Melanie Underwood, Founder of Gather Culinary
Name: Melanie Underwood
Founder: Gather Culinary
What's your elevator pitch? (Ie. In one sentence, what do you do?)
In a disconnected world, I help people forge genuine connections through mindful culinary experiences and conversation-sparking products; transforming everyday moments into opportunities for meaningful human connection.
What's your story? Share how you got to where you are and WHY it is you do what you do.
My journey to founding Gather began with two profound realizations. As a child, I noticed something remarkable at our dinner table: my parents, who often had strong disagreements, found peaceful common ground when sharing meals together. This early observation taught me that food has a unique power to create calm and foster connection, even in challenging relationships.
Years later, while working as a pastry chef, I faced my own struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. Discovering meditation transformed my life, offering me tools to find peace and presence. It was this personal journey that sparked an insight: if food could bring people together, and mindfulness could bring inner peace, combining them could create something extraordinarily powerful. Over my 29-year journey as a culinary educator, teaching more than 50,000 students and authoring cookbooks, I've integrated these life lessons into a unique approach. Through Gather, I create experiences that blend the nurturing power of food with the transformative practice of mindfulness. Whether through our sound journeys, mindful cooking experiences, or conversation-sparking products, each element is designed to help people slow down, connect authentically, and find moments of peace together.
I do this work because I've experienced firsthand how food and mindfulness can bridge divides and heal both individuals and relationships. When I see people putting down their phones, engaging in real conversations, and sharing moments of joy around food—I'm witnessing the same magic I discovered both at my childhood dinner table and in my personal journey with mindfulness. Through Gather, I'm helping others discover that same transformative connection, one mindful moment at a time.
What does BEING a FoundHer mean to you?
Being a FoundHer means being part of a community of women who understand that business can be a powerful force for positive change. As someone who has transformed personal challenges into opportunities to help others connect more deeply, I see being a FoundHer as an extension of my mission to create meaningful connections.
Just as I use food and mindfulness to bring people together, this community offers a space where women can share not just our successes, but our vulnerabilities and challenges. Being a FoundHer means having the courage to build something unique - in my case, bridging the worlds of culinary arts and mindfulness - while being supported by others who understand the entrepreneurial journey.
To me, being a FoundHer is about more than just being a female founder; it's about being part of a movement that values authentic connection, mutual support, and the understanding that our businesses can create ripples of positive impact far beyond our immediate reach.
How do you support other female founders and women in business?
I support women in business by creating safe spaces for conversations that many find challenging— especially around money and self-worth. Having worked in both the food and mindfulness industries, I've noticed that many women struggle to price their services appropriately or discuss finances openly. I actively mentor other women entrepreneurs, helping them recognize and claim their true value.
Through mentoring and open dialogue, I encourage women to move past the discomfort of money conversations and into a place of confidence. This is particularly important in fields like food and wellness, where women often undervalue their expertise and services. I believe that when we share our experiences with pricing, negotiation, and financial planning openly, we lift each other up and create a ripple effect of empowerment.
My approach is rooted in complete transparency—I share both successes and challenges, helping other female founders understand that discussing money isn't at odds with being heart-centered entrepreneurs. By fostering these honest conversations, I help women build the confidence to price their services fairly and run sustainable businesses while staying true to their mission.
What are three podcasts you listen to that have helped you with your business?
“On Being” with Krista Tippett
“How I Built This” with Guy Raz
“The Goal Digger Podcast” with Jenna Kutcher
What is ONE BOOK that you would recommend every female business owner read?
Build For Tomorrow by Jason Feifer
Who is a female entrepreneur you look up to and why?
I deeply admire Alice Waters for her revolutionary approach to food, community, and connection. Her work at Chez Panisse and beyond demonstrates how food can be a powerful force for social change and meaningful human connection. What inspires me most is how she transformed the way people think about gathering around food - not just as sustenance, but as a gateway to deeper relationships and community building.
Her dedication to teaching and nurturing connections through food mirrors my own mission at Gather. Like Waters, I believe that mindful approaches to food can transform everyday moments into opportunities for genuine human connection.
What are the first five things that you did when you were starting your business?
Identified my unique value proposition. I recognized that combining mindfulness with culinary education filled a gap in both industries. Taking time to articulate how my 28 years of teaching experience could create something truly distinctive helped shape Gather's foundation.
Connected with my community first. Before launching formally, I reached out to my existing network of students and fellow educators to understand their needs around connection and mindful cooking. Their input was invaluable in shaping our initial offerings.
Created a small test experience. I designed an intimate cooking class that incorporated mindfulness practices and facilitated meaningful conversations. This pilot program helped me refine my approach and confirm there was genuine interest in this unique blend.
Reflected deeply on branding. I took time to choose a name that embodied my mission and carefully designed my logo and branding materials to reflect the connection and community I wanted to create through Gather.
Built my website independently. I knew exactly what I wanted to communicate, so I locked myself away and created my own website. This hands-on approach ensured that every aspect of the digital experience aligned perfectly with my vision for Gather.
Who is someone who has helped change or shape your business for the better and what did they do to help you?
My best friend, Allison, has been instrumental in shaping Gather's evolution. Our friendship dates back to high school, and her role as a sounding board for my business has been invaluable. As a corporate executive, mother of four, and farm owner, she brings a unique perspective. What makes her guidance so valuable is how she bridges different worlds; she understands both the corporate landscape and the importance of connection and community that I foster at Gather. When we host retreats together, her insights help ensure our experiences resonate with busy professionals while maintaining the authentic, mindful approach that makes Gather unique.
