Meet Marisa Papetti

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marisa Papetti. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marisa below.

Marisa, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

By the time I was 17, I moved out of my parents’ home, though I would have left earlier if I could. I had been self-sufficient for years, handling everything from homework, managing the household, raising my brother and managing unexpected visitors. Independence wasn’t just a goal; it was second nature.

This deep-rooted self-reliance shaped me into the entrepreneur I am today. I always found traditional jobs difficult—not because I wasn’t capable, but because I struggled with authority. Having a boss felt unnecessary when I could see what needed to be done and had the motivation to make it happen without oversight. The structure of employment never fit me, but the chaos and control of running my own business? That was where I thrived.

Entrepreneurship demands an almost irrational level of optimism. You have to believe—beyond reason—that things will work out. You must wear every hat, master countless skills, and teach yourself anything you don’t yet know at record speed. There’s no safety net, just the constant pressure to survive. And for someone like me, that pressure isn’t intimidating—it’s familiar.

Survival and optimism have always been intertwined in my life. I don’t see obstacles as stop signs, just challenges waiting for solutions. It’s this mindset that has helped me build and grow my business, Marie’s Bees, and continue chasing new ventures, like hosting my own radio show.

For those who feel like they don’t fit into traditional roles, entrepreneurship might be the perfect path. It’s not easy, but for those of us who thrive on independence, problem-solving, and an unshakable belief that things must work out, it’s exactly where we belong.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My grandmother was my best friend. As she reached the point in life where she needed full-time care, she moved in with my husband and me. She had always been a social butterfly, but over time, she found it hard to leave her room. She no longer had a driver’s license, most of her friends had passed away, and politics kept her glued to the TV. I knew I had to get her out and about.

The way to Grammy’s heart was simple—ice cream and work. She had an incredible work ethic and loved being busy. My husband and I had bees, chickens, ducks, and gardens, so I started advertising baskets filled with goodies from our farm that I would deliver. Within a week, we had five deliveries. That was the start of Grammy and me setting off on weekly deliveries, which quickly grew to twice a week. The money we made covered lunch and fuel, but really, it was about getting Grammy out of the house. It became a tradition—people would come to the car just to chat with her. Her spirits were up, and we were having fun.

A few months in, a store owner stopped me and asked if they could wholesale our honey. That meant we needed to become a real business. That night, Grammy and I sat down and came up with the name Marie’s Bees to honor my husband’s grandmother. Within a year, we added creamed honey to our product line, which required a commercial kitchen.

Gram passed two years later, but we had so much fun together. She was instrumental in coming up with product ideas and making fun social media posts. Now, eight years later, Marie’s Bees has grown to 46 products, two major awards, 11 employees, and nationwide sales.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three key qualities have been most impactful in my journey with Marie’s Bees: resilience, adaptability, and community-building.

Resilience: Running a business—especially one that started as a personal passion—comes with highs and lows. There were times when things felt overwhelming, but pushing through those moments made all the difference. My advice? Expect setbacks, but don’t let them stop you. Learn from them, adjust, and keep moving forward.

Adaptability: I never set out to start a honey business, but I followed the opportunities as they came. Whether it was expanding our product line, setting up a commercial kitchen, or learning wholesale distribution, being open to change allowed Marie’s Bees to grow. For those starting out, stay flexible—your path might not look exactly as you imagined, and that’s okay!

Community-Building: From those early delivery days with Grammy to now selling nationwide, relationships have been at the heart of Marie’s Bees. Customers, store owners, fellow farmers, and my incredible team have helped shape this business. My advice? Show up, connect with people, and always deliver value. A strong network can be just as important as a great product.

For those just starting their journey, my biggest tip is to take action. You don’t have to have it all figured out—just start. Test, learn, adjust, and keep going. Your journey will unfold in ways you never expected!

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I have a few go-to strategies. Sometimes, the best thing to do is simply go back to bed and reset. Other times, I create a plan and outline how to tackle the problem head-on. But often, stepping away completely is what helps the most—I take a walk, help someone else, give back, visit a museum, or go to a movie. This gives my brain the space to process the challenge subconsciously. When I return to it, I can focus and face it directly.

During COVID, I called myself the Business Ninja because I had to adapt quickly to keep up with constant changes. That mindset stuck with me—I still operate that way today. There’s no sense in holding onto an idea just because “that’s the way it’s always been.” That kind of rigidity can kill a business. You have to be fluid and open to change.

Being part of my community is second nature. Without a strong community foundation, both you and your business become irrelevant. My philosophy is simple: when in doubt, give. When in doubt, help. That mindset has never steered me wrong.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mariesbees.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariesbeeswa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariesbees2017