I’ve Walked the Road You’re Standing On
I started Mayana Chocolate in my Chicago apartment.
No investors. No manufacturing experience. No roadmap.
I was a chef who knew how to make exceptional chocolate — and almost nothing else about running a business.
I figured out the rest by doing it: sourcing cacao, building production systems, navigating retail buyers, managing cash flow, hiring and training a team, and eventually stepping into the role of president of a company that now generates over $4 million in annual revenue.
I have been named one of the top 10 chocolatiers in North America. I still create every new product Mayana makes. I am not telling you this to impress you.
I am telling you this because when I sit across from a founder who is trying to figure out their next move, I am not guessing. I have been there. I know what the right move looks like — and I know what the expensive mistake looks like.
I’ve Walked the Road You’re Standing On
I didn’t start with a blueprint.
I started with a dream, a lot of uncertainty, and a deep pull to build something of my own.
Before I ever ran a chocolate factory, I was navigating fear, cash-flow stress, doubt, and the question so many founders face:
“Can I really make this work?”
I’ve lived the seasons people don’t post about:
living simply
risking everything
watching money leave faster than it comes in
making decisions without a safety net
And I kept going.
Today, I’ve built a successful confectionery manufacturing business — one that operates without me being in the building every day.
That journey changed how I lead, how I think, and how I guide others.
I’ve Walked the Road You’re Standing On
I didn’t start with a blueprint.
I started with a dream, a lot of uncertainty, and a deep pull to build something of my own.
Before I ever ran a chocolate factory, I was navigating fear, cash-flow stress, doubt, and the question so many founders face:
“Can I really make this work?”
I’ve lived the seasons people don’t post about:
- living simply
- risking everything
- watching money leave faster than it comes in
- making decisions without a safety net
And I kept going.
Today, I’ve built a successful confectionery manufacturing business — one that operates without me being in the building every day.
That journey changed how I lead, how I think, and how I guide others.
Philosophy
I don’t believe in yelling motivation.
I believe in:
clarity, grounded decision-making, emotional resilience, and helping people avoid unnecessary mistakes
My role is not to do the work for you.
It’s to help you see clearly, decide wisely, and move forward with confidence.
I also believe that most early-stage CPG businesses fail not from lack of passion, but from poor sequencing — doing the expensive things before the foundational things are in place. A significant part of what I do is help founders get the sequence right.
What It’s Like to Work Together
Clients often say working with me feels like:
- having a steady presence during uncertain moments
- being able to exhale and think clearly again
- knowing someone has their back
- feeling guided — not pushed
This is not about hustle.
It’s about building something that lasts.
What It’s Like to Work Together
Working with Daniel is not like working with a consultant who delivers a report and disappears. It is closer to having a seasoned operator in your corner — someone who has been through the exact decisions you are facing and can tell you, plainly, what they would do.
Clients describe it as the difference between having a map and having a guide. The map tells you where things are. The guide has already walked the terrain
WHO I COACH
This work is especially powerful for:
- Founders in their second act
- People 30–50+ who’ve lived some life
- Those who want to build a business that supports their life — not consumes it
- Entrepreneurs who value grounded leadership over hustle culture
Have questions?
Get in touch!
Have questions?
Get in touch!
WHO I COACH
This work is especially powerful for:
- Founders in their second act
- People 30–50+ who’ve lived some life
- Those who want to build a business that supports their life — not consumes it
- Entrepreneurs who value grounded leadership over hustle culture
Have questions?
Get in touch!
WHO I COACH
This work is especially powerful for:
- Founders in their second act
- People 30–50+ who’ve lived some life
- Those who want to build a business that supports their life — not consumes it
- Entrepreneurs who value grounded leadership over hustle culture