Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald on Levain Bakery’s 30-Year Climb to Success

9 to 5ish with theSkimm

theSkimm

Entrepreneurship, Careers, Business

4.7 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 5 February 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Unlike MBA grads focused on scaling and selling companies, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald built Levain Bakery with no intention of selling. Baking was the life plan, the thing they’d do til their hands couldn’t anymore. They embraced slow, sustainable growth for years with no regrets. Then came a compelling offer and a gut feeling that led them to finally take on an investor. Listen as Pam and Connie share how a YWCA brought them together, how a New York Times article skyrocketed their company's success, and why having patience was their greatest tool. In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Pam and Connie share: What they loved about their former colleague and supporter, Anthony Bourdain How chance bike ride with an old friend got them a small business loan When they knew it was time to expand to new locations How they navigated tedious problems like meeting with community boards and dealing with frustrated neighbors Why scaling their business slowly was key to their success and when they knew it was time to take on an investor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
0:04.8	Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand.
0:12.5	Marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time.
0:17.5	From startups to scaleups, online, in, and on the go. Shopify is made for
0:22.9	entrepreneurs like you. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:31.1	There was no way we were going to rush into a situation that would damage the brand,
0:36.4	hurt our employees, do anything that would change
0:40.2	what we had built. I mean, we were having so much fun along the way. We didn't start the business
0:45.4	to sell it. I'm Carly Zakin. And I'm Danielle Weissberg. Welcome to 9 to 5-ish with the skin.
0:53.1	We've run into so many questions over the years and had so many moments where we needed advice,
0:59.5	and we got it from women who'd been there.
1:02.9	And that's what we're bringing you at this show.
1:05.0	Each week, we're helping you get what you want out of your career by talking to the smartest
1:09.3	leaders we know.
1:10.5	Because we know your
1:11.8	work life is a lot more than nine to five. All right. Let's get into it.
1:19.8	Hi, everyone. Today's guests are Pam Weeks and Connie McDonald, co-founders at LeVan Bakery. We are so
1:27.1	excited. Big fans. Before becoming the,
1:31.3	quote, queens of cookies, I like that. Pam worked in fashion with designers like Norma Kammecumali
1:36.9	and Adrian Vitadini, while Connie worked as an investment banker. They met in 1987 at a local YWCA while swimming and eventually
1:47.4	trained for triathlons together, just like Carly and me. During long bike rides, they had a lot
1:56.1	of time to bond and they talked about their dreams of starting their own businesses one day.
	...

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