Mawa McQueen grew up in an immigrant family in France and was educated at a leading culinary school in Paris, but was only offered dishwasher jobs once she graduated. She made her way to England to work as a nanny so she could learn English and realize her dream of coming to America—a country she saw portrayed on TV as a place where Black people could excel.
Mawa McQueen
She started in front of house jobs in the U.S., then became a personal chef, caterer and restaurant owner, experiencing business failures along the way. “I didn’t give up,” McQueen says, and now, she operates several businesses, including a high-end granola company she began during the pandemic. Listen as McQueen shares her story and her plans for the future.