Saidah’s Why: Creative Freedom
ICIC Programs: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB), Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business
With a passion for creativity, Saidah Farrell, CEO of Olivia Rose Confections, transformed her love for pastry art into the Marshmallow of the Month Club. Through this venture, her unique marshmallow flavors and gourmet s’mores kits delight fans nationwide—a journey fueled by mentorship from the Goldman Sachs Black in Business and 10,000 Small Businesses programs.
It’s a chilly morning in Cleveland, but the cold does not hinder Chef Saidah Farrell. She’s looking forward to one thing: creating delicious treats for her business, Olivia Rose Confections, most widely known for its Marshmallow of the Month Club. In the kitchen, Saidah prepares the custom s’more survival kits that are shipped nationwide. The kits include chocolate bars, a house-made gourmet hot chocolate mix, freshly baked graham crackers, and the marshmallow of the month. Saidah has crafted 50 different flavors of these artisan marshmallows, spanning from traditional favorites like chocolate and strawberry to decadent combinations like butter brandy, ginger cinnamon peach, and raspberry lime prosecco.
The unbridled creativity that the business offers Saidah resonates deeply with her. “My ‘why’ is freedom,” she says. “I love having the freedom to create what I want, when I want, and not needing to ask for permission from anyone but myself.” The creative freedom that she experiences as the founder, CEO, and owner of her company is the reason she stays in business and the motivating factor for her success.
“My ‘why’ is freedom. I love having the freedom to create what I want, when I want, and not needing to ask for permission from anyone but myself.”
Support and Guidance From a Community Built for Black Women by Black Women
Saidah discovered her passion for pastry arts at a culinary academy after being laid off during the 2008 recession. She worked as a pastry chef before starting her own business and then becoming a chef instructor. Inspired by her curriculum, Saidah relaunched her company as the Marshmallow of the Month Club in 2019.
Saidah found new levels of success through participating in the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business program. In the program, she received personalized mentorship and learned from tailored modules designed for early-stage Black- and woman-owned businesses. “I’m still speechless about the Goldman Sachs Black in Business program,” says Saidah. “The one-on-one meetings with my business adviser were all very personalized. She was intentional about holding me accountable to my SMART goals, and she didn’t just give simple or general advice. It was not a cookie-cutter program at all. It was a highly personalized experience.”
“The one-on-one meetings with my business adviser were all very personalized. She was intentional about holding me accountable to my SMART goals, and she didn’t just give simple or general advice. It was not a cookie-cutter program at all. It was a highly personalized experience.”
Growth, Goals, and Looking Ahead
A key insight from the program was learning what it means to be the CEO of her business. “Now I understand there’s a difference between being the CEO vs. the Chief Marshmallow Maker. The role of the CEO is to grow the business.” After graduating from the Black in Business program, Saidah applied the teachings and went on to achieve her goal of completing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.
Utilizing the tools and community gained from these two programs has resulted in increased growth opportunities for her business. Saidah has expanded from solely shipping her creations via the subscription box to retail sales of packaged products. She launched with her first partner, supermarket chain Meijer, in early 2024 at their Fairfax Market location in Cleveland and is excited for additional retail partnerships in the future.
