spotlight

When it comes to cupcakes and sweets, CCSweets owner Carol Chow has the recipe for success. She has traveled and tasted desserts in France, Italy, Austria, Mexico, England, Spain, Australia, and lived in New York for 20 years. The deserts she makes here in Beijing use no shortening, only pure butter, and are made with primarily imported or organic ingredients. The Cs in her company name are not only her initials; they can also stand for cupcakes, cake and cookies, chocolate and caramel, ice cream, candy, or custom created sweets. Carol puts a lot of time and love into her creations, which helps make them the sweet masterpieces that they are. Agenda spoke with Chow about her business, and why there are no shortcuts in baking.

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When Yuliya Mavletbaeva came to Beijing from Tajikistan eight years ago, she arrived with a suitcase, USD 300, and a degree in international business that she didn’t plan on using. During her time here she has pursued her passions for education and community, working mostly in preschools. But since having a child of her own she has reinvented her career and begun teaching a range of classes for moms and their kids under the moniker Family Fun with Yuliya. Not only has this venture allowed her to integrate her work with her private life, it has also finally given her a chance to apply her business knowledge. Agenda sat down with Mavletbaeva to find out about life as a mommy-preneur, and how to build a family-centered company.

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