Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs at ARU London – Meet Mamie Masunda, Founder of Ma Cuisine.
As part of our International Women's Day celebrations, we had the pleasure of speaking with Mamie Masunda, founder of Ma Cuisine, about her entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration behind her business, and her advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
Tell us about yourself.
I have been a chef for 18 years, working in school, college, and the nursery. I have cooking experience in different cuisines and creating diverse foods.
What inspired you to set up Ma Cuisine?
I had a passion for cooking and providing specific meals for different organisations, charities and other individuals, which caused me to set up my own business. By supplying different foods for people on multiple occasions, it brought a sense of joy and comfort for both clients and myself. This advanced me to supply foods to Koroma's Kitchen in Uni.
What challenges have you faced so far in building Ma Cuisine?
A certain challenge that I have faced in building my business is the demand in dietary requirements. This is because specialized ingredients might be harder to source, more expensive or limited, which can impact menu planning and cost.
How can ARU London students benefit from using Ma Cuisine?
ARU London students can benefit from using my business by ordering online and buying in-person.
What advice would you give to students and/or other young women who are trying to become an entrepreneur or start their own businesses?
I would advise them that they should believe in themselves and be confident in their talent and their vision. To uphold confidence, you should trust in your abilities and have faith that your perspective is valuable. Additionally, you should be passionate about your business and about what you want to do.
How can we encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship within their careers?
We can encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship by offering workshops, extracurricular activities which can influence other women to build essential skills and their self-esteem.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
The most important message I would want to send to young women is to find their passion within and know what they enjoy and love doing, which can help them choose what pathway they want to go through.
Are there any female leaders you find inspirational?
I find Michelle Obama inspirational because she was an advocate for education for girls and women, she emphasized the importance for education and ensured all girls had access to education.
Furthermore, her own journey from growing up on the South Side of Chicago to becoming one of the most influential women in the world shows that women can break barriers, overcome challenges, and lead with confidence.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
A piece of advice that I was given was to follow my passion and prioritise my dream to become a chef from another senior chef, as I enjoyed cooking and was remarkably skilled at what I was doing. This led me to a career in catering.
Discover the founder of Ma Cuisine online and be sure to support a female business owner this International Women's Day!
IinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamie-masunda-246324344/