June 7th-2016, Mary Molina founder and CEO of Lola Granola Bar meet Warren Buffet, Mike Bloomberg and Jack Dorsey at a round table event held by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program at LaGuardia Community College in Queens, NY to celebrate Babson College’ State of the Small Business Report.
Mary Graduated the Tory Burch Foundation’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Program in April 2014 after starting her company Lola Granola Bar from her own kitchen in 2011, during a tough time when her family was receiving food assistance. Mary needed a healthy snack for her husband and children, but what she found at the supermarket were not only unhealthy, but expensive. She improvised, grabbing what she had on hand and made granola bars,; oats, honey, dried, fruit and nuts. Mary realized after her husband’s co-workers called asking to buy the bars from her that Lola Granola Bar could be a business. Fast ward a couple years, Mary is now in a state of the art facility in Upstate NY and her Lola Granola Bars can be found nationwide in stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Schnucks, and many other natural markets.
“I thought I was dreaming when Goldman Sachs called to invite me to an event to meet 3 dynamic entrepreneurs” said Mary holding back tears. “I’ve grown up hearing about Warren Buffet in economic and business classes, watching his ukulele you tube videos. It’s surreal to think a Mom who just wanted to make a healthier snack for her family is getting to meet and learn from three very different influential business icons. How awesome is that!” The momentous occasion ended with the 20th graduation of the Cohort where Bloomberg, Buffett, and Dorsey shared stories about how businesses should look to succeed Today.
Since completing the Goldman Sach’s 10,000 Small Business program, Mary has grown her business by 270%. Her high growth is attributed to building out a comprehensive growth plan over 5 years and drilling down into opportunities. “Before the 10ksb Program, I didn’t think about reaching out beyond the tri-state area of NY, NJ, and Connecticut, the program taught me it was okay to think bigger and I have, Lola Granola Bar is available throughout the US in stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Schnucks, Dean and Deluca and many small natural markets.”
