Mary Crafts started her business with just $150.
She was a former social worker, a mother of two young children, and living on welfare when she realized she needed a way to support her family. So she did what entrepreneurs do. She looked for a need and decided to solve it.
Armed with a little red wagon full of homemade bread and cookies, she went door to door looking for customers. That small beginning eventually became Culinary Crafts, one of the most celebrated catering companies in the country. Over the next four decades, Mary would serve presidents, world leaders, Oprah Winfrey, Sir Elton John, Fortune 500 CEOs, and thousands of events before selling the company to her sons.
In this Start School conversation, Culinary Crafts Founder Mary Crafts joins Silicon Slopes CEO Clint Betts to share the principles that guided her through forty years of entrepreneurship, leadership, personal transformation, and building a lasting legacy.
They discuss:
• How Mary built Culinary Crafts starting with just $150
• Why the best entrepreneurs simply find a need and solve it
• The power of showing up before anyone knows your name
• How integrity became her greatest competitive advantage
• Why leaders must lead with both their brain and their heart
• The three goals every entrepreneur should have
• How to overcome fear and imposter syndrome
• Building systems without losing a culture of excellence
• Selling a family business while preserving trust
• Why learning, serving, and giving always come before growth
Whether you're starting your first business, growing a company, or simply trying to become a better leader, Mary's timeless wisdom offers practical lessons on resilience, service, leadership, and living a life of purpose.
00:00 Introduction
03:10 From social worker to entrepreneur
09:20 Starting Culinary Crafts with $150 and a little red wagon
15:15 Landing the first big catering contracts
21:00 Building a company through service and showing up
27:45 Why great companies are built from the top down
34:20 Running a family business and selling it to her sons
41:00 The three goals every entrepreneur needs
49:30 Leading with your brain and your heart
54:45 Overcoming fear and imposter syndrome
1:00:10 Advice for young entrepreneurs and audience Q&A
1:04:00 Closing remarks
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