For Desiree Jaye, community wasn’t a business idea—it was a lifeline. Motherhood reshaped her identity and revealed a deep need for connection with women navigating ambition alongside caregiving, inspiring her to create spaces rooted in belonging and trust. Through ventures like Ocala Mompreneurs Club, Girls Night In, and MMMmami Empanadas, Desiree is weaving together culture, care, and entrepreneurship—building ecosystems where mothers don’t have to choose between their dreams, their families, or feeling seen.
Desiree, you’ve built multiple community-centered ventures — from Ocala Mompreneurs Club to Girls Night In — what personal need or moment sparked your decision to start creating spaces specifically for moms and women?
Motherhood changed everything for me not just my schedule, but my identity. I found myself craving connection with women who understood the duality of building something for themselves while caring deeply for their families. There was a moment where I realized I was surrounded by people, yet still felt isolated in my ambitions and emotions. I didn’t just need support I needed community. Creating spaces for moms and women came from that personal need to feel seen, understood, and encouraged during a season that can be both incredibly beautiful and deeply lonely.
How has the Ocala Mompreneurs Club evolved since its beginning, and what impact have you seen it have on mom-owned businesses and local connections?
Ocala Mompreneurs Club is still very much in a growing and foundational season, and that’s been intentional. It began as a simple idea creating a welcoming space where moms could connect, share their businesses, and not feel alone in the process. As it’s evolved, the focus has been on building real relationships first, rather than rushing growth. Even in this early stage, I’ve seen meaningful connections start to form. Moms are discovering one another’s businesses, offering encouragement, sharing resources, and beginning to collaborate in small but impactful ways. The club is becoming a place where mom-owned businesses feel supported locally, and where women are reminded that they don’t have to build in isolation. Right now, the impact is less about scale and more about trust laying the groundwork for a strong, connected community that can continue to grow together.
Girls Night In focuses on intentional, offline connection — why do you think these kinds of spaces are especially important for mothers right now?
Mothers are carrying so much right now mentally, emotionally, and physically and yet many feel pressure to show up everywhere without truly being supported anywhere. In a world that’s constantly online, intentional, offline spaces allow mothers to slow down, be present, and connect in real, human ways. What makes Girls Night In especially meaningful is that it honors the reality of motherhood. We welcome moms to bring their children because community shouldn’t require separation from the very people they’re building their lives around. Allowing kiddies to be present removes a huge barrier for mothers and creates an environment where women don’t have to choose between connection and caregiving. These spaces remind moms that they’re allowed to belong, be seen, and build relationships exactly as they are, in the season they’re in.
You’re also growing MMMmami Empanadas alongside motherhood — how has building a food business shaped your perspective on balance, culture, and community?
Building MMMmami Empanadas alongside motherhood has taught me that balance isn’t about doing everything at once it’s about honoring seasons and intention. Some days my energy goes into my child, other days it goes into the business, and both are equally meaningful. Food has always been deeply personal for me. I come from a Jamaican family, and my grandfather was Cuban, so MMMmami Empanadas became a creative space to experiment with blending those cultures through food. It’s a way of honoring my roots, my family, and the stories that shaped me, while also creating something new that brings people together. Through this business, I’ve seen how food naturally builds community. It opens conversations, sparks memories, and creates moments of connection that go beyond transactions. MMMmami Empanadas has reminded me that business can be an extension of culture, care, and motherhood something that nourishes both people and purpose.
Looking ahead, how do you envision all of these efforts working together, and what kind of legacy do you hope to create as a mom entrepreneur and community builder?
I see all of these ventures as parts of the same mission creating spaces where women, especially mothers, feel empowered to build lives and businesses that honor who they are. Whether it’s through community, events, or food, the heart is connection. The legacy I hope to create is one where my daughter sees that it’s possible to lead with compassion, build with purpose, and still show up fully for family. I want other moms to know they don’t have to shrink their dreams to be present mothers they can do both, and do it together.
