Talent Champions Interview with Naomi Tolbert of Goddess Good Food

Naomi Tolbert

Naomi Tolbert

CEO

Goddess Good Food

Naomi Tolbert is the CEO of Goddess Good Food, a consumer packaged goods company based in Chicago. While serving up delicious frozen pizzas, Naomi is looking to deliver new opportunities to Chicagoland youth interested in what the food industry has to offer. Continue reading to learn how Flavor Futures–a collaborative effort between Goddess Good Food and Youth Job Center–is investing in the future of the region’s workforce. 

What is your role at Goddess Good Food?

I am the founder and CEO of Goddess Good Food. We believe in good food that's good for you. Through our product lines, we offer frozen cauliflower pizzas that are gluten-free and vegetarian. You can find our pizzas at Foxtrot Markets and Save A Lots throughout Chicago, as well as Fresh Thyme Market (Bucktown), and Chicago Health Foods.

How did you get to where you are today?

I first thought about starting my own business back in 2020, when all of our lives were upended. During this period of chaos, I had begun to reflect on what I wanted my work to look like, and I realized that if I would be working long hours for anyone, it should be for myself. After experimenting with various small business models, it became clear that what I really loved doing throughout my life was working with food. I actualized my business in April of 2021; I called it Enameled Grace, which stands for “covered in God's blessings.” 

While I worked some time in the restaurant industry, my greatest success came in the form of pizzas. People loved them, so I decided to sell frozen, vacuum-sealed pizzas in the retail space. With mentorship from organizations like Allies for Community Business, I got my product in grocery stores, and I’m excited to say that from 2023 to 2024, we’ve seen a 300% increase in revenue. This time around, we've already surpassed what we did last year and are looking to keep growing.

Have you had any mentors throughout your career?

All throughout my life, I've been blessed to have many mentors. I would definitely start with my family–from my great-grandparents, who raised me, to my siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and everyone in between. My family instilled in me the idea that if you put your mind to something and work towards it, you can achieve it.

On the business side, I’ve received mentorship from leaders of food and beverage companies, as well as coaches from Allies for Community Business, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC), and the Retail Readiness Entrepreneurship Training Program, a program led by Walmart and the Watson Institute. They’ve given me fantastic advice on strategy when it comes to developing my business, teaching me about the value of branding and selling a story alongside my product. Mentorship has been instrumental in my success and development as a leader.

 What makes Goddess Good Foods special or unique?

For one, we are a minority and woman-owned business, which allows us to bring a fresh perspective to the industry. At Goddess Good Food, we are driven by our belief that we’re all made in God’s image, so our product really goes beyond pizza. In our day to day lives, we often forget that everything we consume–from the TV to the table–shapes who we are and how we carry ourselves. In that sense, we think about Goddess Good Food as being one critical element of individual and community well-being. 

I thought back to the beginning: if I were starting my business again, wouldn't it be helpful to have some mentorship and guidance to help me understand what it means to develop a business from the ground up? I launched Flavor Futures as an answer to that question.

It starts with food because food is the source of life, so to put our best foot forward, we want to make sure that people are eating healthy and delicious food without having to make a choice between the two. We want people to eat like the royalty that they are. I believe the emphasis we place on community well-being really ties into our workforce development efforts. 

You’re working with Youth Job Center to run a program called Flavor Futures. What inspired you to launch the program?

While working out of The Hatchery, I saw an innovative facility placed in a community surrounded by marginalization. That’s where I identified a need for increased opportunity, especially for the youth. I thought back to the beginning: if I were starting my business again, wouldn't it be helpful to have some mentorship and guidance to help me understand what it means to develop a business from the ground up? I launched Flavor Futures as an answer to that question.

I decided to collaborate with Youth Job Center to execute this idea. Knowing about their great work and the paid work experiences they offer, I initially connected with them for an intern. The program ended up growing to be more. We knew we wanted to be able to do this not just for one, but for an array of interns throughout Chicago.

Tell me a bit about how Flavor Futures is structured.

With our program, we’re hoping to provide the youth with an introduction to the food industry that covers more than the culinary arts. Our focus is not only on restaurants and catering–we also do food tech, food science, consumer packaged goods, etc. Since we know that the youth, particularly Black and Brown youth, tend to not have as much exposure to these sides of the industry, we want to provide that.

The program takes place over 12 weeks. During the week, we'll have a curriculum on Mondays and Tuesdays, where on Mondays, we focus on the elements of developing a business plan. This includes everything from financial planning to market research. On Tuesdays, we bring it home with speakers that work within the food industry, ranging from tea company owners to chefs and caterers all the way to urban agriculture and pet food companies! Participants really get to see all the different opportunities in the industry and the types of businesses that are grown locally.

YJC has believed in the mission and vision behind Flavor Futures and sees its value in the same way that I do, and I think that makes for a perfect collaboration.

