We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Kyri Hamilton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Kyri, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk…. Barry Farber Stated it Best. “Without Risk There is No Reward” Mark Zuckerman further stated “The Biggest Risk is Not Taking Any Risk”

Before the re-launch of Kyri’s Kookies, there was a Stage 4 Cancer, to battle.

The Doctor said you must be willing to fight harder than you have ever fought in your life, if you have any chance of surviving this Rare Ewing Sarcoma. The treatment plan was extremely risky and agressive as I was infused with chemo for 80-120 hours non-stop during each in patient hospitilization. But the Risk in Not Taking The Risk… Death. The Reward in taking the Risk…LIFE. I Chose LIFE.

At the most financially devasting time in my life, in addtion to the time when my health was most fragile, right after remission. I decided to begin my Organic Kookie Company FULL FORCE.. No, not just start baking in my home, as many advised, but rented my commercial kitchen space, revamped my Branding, Packaging, Website, and focused on creating The Luxury Organic Kookie Co, that was given to me in vision.

I decided to risk my entire life’s savings, to now give my Company a fighting chance. To position us in the light we needed, to expose us to top luxury brands. Risk it all, so that we may one day thrive, so we may one day win… so we may one day SOAR.

How would I ever reach my goals to encourage the masses, if I was not willing to risk it all, sacrifice all, give my all. I believed I had to do my part, not sit back and talk about what I wanted, but to put the work in, to sacrifice time, money, sleep, to acccomplish my goals. to live out my passion.

God allowed me to continue to live, even when some Doctors gave up hope. At this point, it has been my belief that if I am not willing to RISK IT ALL, I will never have all that has been set aside for me, for such a time as this.

This is My Destiny…My Purpose… It is My Time to Thrive, not to simply be Alive.

 

What should our readers know about your business?

Kyri’s Kookies is an Organic Kookie Co, established in 2009, and re-launched July 2021. We pride ourselves in selecting and only utilizing premium organic ingredients. We do not use any white sugar, or white flour in any of our recipes, nor will we. Our Kookies were developed for the sole purpose of Encouraging others and expressing Love and Gratitiude.  Our Kookies are housed in a custom made, wooden keepsake box, and communicate from first glance…. You Are Special.
There are so many phenomenal things transpiring for us as a brand. We have secured partnerships with Marriott International, Hyatt, and Hilton. Our Kookies are currently being served at The W Downtown Atlanta, The St. Regis Buckhead, The Hyatt Regency ATL and The Grand Bohemian of Orlando. Several more, here in Georgia and Florida have already committed to product integration, but I have not listed them, as we are awaiting the completion of our larger kitchen, to fulfill these agreements. We are also The Kookie of Choice, under the Critics Choice Association, and this is such an amazing honor. One of the most humbling accomplishments is being selected to create the Signature Kookie for the Hyatt’s Prestigious Thompson Buckhead, this has been a blast.

Many look on and think that we are an overnight success, but this could not be further from the truth.  We have spent all of these years from 2009-2018, giving away our Kookies to the Troops, Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Children and Police Officers. This continued practice of giving, has been extended to include families battling Cancer at Emory’s Winship Sarcoma Institute. Our continued giving and generosity are only made possible by creating true partnerships that provide consistency and that are mutually beneficial. This is not easy to find as a small, minority women owned business. Too often big companies want us to give them pricing that would put us out of business. So in a nutshell, it isnt easy to overcome the challenges of corporate America’s pricing.

As it pertains to lessons learned, I continue to stand by my Brand, never compromise for the sake of getting a contract. Even with our existing hotel partnerships, we must continue to secure one hotel at a time, and this is what is best for us. We do not have to feel pressure to supply every entity right away. This allows us to maintain our Standards of Excellence, put proper processes in place and scale-up incrementally, never sacrificing Quality.
I recoginize that as a 6 oz Organic Kookie we are unique, and we can not allow ourselves to be compared to a mass produced, pre-fabricated cookie, because we are far from this. Our Kookies are made with love, one batch at a time.

Finding one’s passion isnt just about a career choice and money. It is about finding your authentic self. The one you’ve buried beneath other people’s needs, and constant wants and desires for you. Kyri’s Kookies has allowed me to experience my authentic self. The one enveloped by an inexpressible Joy by baking and serving Kookies that encourage the masses, one Kookie at a time. Thank you God for all that you are doing thru me, for such a time as this, extending my heart in a Kookie, allowing each individual to experience “A HUG IN EVERY BITE”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Here are some of my favorite places in Georgia to frequent.

Capers On Main Restaurant- 1635 Old 41 Hwy NW, Kennesaw GA 30152
Fish Thyme Restaurant – 3979 S. Main Street, Acworth GA 30101
Flavor Rich Restaurant – 1175 Buford Hwy NE Suwanee, GA 30024
JR Crickets South Cobb – 4479 S Cobb Dr SE.Smyrna, GA 30080
Chateau Elan Winery & Resort – 100 Rue Charlemagne Dr, Braselton, GA 30157

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

As I reflect on the years since I began baking with my Son Jordan in 2009, with a focus to encourage the Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, there have been numerous people who have encouraged me to sell my Kookies full-time.

The two individuals that loved me so deeply and encouraged me unceasingly have transitioned. My Grandmother Lucille Mosley and My Auntie Brenda Mosley are whom I desire to recognize, whom I desire to shoutout to the Heavens… Thank you soooo much for always telling me there was absolutely nothing I could not do. Thank you for always highlighting my strengths, and not focusing on my misteps in life. Thank you for never ever seeing my kindness as a flaw, or my willingness to forgive as a deficit, Thank you for letting me love from my depths without judgement.

Thank you for simply being you, and allowing me to BE, whom our God created me to be.

Please continue to watch over me, as I hear you both cheering me on daily. I love you and miss you beyond words. This, My Story, My Life, My Work is Dedicated to you Both. May I continue to make you Proud.

I also want to Shout Out My Husband Alfred (Coley), My Children Courtney and Jordan, and my 1st Team Member Deborah Golden for your continuous, active support of my Dreams. Thank you.

Website: https://kyriskookies.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyriskookies/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyri-s-kookies/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyriskookies

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj6iXkUecoOv4QBi3Buk8_Q

Other: Twitter Mention: https://twitter.com/IMDbKeith/status/1504418768746795012 Great Day KC Interview: https://fox4kc.com/great-day-kc/sponsored-content-shamrock-roofing-and-construction/women-mean-business-kyris-kookies/

Image Credits
Lauren Liz Photography

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