We recently connected with Jasmine Macon and have shared our conversation below.

Jasmine , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

During my time when Beyond Amazing Donuts was a pop up, I lost someone very important to me. His presence was a huge part of my life. Although just a customer, Cordel took it upon himself to gift me a special present dedicated to my fiancée. In an addition to the gift he mentioned he would love to help create content for B.A.D free of charge. I didn’t like the idea of not being able to pay him, as my business at the time was so small and I couldn’t necessarily afford a creative director. However, I knew from that day he was someone I wanted to have on my team should the opportunity present itself. Fortunately for me it did, and Cordel is now my official Creative Director for Beyond Amazing Donuts.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure or happiness. That’s exactly what myself and Beyond Amazing Donuts represents. People can find comfort, satisfaction, and togetherness at a time when our surroundings seem more turbulent than ever. Grief has been at the forefront of my mind these days. Late 2021, I lost someone incredibly special to me and his absence is felt daily. It was, and still is, the grace of my community that keeps me encouraged and pushing forward. Even before this experience, I believe people appreciated my truths. Expressing my everyday obstacles as a black pastry chef on Instagram as Confectionsofamartian, has allowed me to not shy away from the good, the bad, and the ugly. This journey has been a collective effort, it goes beyond donuts for me. It’s being able to feed people my authentic self and being accepted even when I think I am unworthy. People enjoy my story, but it’s their story as well. Overall I want to take my customers on a journey with me. Introduce them to local farmers, chefs, artists, and creatives in our community that influence my creations. Hence the reason my business is called Beyond Amazing Donuts, my love for this pastry transcends just how good they are. I want to cultivate a space for all beings to connect and release. To become apart of a longer story.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Paramount is the lack of representation and mentorship for Black and brown people in the culinary world. When I began my culinary journey in Charlotte, I started to document mini stories on Instagram. I would write about my experiences at whatever job I was holding out the time. Often venting or seeking advice about a recipe or issue I was experiencing. This collection of stories helped foster a community of other bakers, chefs, writers, and creatives who felt my words resonated with them. From there, my support and encouragement grew. I believe people appreciate the quirkiness and authenticity of my posts. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions or admit a wrong doing but most importantly I knew that more times than not people actually are willing to help, if you just ask.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

A month within opening the shop, I found myself asking how could I make things systematic,…what did I need to do to make space for efficiency, speed, and comfort? All while making sure my expectations were being met.

-It first started with managing my emotions and stress. My face holds no secrets…I knew I would have to talk through confusion with clear direction.
-Secondly, I addressed goals and shared them to define specific standards.
-Third, I tried my hardest to get to the point lol. However, I mumble ALOT so being precise and having to efficiently convey pro active words and expressions…was indeed daunting.
-Lastly, accepting and understanding that I have power of authority. Not in some weird power tripping way but in understanding it’s my responsibility to teach standards and to make sure it is met. No, ifs, ands, or buts.

A few of my staff members chuckled when I say this but …Set yourself up for success …and all else will follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beyondamazingdonuts.shop
• Instagram: b.a.donuts.clt