We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Donna Collins-Yamini a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Donna , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
How did you find your purpose?
I think I found my purpose the moment I realized that everything I love—nurturing people, feeding them, creating beauty, honoring stories—wasn’t random. It was a calling that had been quietly humming beneath everything I’d done in life.
It didn’t come in a lightning bolt. It came in little moments: watching someone’s face light up when they tasted one of my jams, hosting a gathering where strangers left as friends.It was creating something from scratch that made someone feel comforted, or inspired them to create and teaching everyone who wanted to learn all the info I have gathered the last 30 years
I’ve always had a deep pull toward service, storytelling, and celebration. And once I gave myself permission to follow joy, everything else started aligning. The Jelly Queens, my tea parties, the Biscuits & Jampionship—all of it has become a way to love out loud, to be of service somehow and to honor my roots while building something meaningful to past down.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At the heart of everything I do is a simple but powerful desire: to make people feel nourished, celebrated, and connected. I’m the founder of The Jelly Queens, a multi-award-winning gourmet food company known for our small-batch jams, jellies, and sauces that are as soulful as they are delicious. We blend Southern heritage with global inspiration—each jar is a love letter to flavor, tradition, and creativity.
What’s most exciting? Oh, everything! From creating recipes that honor the past while surprising your taste buds, to hosting the BISCUIT & JAMPIONSHIP at the World Food Championships every year (where biscuit lovers and jam artists rise to the occasion—literally), to washing, by hand vintage china, I get to live in the sweet spot between food, art, and community.
I host themed international tea parties that celebrate culture, etiquette, and connection over dainty bites and beautiful stories. It’s like traveling the world one teacup at a time.
And there’s so much more blooming right now! We’re expanding our event offerings, launching a new manifestation program for women called The Queen’s Abundance Method™, and turning recent media buzz into a positive force with our Grits & Grace™ limited-edition product line—a sweet Southern wink at strength, resilience, and owning your story with style. And I am finally writing a cookbook series. Four volumes, one for every season!
What I hope folks remember is this: everything I do is rooted in joy. Whether you’re tasting our jam, sitting at one of my tea tables, or entering the Jampionship, I want you to feel joy, be seen, feel cherished, and moved to live life more deliciously.
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?
Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful things in my journey have been: resilience, creativity, and the willingness to learn as I go.
1) Resilience – Life will hand you detours, delays, and an occasional flaming pie, but if you keep showing up—with grace, grit, and maybe a little lipstick—you’ll make progress. I’ve had moments where everything felt like it was unraveling, but that’s often where the real magic begins. My advice? Don’t fear the mess. Get comfortable with uncertainty. Learn to rest without quitting. And remember: a queen doesn’t rise without first being tested.
2)Creativity – Whether it’s in the kitchen, in branding, or in how I host a gathering, creativity is the secret sauce. But here’s the truth: creativity isn’t something you have to “wait” for—it grows when you make space for it. Try things. Play. Stay curious. Even your flops will teach you something delicious. I even wrote a little book called “The Imagination Muscle” to help spark creativity.
3) Lifelong learning – I didn’t come into this world knowing how to run a food company, host international tea parties, or build a brand. I’ve taken courses, asked questions, hired mentors, and Googled my way through more than a few challenges. The best advice I can give? Stay humble. Stay hungry. Invest in yourself—even when it feels inconvenient. And never let fear of imperfection stop you from beginning. And understand that confusion just means your brain is growing!
The truth is, success isn’t about knowing everything from the start—it’s about being willing to grow, refine, and evolve. Just like a good jam, it takes time, heat, and sweetness to come together.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely—I’m always open to partnering with folks who share a love for creativity, quality, farm to table living and building community through meaningful (and delicious) experiences.
I love collaborating with:
Chefs, culinary artists, and makers who are passionate about flavor, tradition, and innovation
Event planners and venue owners who want to create magical gatherings—from tea parties to retreats to full-blown jam sessions
Brands or influencers who align with our values of intentional living, storytelling, and soul-fed entrepreneurship
Retailers and product developers looking to carry or co-create unique, small-batch gourmet goods
And of course, journalists, creatives, educators, and thought-leaders who want to share, teach, or taste something truly special
If you’ve got a vision, a platform, a cause, or a product that you think would pair well with a little royal flavor and a lot of heart—I’d love to hear from you.
You can connect with me through our website at www.thejellyqueens.com or reach out directly on Instagram @thejellyqueens. Or better yet, come find me at a tea party—we’ll sip, chat, and dream up something delicious together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thejellyqueens.com
- Instagram: @thejellyqueens
- Facebook: The Jelly Queens
- Linkedin: Donna Collins-Yamini
Image Credits
Donna Collins-Yamini
