From 10 Boxes To A Cookie Empire | Elise Thomas | Founder, Cookie Co

What happens when a stay-at-home mom with a passion for baking refuses to let a pandemic crush her dream? Elise Thomas went from filling cookie boxes in her home kitchen to launching one of the fastest-growing dessert franchises in the U.S. Elise shares how she turned a moment of crisis into a movement of kindness and entrepreneurship. They talk about what it means to lead with service, how to build a purpose-driven brand, and what she’s learned about risk, resilience, and growth along the way. This one’s for anyone dreaming bigger than their current circumstances and looking for inspiration to take the next step. Chapters: 00:00 Meet Elise Thomas, founder of Cookie Co 01:15 Opening a bakery during a global pandemic 03:00 Filling orders late at night while homeschooling kids 04:30 Baking 10 boxes at a time, and selling out 05:45 Giving back to frontline workers 07:00 Community support and viral growth 08:15 Why she turned to franchising 10:00 Making business ownership accessible to more women 11:30 What she’s learned about fear, failure, and family 13:00 Giving people a place to do good 15:00 Building systems for scale and impact 17:30 The heart behind every Cookie Co location 19:00 What success means now 21:00 Advice for moms, makers, and aspiring entrepreneurs The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices