Melissa Ben-Ishay
CEO and co-founder of Baked by Melissa
Melissa Ben-Ishay is the CEO and co-founder of Baked by Melissa, the NYC-based dessert brand famous for its handcrafted bite-size cupcakes and treats. Since it was founded in 2008, the company has opened 14 retail locations in the NYC metropolitan area and beyond, ships its premier gifts nationwide, and has sold over 300 million cupcakes.
In 2020, Melissa began sharing recipes on TikTok rooted in her food philosophy that mealtime is for nourishment and dessert is for indulgence. She has since been recognized as one of the most influential recipe creators by Business Insider, Mashed, Yahoo, and more. Melissa has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, People magazine, the TODAY Show, GMA, Rachael Ray Show, Inc.’s Female Founders 100 List, and more.
Today, Melissa lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her husband and two daughters. She still conceptualizes every new flavor at Baked by Melissa and continues to share everyday meals with her growing community of over 3.5 million followers, each recipe developed to deliver the perfect ratio of flavors in every bite—just like her namesake cupcakes.
