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The Brooklyn-based owner of a small business Carmen Ladipo, her passion for baking developed in the beginning. "I've always had a craving for sweets for as long as I can recall," Carmen tells . "In middle school, I took classes like Home Economics, where we learned how to bake cookies. When I realized that I could sustain my sweet tooth in my own way, it was a wrap."

However, it wasn't until many several years afterwards that Carmen began to monetize that enthusiasm by starting a small batch cookies-related e-commerce company on the side. "I'd been moving to New York City, and was trying to remember how to meet new people as an adult" Carmen says. "I was able to join the local gym for climbing and would bring cookies for members of the gym and climbers, which was an effective friend-making strategy." After being "fervently incentivised" numerous times to sell cookies, Carmen took advantage of the time between jobs to officially register her own food business in Brooklyn.

"It was originally just an excuse for me to earn money to bake cookies for friends in the area occasionally," Carmen jokes. "But during the past five years Carmen's Cookies has grown into an online store that has me shipping cookies all across the country to strangers and friends alike."

We spoke to Carmen about how she prioritizes the social and environmental impact of her enterprise, how she manages this single-woman operation with her other obligations, as well as the tools that help Carmen's Cookies to run efficiently.

Local community development and social impact

Visitors to the Carmen's Cookies website and social media are immediately greeted with the warmth of Carmen's brand. Its tagline is: "Providing happiness for your closeness." Carmen's selections include experimental seasonal flavors like matcha lemon, alongside her favorite classics such as chocolate chips made of brown butter and orange clove. It takes only a quick look at the cookies' product reviews to see how much joy these cookies have brought to consumers everywhere.

From the beginning the company, Carmen's Cookies is more than simply selling cookies. "I think that food company owners have a responsibility to the natural environment as well as their local communities to consider the impact they have on their communities," Carmen says.

"There are many sources that go into the production and sale of food products which require recognition and scrutiny in order to minimize damage to the environment. This is why I stay mindful of the source of my ingredients from and how their manufacturers consider their environmental and social impact." Carmen is transparent on her site regarding how she sources the ingredients she uses. The site even offers a interactive way to track the source of her baking chocolate from.

And her commitment doesn't stop here. "It's crucial for me to figure out ways of supporting the ongoing efforts of food justice across the Brooklyn area," Carmen says.

"Every year, I choose an organization that works directly with its local community in order to promote economic growth and sustainable food production. I give a small portion of my the profits each year to these groups since I wish for Carmen's Cookies to have an impact on the area it has chosen to call home." Customers are always able to check the business's About page for more information about the places Carmen is donating part of the sales.

"As for"the Carmen's Cookies community," Carmen adds, "it's been moving to see customers come together in support of different causes over the years. Facilitating the donations of hundreds of dollars for numerous national and local organizations for food justice and marginalized communities via cookie sales is a major significant event."