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The Brooklyn-based owner of a small business Carmen Ladipo, her passion to bake began very from the beginning. "I've been a constant craving for sweets ever since I was a kid," Carmen tells . "In my middle-school years, I was in a course that was similar to Home Economics, where we were taught how to make cookies. Once I realized that I was able to satisfy my desire for sweets my own style I was done."

It wasn't until years later that Carmen started to make money from her excitement by creating a tiny batch of cookies-related online business in the background. "I'd recently relocated into New York City, and I was trying to figure out ways to make friends with new people as an adult," Carmen says. "I was a member of the local climbing group and was able to bring snacks for participants of the gym and climbers. It made for a great way to make friends." After being "fervently instilled" frequently to promote cookie products, Carmen made the most of working in between jobs to start registering her food-related business in Brooklyn.

"It honestly started out as an excuse for me to earn money to bake cakes and cakes for clients in my local area," Carmen jokes. "But within the past five years, Carmen's Cookies has grown to an online business that allows me shipping cookies all over the United States to friends and strangers as well."

We spoke with Carmen about how she prioritizes social and environmental impact of her company, how she manages her business as a single woman with other tasks and responsibilities, and her tools that assist her in making Cookies run effortlessly.

Social impacts

People who visit the Carmen's Cookies website and social media are greeted instantly with the warmth of Carmen's branding. The tagline reads "Providing happiness to your bond." Carmen's offerings include experimental seasonal flavors like matcha lemon, alongside her beloved classics like the chocolate chip made of brown butter as well as orange clove. A quick glance at the comments on her cakes to discover the joy her confections have brought customers across the world.

Since the very beginning that Carmen's Cookies was much more than just selling cookies. "I think that business owners have a responsibility towards the environment and their communities in general to take note of their impacts," Carmen says.

"There are a myriad of resources that are used for the creation and distribution of food items that require attention and consideration to ensure that they cause the least harm unto the earth. To this end, I am always aware of where my food ingredients originate from, and how producers are aware of their own social and environmental impact." Carmen is transparent on her website about where she obtains her ingredients. There is even an interactive tool that allows you to determine where she gets the ingredients of her baking chocolate from.

But her dedication doesn't end at that point. "It's crucial to me to find ways to support efforts for ensuring an equitable distribution of food in the Brooklyn neighborhood," Carmen says.

"Every year, I pick an organization that works directly with the community to empower economic development and sustainable food production. I give a small portion of my annual proceeds to these groups because I hope that Carmen's Cookies' to have positive change in the area it has chosen to be a part of." Customers may visit the company's About page for more information about the places Carmen is donating a portion of the sales.

"As for the Carmen's Cookies community," Carmen adds, "it's an inspiring experience to see the customers join forces to support a variety of causes through the years. Helping facilitate the donation of hundreds of dollars for different national and local organizations for food justice and people in marginalized communities through sales of cookies was a great high point."

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