Dana Pollack’s Recipe for Success: Make Sure Everyone’s Thought Of

Dana Pollack can pinpoint the moment her life changed. She was sitting in a cubicle at Muscle & Fitness magazine, editing a photo of men in Speedos, when a single thought stopped her cold: Am I really going to be doing this for the rest of my life?

The answer came swiftly. Within weeks of turning 30, she quit her job, enrolled in culinary school, and met her future husband, Adam. Not long after, over lunch with him and her mom, the idea for Dana's Bakery was born.

"I've always been very trigger-happy," she says with a laugh. "Sometimes it works in my favor. Sometimes it doesn't. Usually it does."

Thirteen years later, Dana's Bakery is a nationally recognized brand with a devoted following for its creative spin on French macarons. At the heart of Dana's success is the world she's created — one where everyone feels considered, from her daughters to her employees to her customers.

Her story goes far beyond baking cookies. It's a story of nurturing community, fostering connection, and weaving a sense of belonging into everything she creates. Most importantly, it's about offering her community something truly special, something they can be excited about gifting to the people they love.

When plan A is at the dry cleaners

It's picture day, and Dana's 9-year-old daughter, Leni, is having a meltdown. The skirt she wanted to wear is at the dry cleaners. Dana delivers a dose of perspective with characteristic honesty: "You can cry about it, or you can think of another plan and pick another outfit. The option is up to you, but your life is going to be much better if you stay calm and pick out a plan B."

That moment - part humor, part wisdom - mirrors how Pollack runs her business. She believes that problems aren't personal failures but chances to think differently.

When she was six months pregnant with Leni during the peak holiday season, her landlord had her vacate her commercial kitchen for a tenant willing to pay four times the rent. With her ovens gone and her team in limbo, Dana could've paused operations. Instead, she found a new space, relocated, and kept every employee working without missing a single shipment.

"Worst-case scenarios happen, and you figure it out," she says simply.

It's a philosophy she's passed on to everyone around her: stay calm, stay kind, keep moving.

Dana's Bakery® Sampler Box

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Dana's Bakery® Stuffed Cookies Combo Box of 10

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Dana's Bakery® Crispy Bars Combo Box of 6

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A business built for everyone

Dana's leadership style is rooted in empathy and inclusion. "She's not afraid to get her hands dirty," says Marc Fraum, her business partner. "She'll jump in wherever she's needed. Her team feels seen because she doesn't just lead them, she's with them."

That sense of inclusion extends beyond the kitchen. Her husband, Adam, has been there since day one, standing in carpool lines, packing lunches, and cheering her on. "I am very lucky to have such a supportive partner. I am able to fly because he is so hands on and happy to be there for the kids and me". He's is truly an equal partner and parent," Pollack says. "That's the way it should be."

Their daughters, Leni and Ella, are part of the bakery, too. Leni even created a customer-favorite flavor, "Leni Lemon," while Ella loves to bake along and contributes to baking videos often on Dana's instagram account.

To Dana, inclusion isn't a talking point, it's how she works. Her family, her employees, her partners, her customers, she knows that without a great team, there is no greatness!

Making space for what matters

"My kids are very active and have a jam packed day between school and all their sports. When Leni gets home late from soccer, once she eats and showers, she doesn't have much time before bed, I make those minutes count," she says. "In those moments it's more about quality than quantity. Phone away, fully present."

That same attentiveness extends to her business. When she partners with other brands — like Harry & David — she looks for alignment, not just opportunity.

"Working with Harry & David was a bucket list moment for me. I have been ordering and receiving gifts from them since I was little! They get Dana's Bakery and they get me," she says. "They understand what it means to be a woman, a mom, and a force in business. They want to grow that — not change it."

As she works on her gluten-free cookbook and dreams up new creations Pollack stays ready for the next pivot, the next idea, the next opportunity to bring people together.

Because for Dana Pollack, success isn't just about baking something sweet. It's about making sure everyone gets a bite.