Melissa Ben-Ishay of Baked By Melissa – Choosing Personal Growth Over Insanity

Melissa Ben-Ishay took something very tiny and built it into something very big. The “tiny” is cupcakes. The “big” is Baked by Melissa, which over the last decade has grown beyond its popular storefronts into a fast growing online business, with corporate gifting, events, and more. Melissa is quick to share that her attitude towards life and how she takes on challenges have been a big part of her success, and choosing personal growth over insanity has been her key inspiration. When she started baking cupcakes after losing her advertising job, it didn’t just generate an idea for a business—it illustrated Melissa’s values of being your best self, telling yourself how strong and capable you are, and loving what you do. Melissa joins Socialfly co-founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer for a conversation about building her business and career, and describes her journey to success. She shares the challenges and joys of building a business with your sibling, and how you keep momentum when they move on to another opportunity; the importance of having a true leader; why you don’t send messages when you’re emotional; how word of mouth and gifting have been key to the growth of Baked by Melissa; why gifting cupcakes might be a great sales strategy; Melissa’s toughest year, and special moments; how the business went rent-free in a prime location for 5 years; and, Melissa shares her superpower, and the goal of 100 million cupcakes. Plus, a surprise!