companies to help better manage the whole work-life balance. At NJMOM, we want to highlight these extraordinary women building NJ businesses and learn the secret to their success.
Feed Your Soul Bakery Owner and NJMOMpreneur: Mya Zoracki
Mya Zoracki is the NJMOMpreneur and owner of Feed Your Soul Bakery. NJMOM had the wonderful opportunity to ask Mya a few questions about her business and herself; here’s what she had to share.
NJMOM: What do you offer to your clients and how is it different than other professionals in your field?
Mya: At Feed Your Soul Bakery, we offer a product that is baked with REAL ingredients. We use our cookies as a vehicle to do good (a portion of every online purchase is donated (in cookies) to the Coalition for the Homeless, as well as other organizations). We inspire people to live their best life and to appreciate the people and moments that matter most.
NJMOM: What inspired you to come up with the idea for your business?
Mya: I was a trader on the American Stock Exchange, where I literally stood on a box and screamed in a crowd of men for 7 years. I went to law school at night and received my Juris Doctorate. Life was full, but I was looking for something more meaningful.
NJMOM: What is your favorite part about your business?
Mya: I love that we are able to create a product that makes people smile at Feed Your Soul Bakery. Cookies can truly brighten someone’s day. I also love that the more we sell, the more we give. It’s at the core of why Feed Your Soul Bakery was created in the first place.
NJMOM: What is your background in your business expertise?
Mya: I have a B.A. in International Relations and a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School, but my true experience has come from real life experience; understanding the business side and the science of baking. People often say “oh, its so cute that you bake…..” I have employees and meetings with my accounting team, my legal team, we handle logistics and freight, and we have national distribution chains. We have a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and food quality control. We ship by pallet and we are well versed in the efficiency of our machinery. We purchase ingredients as commodities… we care about our ingredients, our employees and our brand. Sure we are “cute,” but really, we are anything but cute. Yes, I started Feed Your Soul Bakery out of a studio apartment in Hoboken, NJ 10 years ago, and if you ordered chocolate chip cookies on Monday you had a different recipe than chocolate chip cookies on Wednesday. I promise you we have come a long way since those beginning days!
NJMOM: Who is your role model?
Mya: The good people that have believed in me and Feed Your Soul Bakery. I credit every person along the way who has given me a chance, inspired my story and helped my business to grow.
NJMOM: What’s the best piece of advice your mom ever gave to you?
Mya:
Remember there is something in you and you are a survivor.
NJMOM: What are your favorite things to do in New Jersey with your family?
Mya: I have a 2 and 3 year old so they are still very small. One of our favorite things to do is go to the New Jersey beaches. We also love Little Rockers music classes in New Jersey.
NJMOM: What is the best part about being a mom for you?
Mya: I love being able to watch how they think about things. I enjoy laughing with them and being silly because it reminds me how simple life can be.
