Photo by Matt Sayles
"Maryam is the straw that stirs the drink"
-Chef Andrew Zimmern
-Chef Andrew Zimmern
Maryam + Company Mission
Our mission is to help purpose-driven brands grow their businesses, increase engagement, and deepen their impact while celebrating food and wine. through diversity, sustainability, and community-based educational initiatives and programs.
We are invested in building inclusive and equitable structures in the world of food and wine while elevating the vibrant communities that are moving the industry forward.
Maryam Ahmed, Owner
Featured on the cover and named to the 2022 “Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemaker” list of innovators who are changing the way we experience wine, Maryam Ahmed is a social impact entrepreneur, speaker, writer, and community builder who is making waves in the world of food and wine.
Working at the intersection of community building, strategic programming, and experience design, Maryam often collaborates with wine professionals, chefs, activists, sustainability experts, and media to work towards building a more equitable and inclusive industry. She skillfully turns insights into action for purpose-driven clients who want to deepen their impact goals. Maryam employs her nuanced understanding of the food and wine industry, expansive community network, and ability to translate complex ideas into strategic programs to deliver measurable results.
Maryam is an experienced speaker, facilitator, and moderator who is frequently called upon to create engaging spaces for both virtual and in-person events. She is often invited to be a guest speaker or moderator at food and wine-related conferences, symposiums, forums, panel discussions, on podcasts, and more. Maryam is also a published writer who contributes think pieces and guides for food and wine publications on a variety of subjects, most notably on the topics of diversity and sustainability.
In 2022, Maryam launched Field Blends, an immersive food and wine travel experience rooted in conversations that explore emergent and evolving movements in wine and agriculture. These trips are expertly curated and feature unique tastings, thoughtful discussions, and educational discoveries for a blended community of consumers, industry professionals, and scholarship recipients.
Maryam is the creator and co-founder of the biannual Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum, which helps connect diversity initiatives in the wine industry to foster collaboration and problem solving among advocates and leaders. She also serves as an advisor to Black Wine Professionals and Bâtonnage Forum; a program advisor to the Wine Writers' Symposium; and is an active member of the San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier. She currently serves on the Executive Leadership Board for the UC Davis Department of Enology & Viticulture
Before establishing Maryam + Company, Maryam was the Director of Public Programs at the Culinary Institute of America in California. There, she and her team created unique educational and experiential programs for the public and the wine trade. Maryam is a graduate of Cornell’s Hotel School and the Walla Walla Enology & Viticulture program..
Maryam is the recent recipient of the Impact Award, a community-nominated and voted award hosted by the Wine & Culture Festival. In addition to being named one of Wine Enthusiast's Future 40 Tastemakers in 2022, Maryam was also nominated for the Wine Enthusiast's Social Visionary Wine Star Award. In 2021, she was named a Wine Industry Leader by Wine Business Monthly. Maryam was a cast member on James Beard Award Nominated SOMM TV Sparklers and is a partner at PLAYTE Kitchen.
Professional Network
Peers that we often work with, enjoy spending time with, and can always rely on to push the envelope.
Dr. Akilah Cadet
She/Her/Hers - Founder & CEO, Change Cadet
The Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum is powered by Maryam + Company in partnership with Dr. Akilah Cadet, Founder + CEO at Change Cadet. Dr. Akilah Cadet dismantles white supremacy daily as the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet consulting firm which offers a broad array of anti-racism and diversity services including strategic planning, crisis rebuilding, advising, executive coaching, and facilitation. Cadet (her last name) is a French term that means soldier. As it's often an uphill battle for BIPOC, women, and intentionally ignored communities to achieve success and equity in the workplace, Change Cadet prepares soldiers of change to overcome these continuous battles so individuals and companies can thrive. Akilah was named Forbes Next 1000, has 15+ years of experience working in various organizations, with both private and public sector companies. She literally has all the degrees, is disabled, lives in Oakland, CA, and is a proud Beyoncé advocate.
Sarah Joy Chung
She/They - Owner, Sarah Joy Chung Content & Digital Strategy
One of those right-time-right-place connections, I am thoroughly grateful for Sarah's genius wordsmithing though I am more so in awe of the ability to hear an idea and then write it with the flair and flourish I never could. Sarah's skills go well beyond writing, so if you're a social impact entrepreneur or business looking for content and strategy services, look no further. Sarah Joy Chung is an interdisciplinary creative specializing in content strategy, copywriting, and digital marketing. After 10+ years of working across various marketing and communications disciplines in agency, corporate, startup, and nonprofit settings, Sarah has found that her passion lies in partnering with justice- and equity-oriented social impact brands that are rooted in community. In her personal life, Sarah is a backyard beekeeper, avid home cook, and outdoors enthusiast.
Jamica El
All pronouns - Founder, Muvaboard Studios + Muvaboard
Jamica is a person of many talents. A community first human, Jamica and I met during our work together on the 2020 For The Culture Market, an Oakland-based retail experience celebrating Black women-owned businesses in the Bay Area and beyond. Alongside our team of female entrepreneurs, Jamica brought the aesthetic and vision of the market to life. We’ve worked together since.
MVBD Studios is a brand house, anchored in afrofuturism, exploring our culturally nuanced relationship with labor and time. In addition to developing their own brands, they offer high-touch services at the intersection of brand strategy, design, and web3. Their first brand, Muvaboard, is a wellness community dedicated to BIPOC entrepreneurs. An artist, DJ, and blerd at heart, Jamica spends most of her free time listening to vinyl records, watching old music videos, and scouting DJ mixes from the amazing global music community.
Evita McDaniels
She/Her/Hers - Founder & CEO, Broughton M&C
Evita has been a supporter of Maryam + Company since day one! She took the vision and ran with it. Long after our work together, Evita still answers the phone in ready mode, never hesitates to push me to think bigger, and continues to find ways to collaborate on projects.
Evita B. McDaniels is a seasoned communications professional with nearly 20 years of experience developing, fine-tuning and sharing the stories of Fortune 500 companies, iconic entertainment brands, beloved restaurants, and non-profit organizations.
Michael Wangbickler
He/Him/His
Michael Wangbickler is President of Balzac Communications and Marketing, a specialist agency supporting the food and beverage industries. With nearly 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations, Mike is a trusted advisor and strategic consultant to his clients. His agency delivers tailored solutions for clients with values that align with his own. He guides clients through the process of achieving their vision and transforming their business through sustainable growth, teamwork, transparency, and inclusivity.
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