Her feedback is always honest, practical, and rooted in genuine care for both me and my vision. Having a trusted friend who can wear multiple hats—business advisor, retreat co-host, and unwavering supporter—has been so helpful to my growth and success. She helps me see blind spots, celebrates wins, and most importantly, reminds me to stay true to my mission of creating meaningful connections through food and mindfulness.
At what point did you make your company a full time gig? How did you know the time was right?
My transition to making Gather my full-time focus came during Covid. While teaching at the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC, I had always received feedback from students about the impact our connections had on their lives. But as ICE began moving in a direction that didn't align with my vision of what culinary education could be, I realized it was time to fully commit to my own path.
The pandemic created a pause that allowed me to reflect on what truly mattered: the meaningful connections I'd fostered with students over the years and the transformative power of combining mindfulness with culinary education. During this time of global disconnection, I saw the need to create multiple pathways for people to connect. This led me to expand beyond traditional cooking classes to include sound journeys, which offer a different avenue for mindfulness and presence, and to design products like conversation-starting napkins and t-shirts that could help people connect in their everyday lives.
Making Gather my full-time focus wasn't just about timing; it was about purpose. I saw an opportunity to make a deeper impact, particularly with kids and teens, helping them develop not just culinary skills but also tools for connection, mindfulness, and personal growth. The decision felt right because it allowed me to fully align my work with my values and create diverse experiences and products that could bring more connection into our increasingly disconnected world.
What lesson or skill did you take with you from a prior job to help you succeed in your role today?
I learned that the most profound teaching happens when you create a space where people feel truly seen and accepted. At the Institute of Culinary Education, I discovered that a kitchen becomes transformative when students feel free to be themselves, without judgment or pressure to fit a certain mold. This lesson of creating spaces where people can show up authentically has become the cornerstone of everything I do. It's about fostering an environment where genuine connection can flourish. When people feel accepted exactly as they are, walls come down, real conversations emerge, and meaningful connections naturally develop.
Let’s talk social media—who handles it for your company (you, an internal team member, an outsourced solution?) and what is the secret to making it successful? What is the biggest challenge?
When it comes to social media, I’ve handled it myself recently, but it's not something I love. I'm in the process of figuring out where I truly want to be in the social media space and how to make it work best for my brand. In the past, I had someone manage it for me, and it worked really well, so I know the value of having a dedicated person in this role. Starting January 6, I have someone new joining my team, and I couldn’t be more excited to hand this off and focus my energy on other aspects of my work!
How did you land your first client?
My journey to landing my first clients was organic, built on relationships I'd cultivated over years of teaching. Having established a strong base of private students and a dedicated newsletter following, I had already created a community of people who trusted my approach to culinary education. When I launched Gather, I started by sharing my new vision through my newsletter - blending mindfulness with cooking, creating deeper connections, and offering new types of experiences. Because I had already built trust with my audience, they were excited to join me on this new venture.
What is something you do differently from the industry standard?
In both the culinary education and mindfulness spaces, there's often a rigid separation between technical skills and personal growth. What sets Gather apart is how I intentionally weave these elements together, recognizing that cooking can be a gateway to deeper connection and mindfulness. While traditional culinary education focuses primarily on technique, and mindfulness programs typically stay in the meditation space, I've created a unique approach that bridges these worlds. By incorporating sound journeys, mindful cooking practices, and products into experiences, I'm challenging the industry standard of what a culinary or mindfulness business should be.
Most significantly, I break from the traditional teacher-student dynamic by creating spaces where authentic connection is the priority. Rather than just teaching recipes or meditation techniques, I'm fostering environments where people can be fully themselves, leading to more meaningful learning and genuine human connection. This integrated approach to culinary education, mindfulness, and community building is something you rarely see in either industry.
What would you do differently if you were starting your business today?
I wouldn't change many of my core decisions. Working with experts early on, being bold about my value proposition, and staying true to my unique blend of culinary education and mindfulness were all the right moves. I've learned to trust my instincts completely, they've guided my evolution and helped me create something truly unique in both the culinary and mindfulness spaces.
What are three strategies you use to market your business, grow brand awareness and generate bottom line growth?
Becoming a teacher on Insight Timer (a platform with 30 million users) has been instrumental in expanding my reach globally. This partnership allows me to introduce my unique blend of mindfulness and culinary connection to an engaged audience already interested in mindful living.
I've focused on building strong local partnerships and joining key organizations in my community. These connections have created authentic word-of-mouth growth and helped establish Gather as a trusted local presence.
By sharing my expertise and unique approach through various educational platforms and community organizations, I've organically grown brand awareness.
What was an obstacle you overcame to get your business where it is today? Please share the story behind it.
One of the most significant obstacles I faced came during a period of profound personal challenges: losing my father and being diagnosed with cancer within months of each other. These back-to-back life events tested not just my business resilience but my core strength as a person.
What I learned during this time was the importance of allowing ourselves to be human while running a business. I gave myself permission to grieve while continuing to build Gather, understanding that both could coexist. Most importantly, I learned the critical lesson of asking for help. This experience actually deepened my commitment to my mission of creating authentic connections. It reinforced my belief that sharing our vulnerabilities and supporting each other isn't just personal - it's an essential part of building a sustainable business. Through these challenges, I discovered that perseverance doesn't mean doing everything alone; it means knowing when to lean on your community and when to give yourself grace.
What are three actionable tips you would give with other women who want to start a business or are just getting started?
Trust your instincts and stay true to your unique vision.
Consistently build genuine connections in your community.
Create spaces where authenticity can flourish. I've learned that when you allow people to show up as themselves, without judgment, magic happens.
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