Meet Maryam Ahmed

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

Maryam, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I have never been one to sit still. I think it is very easy to get stuck on the hamster wheel, as they say. My creativity comes from the disruption of a standard day. I rely on morning walks to generate ideas, plane rides with enough time to scribble down notes and build concepts, and movement to stay in a creative flow. I’m at my lowest level of creativity when I’m stuck behind a screen all day, so I do my best to organize meetings and project blocks in a way that doesn’t take from my time to myself.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have worked in a number of facets of the food and beverage industry, but my passion for my work comes from the people that I meet and work with along the way. My business, Maryam + Company, designs brand extension programs and educational experiences all over the country. My purpose is to create spaces where people can discover more about themselves through food and wine. I work with purpose-driven clients that want to grow their business, increase engagement, and deepen their impact, which often puts me at the center of changing systems and implementing innovations.

In 2022, I launched Field Blends, an immersive food and wine travel experience rooted in conversations that explore emergent and evolving movements in wine and agriculture. These trips are my offering to the world of wine lovers and professionals — an expertly curated experience with unique tastings, thoughtful discussions, and educational discoveries for a blended community of consumers, industry professionals, and scholarship recipients. We are headed into our third Field Blends trip this June (3rd-7th). I can’t wait to explore Michigan with our guests!

In 2023, Maryam + Company achieved B Corp status, which was a goal I only dreamed of as a business owner. That process was humbling and affirming and I’m so glad I did it.

This year, I am releasing the second vintage of my wine, which I make as a collaborating winemaker with Massican Winery. It is a crisp and delicious white wine!

What is most exciting in my work, whether it is consulting, curating, speaking, or writing, is that I am constantly exploring new people and places. Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely experience, but I’ve found a way to surround myself in very good Company as I’ve grown the business.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Integrity: People will always project their experiences onto you, which can make you question yourself or your ideas. I’ve always felt that as long as I am in my integrity, there is no need to doubt if something will work or that I should pursue an idea.

Curiosity: I’m a naturally curious person which I think has translated, over time, into a trust-building quality. I genuinely want to know about other people, and I think we are so often unheard that just having someone ask us a question or show investment is a real way to build lasting relationships.

And the most important thing has been having relationships that encourage, challenge, and bolster me at every turn. My friendships are invaluable.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I recently finished Think Again by Adam Grant. The book gives real world examples that only take a slight shift in approach in order to solve a failing system, build a better team, or effectively challenge the status quo.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
First photo and Maryam with Champagne Sarah Anne Risk Wine glass in hand and Maryam in Kitchen, Cheryl Juetten

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