Kaiy Smith-Biesman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Kaiy, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building — that nobody really sees — is the deep culture of care, growth, and connection behind everything I do. People see our stunning grazing tables at Stems and the delicious sandwiches and thoughtfully curated cheese boxes at Neighbors & Friends Cafe, but the real work happens quietly — nurturing not just food experiences, but the people who bring them to life.
I’ve invested my heart into building and supporting my team — mentoring them, encouraging their growth, and creating an environment where their creativity and well-being are prioritized. In an industry known for hustle and burnout, I’m proud to cultivate a space where my team feels valued, empowered, and balanced.
Beyond my businesses, I’ve mentored countless aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented communities, offering guidance that goes beyond technique to include mental health, authenticity, and wellness. Helping others find their voice and build sustainable businesses is deeply rewarding and something I pour my energy into every day.
Behind every beautiful grazing table and every flavorful sandwich is a foundation of care — for the food, the people, and the community. That behind-the-scenes nurturing is what truly sustains everything I build, even when no one is watching. And that’s the legacy I’m most proud to create.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the founder and owner of Business BoostHER Mentoring, Stems Catering and Neighbors & Friends Café in Pasadena, CA. In the process of opening Neighbors & Friends Kitchen, a cooking school, restaurant and bar. Kaiy has built a career at the intersection of food, community, and meaningful hospitality. Her work is rooted in the belief that gathering isn’t just about what’s on the menu —it’s about connection, storytelling, and creating spaces where people feel seen.
With a degree in Business Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship from Chapman University, Kaiy combines formal education with a deep well of lived experience. She launched her businesses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, navigated through the LA wildfires, and has grown three community-rooted brands while raising two children while her husband is an active duty Marine. Her journey reflects resilience, creativity, and a refusal to subscribe to hustle culture.
Kaiy specializes in turning food into visual art and shared experience. Beyond catering and café service, she mentors aspiring food entrepreneurs—especially underserved makers—helping them grow sustainable businesses with clarity and purpose.
Known for her honest, no-fluff approach to business and life, Kaiy brings both strategy and soul to every room she enters. Whether she’s teaching a workshop, building a grazing table, or speaking on entrepreneurship, she’s driven by a single goal: to help people gather, grow, and create something that matters.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I wasn’t truly worthy of success or happiness — like somehow, I had to prove myself over and over to earn my place or be enough. I carried this quiet doubt that my dreams were too big or that I didn’t deserve to have them come true. Over time, through life’s challenges and intentional self-reflection, I’ve learned that worthiness isn’t something you have to earn — it’s inherent.
I no longer believe that I have to prove my value to anyone, including myself. Instead, I embrace that I am enough just as I am, and that belief has opened doors to not only build thriving businesses but also to uplift others through mentorship and community. Letting go of that old story about worthiness has been one of the most powerful shifts in my life.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Almost every day, entrepreneurship tests me in ways that make me want to give up. There have been countless moments where the overwhelm, the setbacks, or the exhaustion felt like too much — when I questioned if the sacrifices were worth it or if I had what it takes to keep going.
But what keeps me moving forward is remembering why I started in the first place: to build something meaningful that brings people together, to create opportunities for my community, and to show others—especially those who’ve been overlooked—that their dreams matter. It’s not easy, and the urge to quit is real, but leaning into that purpose, and the support of my team and mentees, keeps me going one day at a time.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is a curated reflection of who I am — it shows the passion, creativity, and leadership I want to share with the world. But it’s not the full picture. Like anyone, I have moments of doubt, vulnerability, and exhaustion that don’t always make it into the spotlight.
That said, I strive to keep my public self authentic and grounded. I believe in showing up honestly, especially as a mentor and business owner, because authenticity builds trust and connection. So while the public me highlights my strengths and successes, it’s rooted in my real experiences — just with some of the messy, private moments held behind the scenes.
In many ways, the public me is a version of myself I’m proud of and continue to grow into, but it’s not the whole story — and that’s okay.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Absolutely — I’ve gotten what I wanted many times, and almost every day I realize that those achievements don’t bring lasting satisfaction on their own. Success in business, recognition, or hitting a goal feels amazing in the moment, but it’s never the finish line. What really matters is the why behind it — the purpose, the impact, and the connections I build along the way.
This ongoing cycle keeps me hungry, but also grounded. It reminds me to keep evolving, to celebrate progress without resting on it, and to always look deeper than surface-level wins for fulfillment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stemsca.com & www.neighborsandfriends.com
- Instagram: @stemsca @weareneighborsandfriends
Image Credits
Chandra Wicke
