What are you most proud of/grateful for?

I am so grateful that I am able to build and maintain both a family and a business that I love. I have found a rhythm between the two that takes a lot of work, but it works for us. What I learn in business I can apply at home and what I learn from home I apply to my business. I am also very grateful that I took the leap of faith 13 years ago and was obedient to God’s plans despite the hard times. I am very proud of the way we do business with integrity, quality, humility, and through authentic relationships.

Who do you most aspire to be like and why?

My biggest inspiration and role model is my mom, Rene Kanno. I always just knew her as mom…very supportive, respectful, humble, and kind. But the older I get, the more I realize she is a woman of strong confidence, wisdom, and has quietly served as a leader to me through how she lives her life. Her consistent heart while doing the work of caring for a family that extended beyond kids and a husband to my grandparents, other elderly aunties and uncles, her friends, and our own friends was a lot, but she always did it with a sense of joy to serve others. I still want to be more like my mom!

What inspires you or is most exciting about your job, business, and industry, and what are the biggest challenges?

My inspiration and most exciting part of the job is also my biggest challenge…people! I love connecting with people and building relationships and at the same time, that takes a lot of intentional effort and consistent care. To grow as a person and as a business, we have to connect with and learn more from people whether our team, partners, customers, or others in the community. Thankfully, chocolate is a universal love language that makes it all a little sweeter!

What were some important turning points in your career that helped you attain your current position?

Every time our business grew and required another person with a new skill set, I had to learn how to do it and work it until I could find and afford someone who had the skill and could do it better than me. This has taken me from the back of the house as the dishwasher, packaging prep, and artisan chocolatier, to front of the house doing customer service, social media, and marketing, to the middle of the house doing administrative work, HR, and finances, to all over the house in operations. Being a part of the entire process has helped me to better continue to serve as the visionary and leader with empathy and appreciation for everyone.

In a workplace that demands your utmost, what do you do for self- care?

I begin every morning before the rest of my family wakes up with the same routine: Reading the Bible, journaling what I am grateful for, and praying. My work is dynamic every day and I love it, but the consistency of this and my night routine of home cooked meals with my husband and kids and cuddling and reading together before a good night’s sleep, provides some calm and control. I also love to dance hip hop, contemporary, and jazz, hike, and go to school to continue my own learning and personal and professional growth.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

One of the scariest things I’ve done is to leave my secure state job teaching and also taking a leap of faith into business with Choco le‘a.

What is a bigger dream you still have?

My mission to bring peace to our world is just that….a global vision! We are doing this one chocolate at a time in our community, but I’d love to use my business and life experiences, writing, and voice to continue to empower other small businesses, team leaders, and moms around the world! This looks like continuing to do talks, workshops, and add more books and videos to my sweet platform. The more we can grow, the more we can give, and the more opportunities we can provide to others for years and years to come.

What advice would you give to someone else going through a challenge?

My number one piece of advice to someone going through a challenge is to pray and thank God for what we do have. Sometimes it starts with gratitude and just looking at what is in front of us, who is around us, and what we can do.

We need to take things one step at a time. Our company mission is “Bringing peace to our world, one chocolate at a time.” The mission of peace to the world is overwhelming and huge, but gives us continuous purpose. But the one chocolate at a time, is doable, actionable, and something anyone can do. Find that same big purpose that will

add value to others, but take it one small step at a time.