In this episode of A Glass For Every Palate podcast, Shakera Jones chats with Maryam Ahmed, a Napa-based entrepreneur and SOMM TV cast member. Together, they talk about hospitality education, the Culinary Institute of America, diversity, and the theme of community.
As principal of Maryam + Company, she works with businesses within the hospitality industry to create high impact brand initiatives. She works with everyone from solopreneurs to startups and non-profit organizations to large scale wineries. Her offerings include program development, operations and scaling support, and facilitation and workshops.
Before launching her company, Ahmed was the Director of Public Programs for The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). She’s a graduate of Cornell’s Hotel School (2011) and the Walla Walla Enology & Viticulture program (2015). She’s also a member of the San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier. Plus, she’s a board member for The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers. And finally, she’s also the creator and co-founder of the biannual Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum.
Additionally, as a SOMM TV cast member, Ahmed is featured in several articles, including Go-To Summer Cocktails, Favorite Grape Variety, and How To Cure A Hangover.
Listen to A Glass For Every Palate featuring Maryam Ahmed on iTunes, Spotify, or online.