We were lucky to catch up with Melvin Leland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Melvin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Grins and Giggles Cookie Co.’s mission is to grow through giving. We concentrate on baking the world a better place. I have always been one to donate, and that has become a central part of my philosophy. My mother has always said, “Give the person the shirt off of your back, but also go in the drawer and grab them another so they have a change of clothes for tomorrow.” That has taught me that it is more important to give, because as you are giving you are always receiving positivity.

Melvin, 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?

I started cooking when I was young. My mother taught me so that i could help around the house. As I grew older I found a passion for baking. I have honed my craft and seek to excel. I have a foundation in savory cooking that leads me to find balance in my desserts. I am always concerned with sweetness levels and the layers of flavor that I am adding to my desserts. I am different in that I make a set of flavors, but I am not set in those, I am always willing to learn and allow my clients to add a bit of their influence to their desserts. Lots of times people come to me not knowing what they want; I provide a listening ear and a knowledge of techniques that help them to reach their ultimate goal, deliciousness.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I have experienced many styles of leadership, some good and some not so much. I tried emulating my managers, key word managers, and failed miserably. Each interaction that I had as I progressed in my career failed miserably. It wasn’t until I decided to lead like I wanted to be lead, by example, that I was able to reach a broader audience and earn the respect of my employees.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Life has pivoted for everyone during these uncertain times. I experienced lots of shifts in dynamics because of the pandemic, but also because of my own stubbornness. I can finally say that life and my career have pivoted in the right direction. The way I have chosen to overcome is to become a baker full time, no longer working for anyone else. Life has shown me that it is time to go and grow professionally and personally to become the person that I was intended to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: Gngcookie.com
• Instagram: @grinsandgigglescookieco
• Facebook: @grinsandgigglescookiecol
• Other: https://linktr.ee/grinsandgigglescookieco

Image Credits
Salvador Andrade Jay Hill