Melissa Ben-Ishay

Melissa Ben-Ishay is a mom, baker, and founder of Baked by Melissa, the New York City-based brand famous for its handmade, bite-size cupcakes and macarons. Passionate about baking since childhood and with the idea that people should be able to taste more flavors without a post-dessert guilt trip, she decided to do what she loved and launched Baked by Melissa in 2008 after being fired from her job in advertising. Today the company operates 14 stores and ships nationwide, offering a wide variety of ever-changing flavors, vegan and gluten free options, and more. Ben-Ishay has been featured in People, Forbes, Wall Street Journal's Secrets of Wealthy Women, Inc., Business Insider, CNBC, Fox Business, Oprah magazine, Food & Wine, Good Morning America and more. In October of 2017, she released her first cookbook, Cakes by Melissa. Ben-Ishay currently serves as the company's President and CEO. Melissa As A Speaker: Drawing from over a decade of experience building a company from the ground up, Melissa has shared her entrepreneurial journey with people across the country, with a mission to inspire others to follow their passions fearlessly. A down-to-earth and honest speaker, Melissa humanizes the process of pursuing goals (in business or otherwise) and navigating the challenges throughout, while offering actionable advice for every step of the way. She has spoken at various conferences and events, including Magento Imagine Conference (as keynote), Inc. Women's Conference, Popsugar Playground and more, starting with the same simple message her father told her every day during the car ride to school: "You can do anything."