Mac·a·ron: a light, often brightly colored sandwich cookie consisting of two rounded disks made from a batter of egg whites, sugar, and almond flour surrounding a sweet filling (as of ganache, buttercream, or jam)*
Do you like sweet treats that are as lovely to look at as they are delicious? You’ve probably seen macarons from Lady Yum at birthday parties, weddings, or holiday events. They’re eye-catching colors, sometimes sprinkled or sparkly, and smell heavenly. We’ve seen the locations in Bellevue, Kirkland, Seattle, and SeaTac Airport, and wanted to know more about the creator of these delectable desserts. Bellevue Lifestyle connected with Megan Wagstaff, Lady Yum founder and CEO, to get the details.
Are you originally from the Eastside area?
Nope! I was born in Aberdeen, Washington and moved to rural southeast Alaska when I was four years old. I grew up in a village of 800 called Hoonah. I left Alaska at 17 to attend college at Pacific Lutheran University, where I earned a degree in business.
How did you get started in baking?
My dad moved our family to this tiny village of Hoonah so he could get logging work. With three small kids that she homeschooled in a single-wide trailer, my mom imagined us on an Alaskan adventure.
It was during that adventure I started baking. I would put on my apron and with my mom's cookbook and words of encouragement, set to work making cookies, brownies, and more.
What were you doing in your career prior to Lady Yum?
I was an operations manager for an investment bank.
What made you want to go into business for yourself?
I realized I didn’t thrive in the corporate world. It was a very unnatural, unsafe environment for me. After escaping, I couldn’t imagine going back and I was determined to build a life for myself and my daughter, and a working environment for my employees, that was happy and stable and where you could 100% be yourself.
Are there any goals you’re working toward as an entrepreneur?
Right now my focus is on stabilization. We grew very quickly and then Covid hit and it has just been a really difficult few years. My personal goals are growing my executive leadership skills so I can effectively lead us into our next phase of growth. I have some things to learn.
What's your favorite part of owning Lady Yum?
My favorite part of owning Lady Yum is being able to provide neighborhood gathering places for our community to luxuriate in, and an affordable and delicious indulgence for any occasion! It brings a lot of happiness and I feel honored that so many people have built traditions around my stores and macarons!
*definition from Merriam-Webster
I was determined to build a life for myself and my daughter, and a working environment for my employees, that was happy and stable and where you could 100% be yourself.
