#WeeklyDisruptor: Chocola Chocola’s Stella Zhamkochian

Each week at Embrace Disruption we introduce you to an influential person in the digital, blogger, arts, culture, film, or media world! Every Thursday, you can check back at EDPR to find out who we think is particularly amazing at ‘embracing disruption’ within their respective industries. This week, we’d like to introduce you to Chocola Chocola’s Stella Zhamkochian!

What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

As an entrepreneur, my official job title would have to be “whatever and whoever I need to be at that moment.” I attended Georges Vanier High School and that concluded my education!

Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).

(I’d like to describe myself in a nut shell {macadamia nut, preferably} , if that’s ok since that’s what we coat in chocolate) I love all things that glitter, love shoes, but mostly, love my job!

Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

After having my first child, I decided to give up life in the corporate world and stay home to raise my baby and after a while (about 6 years and a second baby later), the inner entrepreneur just wouldn’t go away. Since I love to bake, I started experimenting with chocolate (something I knew NOTHING about), looked at store shelves for inspiration and found that, at the time, chocolate was pretty boring and so it began! Started playing around with different flavours, colours and textures and decided to share these ideas with the world.

What is the best part of your day-to-day?

I work with chocolate, does it get better?

What’s the most challenging?

The business end, not too creative and actually, pretty boring.

If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?

Super tempted to post Sandra Bullock’s speech from “Miss Congeniality.”

How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

I eat chocolate, of course!

What is the most memorable moment in your career?

The first time I saw my chocolates on a store shelf. Hard to describe all the different thoughts and emotions at that moment.

Do you support any initiatives or charities?

We have supported many different charities throughout the years but most recently we were delighted to have been a part of the Starlight Foundation, The Youth Code (www.theyouthcode.com) and Hellenic Hope Centre (www.hellenichope.org).

Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

More of what I’m doing now, I honestly have the best job on the planet, although, I wouldn’t mind travelling all around the world.

Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?

Is there a “Back to the Future” app? Yes, that one!

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