Meet Kemaya Molden | Owner of Maya’s Bakes

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kemaya Molden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kemaya, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
To give up or to not give up, that is the question. I never thought I’d be in a place where I had to ask myself this question in life and especially in regards to my own business. Without going into too much detail because the topic is still very sensitive, I will state that I was on the verge of dismantling my business not too long ago. I was under so much stress and I felt alone. Something I wouldn’t wish on anyone! This period had me questioning my entire baking career, my passion, and my purpose in life. It was an extremely dark place, but without that experience I wouldn’t be able to reflect on this question.

My experience was emotional; I felt that giving up would lead to the problems that I was dealing with to disappear and leave me stress free! It was brought to my attention from reading The E Myth Revisited, that just because I loved to bake, didn’t mean that I needed my own baking business. I could easily go bake for someone else’s business and let them handle all that stress and responsibility! I wouldn’t have to worry about being taken advantage of or feeling unsupported. Oh, the thoughts that spiraled in my head. Ultimately, I discovered that my love for baking wasn’t just the activity and what it had done for me, but the joy my baking brings to people and the everlasting impact Maya’s Bakes will have on the world forever once I complete my mission is why I have the gift to be great.

So when its time to decide whether to give up or not, ask yourself if the aftermath is worth it. What comes next? Who does quitting effect? DO believe in your decision and the fact that you made it. It should leave you feeling okay with yourself.

What should our readers know about your business?
Maya’s Bakes is the go-to experience when you’re seeking comfort and familiarity. A Bite of Nostalgia is our slogan. We specialize in the classics from way back when. Desserts as simple as chocolate chip cookies, to blueberry muffins and banana pudding done right, are just a few to name that will transport you back in time to pure, blissful moments. Our pound cake has brought people to tears! Maya’s Bakes is currently working towards opening its own shop. With the help of our Honeycomb Credit Investment Fundraiser, (https://invest.honeycombcredit.com/campaigns/maya’s-bakes) we are well on our way to securing our own production facility to ensure that our wholesale expansion, bake shop, and catering business are stable and ready to take off!

What makes Maya’s Bakes (as a whole, not just the best tasting treats ever) special is the inspiration behind every aspect of the business. Every treat, every event, every production comes from an adult living out childhood ingenuity. The meticulous way the treats are contrived from its origin state to packaging makes all the difference when it comes to what you experience when you take a bite! The colors of MB are the same colors I used as a child when making invitations and calendars on my pc with the Barbie Working Girl game. When I serve my treats, that same 6 year old child that baked brownies and pop tarts under a lightbulb with her Easy Baked Oven shines through in each presentation. It’s very rewarding to be able to share my creativeness and in return receive a pure, delighted reaction.

I am super proud of myself for not giving up! I am proud to learn from my mistakes and allow that fire to light the way for my future. I am proud of what I have in store for Maya’s Bakes. The road I travel may be paved, gravel, or dirt, but the endgame will always be sprinkles and sunshine. Before I participated in an accelerator program I was just a baker, not a businessowner. My eyes were open to things I had never thought of, both enlightening and disgusting. One of the greatest lessons I learned, was that this is MY BUSINESS and no one will see the vision I have for it the way that I see it. I learned that some help may come with its own unshared agenda disguised as sincerity. Another key lesson was me realizing that I was only one doing anything for my business (at one point my little sister helped greatly). I was the mind behind every single thing that went on; that left me limited, me doing only what I knew to do. Now that I know more, I’ll still be the mind behind every single thing that goes on, but I’ll have help where it’s needed. I am still learning and loving it!

Maya’s Bakes has big dreams. I believe having our own production facility is the start of what I have in store for the world. Whether you had a chance to invest in our business through our Honeycomb Credit Investment Fundraiser or not, we hope that we’re able to expand our reach on DoorDash/DashMart as planned and provide convenient treats in your city. We currently are available in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus-Toledo and Cleveland are next; very exciting stuff. Once our shop is open and the community is loving our sundaes and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, we plan to purchase a sprinter to help with catering services and events! Believe me when I say: all that is just the tip! Our baking program, Maya’s’ Bakes: For Fun! is the end goal. We host mini cake decorating events at The Hamilton County Public Library in Forest Park to keep the spark ignited until we can go full throttle in providing a safe place to experiment to a wider community. We love Forest Park Library! Our production, A Taste of Maya’s Bakes and Maya’s Bakes: Ice Cream Social events are other ways we engage the community.

To whomever is reading this, I’d like you to know that I am doing my best with everything that I have. I hope my words inspire you and I hope one day Maya’s Bakes affects you in the way it intends to. Maya’s Bakes is still kicking by the skin of my teeth, but I am certain 80% of the baby teeth have fallen out. This time next year, MB will have some reflecting to be shared. Every entrepreneur goes through hard times, but the best way to predict the future is to create it so…. get to work!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My city is pretty small so we will be all over the place for the adventure. Starting with OTR Bagel- by far the best bagel I’ve ever had. They remind me of the bagels my grandma use to give my brother and I when we were little. My bestie loves bagels so I know he’d love that spot. Now that breakfast snack is out is out the way, we’d hit up the escape room located on the banks to burn the calories. After receiving our “I escaped” stickers we will soak up the downtown scenery via snapchat. We are making a mad dash to Liberty Township to indulge in the best brunch served at The North Star. I usually pick great eateries so that’ll be another point for meeee! The pancakes are 100/100! If it were closer to my side of town, I’d develop a problem,
We’d definitely walk off the meal with some shopping, maybe go skydiving. Then nap time. Of course when we wake up it’ll be time to eat again. I’d suggest Chick Fil A for some quick and familiar snack food before we catch the matinee. Oakley Cinemark with my membership rewards is the only place to do that.
If there’s a video game spot in our city like the old 2-bit arcade, that’s next! If not, we will get some rounds in on my game system until its time to hit up a nightspot. Maybe Nostalgia or Esoteric- they have chill vibes and open mics, just our speed. It’s bed time after that, so on the way home we’re grabbing Hooks or Hooligans and calling it a night.

I’m an introvert so this was fun to write.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to thank the man that walked into my shop, asked a few questions, and came back another day with a book called, The E Myth Revisited. I believe he could read the stress written on my forehead. At the time, I couldn’t even think of opening that book as I was at the top of the hill on an emotional rollercoaster, so unprepared for what was about to go down. I actually read the book several months later, after I had made the decision to pick myself up and keep going. This book is highly highly recommended to ANY entrepreneur and especially to the organizations that claim to be qualified to help small businesses! I am forever grateful to that man. He stopped by some time after I started reading, and I was able to thank him. I really am thankful, but no I do not know his name. He knows who he is though.

Website: www.mayasbakes.com

Instagram: @ilovemayasbakes

Twitter: @ilovemayasbakes

Facebook: facebook.com/mayasbakes

Youtube: @mayasbakes

Other: TikTok @ilovemayasbakes