We recently had the chance to connect with Courtnee Maxey and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Courtnee, 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 is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now, a normal day for me starts with quiet time and prayer, my non-negotiables. From there, it’s full steam ahead balancing life and building my dessert business, CH₂OH Dessert Lab.
Most of my day revolves around baking, branding, and brainstorming, sometimes all at once. I spend time testing batches, designing packaging, filming content, engaging with supporters, and planning new flavors and Smart Cookie™ facts. It’s a whirlwind of flour, flavor, and focus, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m the creator of CH₂OH Dessert Lab, a one of a kind dessert brand rooted in science, nostalgia, and flavor. I handcraft small batch cookies from scratch, including the signature Smart Cookie™. It’s the first cookie stamped with edible fun facts. Every detail is intentional, from the ingredients to the packaging.
This brand is an extension of my personality: creative, clever, curious, and always a little unexpected. I built it from the ground up to celebrate originality, not just in the recipes, but in the branding and concept. CH₂OH Dessert Lab isn’t just about dessert. It’s about evoking curiosity, delight, and maybe even a little pride in being a “Smart Cookie.”
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Honestly, the person who taught me the most about work is my mom. Not in a corporate, suit & tie kind of way, but in the way she moved through life with grit, grace, and a deep sense of responsibility. I watched her make things happen with limited resources, keep going when no one was clapping and pour love into everything she touched, even when she was exhausted. That stuck with me.
She never made a big speech about hustle or discipline, she just lived it. I think that’s where I picked up my mindset of “if it doesn’t exist, build it.” She taught me how to move with integrity, stay grounded in faith, and create a life that reflects my values. Everything I’m building now, including CH₂OH Dessert Lab, is rooted in that work ethic and hustle I saw growing up.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. There was a moment not too long ago where everything felt like it was falling apart at once. My personal life was in chaos and I felt like I was pouring myself into things that weren’t pouring back. I was exhausted, disappointed, and genuinely questioned if I had it in me to keep going.
But something in me refused to let the vision die. I kept thinking about the little girl version of me who used to dream big and create for fun, she deserved to see this through. And I realized that giving up wouldn’t make life easier, it would just make it smaller. So I prayed, took a break, reset, and came back with new energy.
Starting CH₂OH Dessert Lab reminded me that purpose and passion aren’t always loud or perfect. Sometimes they’re quiet, stubborn, and messy. But they’re still mine. That moment almost broke me but now I know it built the version of me who’s standing ten toes down in this dream today.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
People are also over-prioritizing perfection. Constantly waiting for the “right time,” the “right strategy,” or the “perfect rollout.” But momentum beats perfection every time. You learn more in the doing than in the planning. Some of the smartest people I know are stuck in their heads while the world moves on without them.
CH₂OH Dessert Lab isn’t about being the most “innovative” in a technical sense. It’s about making something that feels fresh, feels thoughtful, and makes people smile. That kind of simple impact is often underestimated by people chasing complexity and perfection.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I did it my way. Boldly, creatively, and without permission.
That I took what I had, even when it wasn’t much, and turned it into something unforgettable. That I showed up with heart, with vision, and with fire and that I poured all of that into everything I created. I want people to say I made things that felt different. That I wasn’t afraid to take risks, tell the truth, or do something that had never been done.
I hope people remember that I believed in beauty and science and soul and I brought them together in a way no one else thought to. That I left proof that women, especially Black women, can build what they dream and change the game just by being exactly who they are.
And I hope they say I was real. Even when it was hard, even when it was messy, even when no one clapped at first.
Because that’s the legacy. Not just that I made cookies, music, art, or did makeup, but that I made impact.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Personal photo taken by: Christan Jeremiah
Cookie photos taken by: Jose De Paz Cuevas
