Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmin Issa.
Hi Carmin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Detroit didn’t just shape me. It introduced me to the power of community. My story began on Detroit’s east side on the corner of Mack & Bewick. While many viewed my infamous neighborhood through a lens of hardship, I experienced something different. I grew up in a community. Neighbors shared dinners, coordinated carpools, checked on one another, and asking for a cup of sugar wasn’t just a saying, it was everyday life. That sense of connection shaped who I am and continues to influence everything I do.
I was known as “the smart girl,” graduating with honors and becoming one of the first in my neighborhood to attend college. Just before my junior year, I became pregnant with my son. What initially felt like the worst timing became my greatest motivation, strengthening my determination to build a meaningful career and life.
My professional journey led me to early childhood education, where I found my passion for supporting both children and the adults who care for them. Then, during COVID, I found myself navigating a high-risk pregnancy after being diagnosed with an incompetent cervix. As the world slowed down, so did I. Working from home gave me the space to rediscover my creativity and imagine new possibilities.
That’s when Small Bites was born.
While people know Small Bites for curated charcuterie experiences, it has always been about something bigger than food. It’s about creating spaces where people gather, celebrate, connect, and make memories. Every grazing table, workshop, and event is an opportunity to bring people together.
As Small Bites continued to grow, so did my professional career. Today, I have the privilege of leading work that supports early childhood educators while continuing to pursue my creative passions. I’m still building, still creating, and still discovering new ways to bring people together. Whether it’s through education, storytelling, hospitality, or shared experiences, my hope is that people leave feeling a little more connected than when they arrived.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A couple of years ago, I made the difficult decision to pause Small Bites. It wasn’t because there wasn’t demand. In fact, business was growing. The challenge was figuring out how to hold space for both a career I deeply loved in early childhood leadership and a creative business I had built from the ground up. Without a formal background in business, I was learning everything as I went while trying to stand out in a market that had become increasingly saturated.
One thing people don’t talk about enough is that entrepreneurship is a constant exercise in adapting. Sometimes growth looks like expanding, and sometimes it looks like stepping back to gain clarity. Pausing Small Bites gave me the opportunity to focus on my professional growth, continue serving educators, and discover another creative outlet through writing.
Today, I don’t see that pause as a setback. I see it as part of the journey. I’m still dreaming about what’s next for Small Bites, taking on projects that inspire me, and giving myself permission to build a business that reflects the season of life I’m in. That perspective has been one of my greatest lessons as both a leader and an entrepreneur.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I currently serve as an Assistant Director for a Michigan-based nonprofit dedicated to strengthening early childhood education. My work centers on supporting the educators who support children by coaching leaders, developing systems, building partnerships, and creating opportunities that help educators thrive. I believe that when we invest in educators, we’re ultimately investing in children, families, and entire communities.
What I’m most proud of is helping people recognize their own potential. Whether I’m mentoring a team member, facilitating professional learning, or guiding organizational growth, I enjoy creating environments where people feel supported, challenged, and empowered to succeed.
Beyond my professional role, I also write for a local mom group. Through my writing, I share honest reflections on motherhood, leadership, and life’s transitions. Through Small Bites, I create experiences that bring people together around a table. While those roles may seem different, they’re all rooted in the same purpose: creating connection.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t see leadership and creativity as separate. I lead with empathy, curiosity, and a genuine desire to build community. Whether I’m developing a program, writing a story, or designing an experience, I want people to leave feeling seen, valued, and inspired. If there’s a common thread throughout my work, it’s helping people connect with one another and with the best version of themselves.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
no one’s journey is linear. We often think success is a straight path, but in my experience, it’s the unexpected turns, pauses, and pivots that shape us the most.
Every season of my life has taught me something I needed for the next one. Becoming a young mother taught me resilience. Working in early childhood taught me how to lead with empathy. Building a business taught me creativity and courage. Writing has given me the confidence to use my voice. Looking back, none of those experiences were separate. They were all preparing me for who I’m becoming.
I’d also encourage people to let authenticity be their north star. It’s easy to compare your journey to someone else’s or feel pressure to fit into a certain box. But the most meaningful opportunities in my life have come from simply showing up as myself and embracing every part of my story. Your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be exactly where you’re meant to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small.bites.by.carm/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmin-issa-m-a-ed/?skipRedirect=true
- Other: https://linktr.ee/carmwithatwist
