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

Hi Maya, thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

(This will honestly be the realest ish’ I’ve ever said to anyone!)

I DON’T BELIEVE IN HAVING A PLAN B!!!

If I have an idea the only move after it is to Execute!

From the beginning,I knew I wasn’t going to be a regular person, cook, line chef, sous chef, CDC, executive chef or anything like that.

I honestly just needed to be fed up enough to quit working and making dreams come true for someone else. The Apartment Chef started off as a YouTube Channel – where I would teach young chefs in the industry how they could do everything they do in commercial kitchens at home.

I really wanted to inspire people who looked like me, black, female, gay that they could do whatever they aspired to do by giving them an example of what self motivation looks like. How to have a goal, make a plan and implement.

To fulfill and realize my vision, I needed to make a name for myself on social media first! So, I hit the ground running and tackled Instagram.

I think since I last spoke with you last I’ve gained 20k plus followers and still growing. This actually blows my mind thinking about it because I’m the most socially awkward person I know lol!

Because of my risky moves and screw it mentality, I wake up and execute my role as a business owner everyday.

In the words of my idol – “scared money don’t make none & bullsh*t we don’t take none.”

Maya, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Executive Chef Maya Holloway.

I started working in restaurant/culinary industry simply because I told myself that sticking through it with no degree in it would be the hardest thing to do!

I made the decision to own the restaurant because I didn’t see anyone who looked like me being the boss!

It’s my mission to inspire young culinary masters from broken communities that it’s cool to cook. It’s alright to not go to culinary school. It’s alright to start at the bottom.

I want to create work study programs for school around the world.

The Apartment Chef will be the next Home Economics class.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Hospitality – taking care of the guest/customer comes first.

Any advice for managing a team?

Gain the respect of the team. You can’t walk in and think you’re top dog! Build up the perfect crew and everyone will hold everyone accountable! Lead by example every single time & always pick up the extra work!

Contact Info:

• Website: Theapartmentchef.net
• Instagram: @TheAptChef
• Youtube: The Apartment Chef
• Other: Tiktok: @Theapartmentchef