On top of the dedicated curriculum, participants partake in a paid work experience at the end of each week from Thursday to Sunday. These paid work experiences are with small food businesses, including Goddess Good Food, across Chicagoland. Over the 12 weeks, they’ll get to learn about the food industry as a whole, which will inform what next steps to take if they decide to begin their own businesses. From the sessions we’ve had so far, the youth are extremely excited!

What are some of the benefits of partnering with an organization like Youth Job Center?

While I manage most of the day-to-day execution for the program, YJC tackles the participant selection component and provides the funding for the paid work experiences. For small businesses, this financial support alleviates some of the hurdles that come with hiring an extra set of hands. Being able to have that assistance for 10 to 12 weeks makes all the difference.

I just feel so happy to have met these individuals because I know that we’re able to pair them with small businesses doing the exact things they are interested in.

YJC also has great insights in terms of the wants and needs of the youth within the communities that they serve. If a participant has transportation barriers or needs a uniform, they’re able to provide support with that. They ensure that participants are set up for success and ready for the program. YJC has believed in the mission and vision behind Flavor Futures and sees its value in the same way that I do, and I think that makes for a perfect collaboration.

Who are some of the individuals that participate in your program? 

All of our participants are between the ages of 18 and 24, with a significant portion being from Chicago’s South and West Sides. Since we know many young folks are interested in opportunities other than traditional four-year degrees, we’re providing an option to those seeking alternative routes. 

On a larger scale, we know that small businesses are the backbone of this country. By expanding that opportunity to youth from marginalized communities and saying to them,  “Hey, you can also be a part of the growth and development of our economy by starting your own business,” I believe we can really shape our future.

All of our participants are excited to explore the diverse possibilities the food world has to offer. Some, for example, want to learn about vegan foods. Others are looking to learn about developing a restaurant and expanding into the catering space. I just feel so happy to have met these individuals because I know that we’re able to pair them with small businesses doing the exact things they are interested in.

What type of value do young interns bring to a team?

Being early in their career, they bring a sense of innovation. This is especially valuable when you, as a business owner, are immersed in your own business on a daily basis. They provide a fresh set of eyes, which enriches your products, brand, and the connection to your customer base. 

For example, we’re very intentional about getting the interns’ hands in sales and branding. We know a lot of young folks are skilled with social media, so we often ask them to create promotional content to leverage and develop that skillset. There’s also the value that just comes from having an extra set of hands, which helps with the growth of a small business.

On a larger scale, we know that small businesses are the backbone of this country. By expanding that opportunity to youth from marginalized communities and saying to them,  “Hey, you can also be a part of the growth and development of our economy by starting your own business,” I believe we can really shape our future. Even if an individual isn’t interested in starting a business, we’re shaping the country’s future workforce by growing and developing their skills. 

What sorts of roles do you see participants being ready for once they’ve gone through Flavor Futures?

All sorts of roles. Obviously, individuals can go down the route of working for a catering company or within a kitchen, but it can go far beyond that. Oftentimes, people assume, “Oh, a food and beverage company. You have to be a culinary artist.” In reality, you don't. In every industry, including the food industry, you have marketing departments, financial teams, procurement teams, etc., so this program really prepares participants for the ecosystem that executes food.

It's not that people don't want to work and grow, but rather, they aren't given the opportunity. By working with workforce development agencies like Youth Job Center or representatives like myself, an employer can achieve that.

Additionally, after developing a business plan, an individual can begin the work to make their vision a reality. With the education our program provides, I think individuals will have an easier time finding the opportunities and resources they need to begin their own businesses.

What advice would you give an employer who is interested in engaging with the workforce development ecosystem but doesn't know how to get started?

It starts with raising your awareness. Connect with someone doing the work, like someone from Youth Job Center or myself. Doing so gives them a one-on-one opportunity to grow their understanding of the workforce ecosystem. From there, it’s about committing to doing things differently and giving an opportunity to someone they might not traditionally choose. It's not that people don't want to work and grow, but rather, they aren't given the opportunity. By working with workforce development agencies like Youth Job Center or representatives like myself, an employer can achieve that.

 Why is this work important to you personally?

At its core, our philosophy is about health, wellness, and community well-being. I believe we all have a social responsibility to ensure that our communities are healthy and thriving, and one way to do that is by investing in them. If it's not physically going and investing in infrastructure, for example, then it should look like extending opportunities to individuals that come from those communities so that they can go and invest themselves. 

It’s important that we invest specifically in our youth because they’re the group of individuals who dream and hope the most. They are the future. Once we as businesses can recognize those two things, we can help individuals attain experiences they wouldn't traditionally have gotten.

At Goddess Good Food, food is the medium through which we achieve this. Through my education, I’ve been able to live in communities across the globe, and one thing I’ve learned is that regardless of where you are, food brings people together and creates community. If we can start there–break bread with one another and understand the importance of that–I think then we can solve the greater problems.