We recently connected with Carolina Gomez and have shared our conversation below.
Carolina, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I find my purpose in helping others succeed. Sometimes it can be taxing because of the effort that I put into helping so many entrepreneurs at the same time. I just don’t want them to feel alone. This also makes it so they think I should always be available. I find my purpose in watching my guidance provide real measurable impact and growth solutions for businesses that need an experienced professional. I don’t charge much for my services. Usually it’s free through the different technical assistance programs I’m involved in. Supporting business owners in a meaningful way makes me happy because it builds a positive network and ripple effect of businesses helping other businesses. I love the restaurant and hospitality industry, but I don’t believe we should foster a negative energy of competition and crushing our competition. I firmly believe that small businesses supporting other small businesses allows them to form alliances and grow together as they work together. Making that impact in the community and teaching positive business practices that I believe are ethical fills my life with true purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Foodbizmentor.com LLC is a business that supports chefs and food business entrepreneurs. I started the business seven years ago after many years of working in different management roles in food services. I also owned a popular deli and manufacturing facility , and I graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York.
What feels the most exciting and special about Foodbizmentor.com is our mission to support dreamers and lead them to take real steps of action. I have worked very hard to make sure that Foodbizmentor.com becomes a solid resource for food entrepreneurs in the community. I also love the fact that I am able to connect chefs with opportunities that help lead them toward a better work/life balance. Managing ambition and making financially responsible decisions is very difficult when you’re growing a business. I think that what makes Foodbizmentor.com so special is that I have an amazing team of experienced professionals that care, have lived the rough restaurant life, and are on a mission to help people succeed.
I have recently expanded the team to include more chefs with corporate experience. I also have build a great network of interested investors. This expansion is helping us grow as a team of operational experts built by forward thinking chefs. This along with the use of technology has allowed us to streamline services, help more clients, and provide long term growth strategies to clients who want to build legacy businesses.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I have developed a healthy ratio of self confidence vs. doubt. I always tell my clients that it’s important to be confident and strong, but also to understand that nobody is perfect and no one knows everything. We call this being “consciously incompetent”. It’s important to remain a student of business, of the economy, and of art in order to remain innovative and be able to withstand the test of time as a restaurant or food brand.
The next most important quality is to have faith. Entrepreneurs need to lead and they also need to know when to take action on their decisions. Indecision leads to wasting time. Risk is always a factor in business. Once I have done my research, I need to take leaps of faith and bet on myself and on my team. I always believe that everything happens for a purpose. There is a lesson in every journey. Faith is very important to me.
Humility. Having faith and trust in the decisions of others. Surround yourself with good people and trust them unless they prove to you that they can’t be trusted. You can’t build a team without empowering others. I believe that my ability to trust others is a big factor in why they also are able to place their trust in me.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking to collaborate with others.
I have a very clear vision of where I want Foodbizmentor.com to go. I also know that it will take passionate industry professionals and teachers to help us make a meaningful impact .
‘
Anyone working any position in the restaurant and food industry that is interested in working with a network of professionals with a growth mindset should reach out to us on our website. I personally moderate the foodbizmentor.com website so I can make sure that no stone remains unturned as far as industry connections. We can also be reached on instagram @foodbizmentor
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foodbizmentor.com
- Instagram: @foodbizmentor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodbizmentor/
Image Credits
The Carlos Rosario Public Charter School Small Business & Entrepreneurship Program , DC Small Business Development Center
