6. Sammy Mila: From Famous Hands to Food Phenom

Sammy Mila once was described as having the “most famous hands on YouTube.” The one-time food stylist for publishing giant Meredith Corporation, Sammy’s hands have been featured in countless recipe videos. However, styling food for magazine photoshoots and making how to videos doesn’t bring the same joy that directly serving people does. When a well-established Des Moines bakery/dessert lounge came available for sale, Sammy decided to follow a dream and leap into ownership. Already a 40 Women to Watch in Hospitality honoree, Sammy reimagined the bakery to include everything from late night noodle bowls to vegan baked goods. Toss in her funky décor, craft cocktails and peanut butter Cheez-It cookies, and you quickly understand Sammy’s vision to create an environment and menu that have something for everyone.