Ep 22: Ibraheem Basir, A Dozen Cousins - The Business of Taste, Health, and Culture
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Our childhood experiences have major influences on our present and future, and although some of our childhood experiences were not pleasant, we can always chart a new course by learning from the past and shooting for the stars aiming for greater days ahead.
Our guest’s on this episode is Ibraheem Basir, founder of A Dozen’s Cousins, a brand bringing you yummy, good for you, and soulfully seasoned beans, bone broth rice, and seasoning sauces all while retaining authenticity
Ibraheem and I chatted about the role of food in his big family while growing up. He has nine siblings and a good meal was their way of showing love and celebrating milestones. Nothing beats a good home-cooked meal bursting with authentic flavor. Ibraheem Basir combined inspiration from his upbringing and knowledge from work experience in corporate America to found A Dozen Cousins.
A Dozen Cousins is named after Ibraheem’s daughter and her eleven cousins. His daughter was just two months old when he made the decision to start A Dozen Cousins, a risk he does not regret. Growing up he knew that he’d be an entrepreneur just like his father. After getting an MBA from UPenn, he worked with a number of national food brands including General Mills and Larabar, and fell in love with the natural food movement.
His hands-on experience prepared him to launch his own unique brand. Growing up in New York City, his palate was influenced by a melting pot of rich and flavorful recipes that were staples in his neighborhood. Ibraheem’s mother and sister cooked a combination of Creole, Latin American, and Caribbean dishes. Ibraheem’s vision is to create a natural brand that is reminiscent of his culturally diverse community. With A Dozen Cousins, your taste buds will thank you as it is a mouthful of taste, health, and culture.
This episode will give you tips on work-life balance, encourage you to do it for the culture, and pursue a life that will outlive you while changing your world.
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About Ibraheem Basir:
Ibraheem Basir is the Founder and CEO of A Dozen Cousins, a natural food brand that makes convenient side dishes inspired by traditional Creole, Caribbean, and Latin American dishes. The brand is inspired by his childhood growing up in the culinary melting pot of Brooklyn where his mother combined her native Southern cooking with the recipes that she picked up from her Caribbean and Latin American neighbors. The brand is named after Ibraheem's daughter and her 11 cousins. Prior to launching A Dozen Cousins, he obtained his MBA from the Wharton School of Business and served as a Marketing Manager on a number of natural food brands including Larabar and Annie's Organic.
To connect further with A Dozen Cousins:
Visit the A Dozen Cousins website: www.adozencousins.com
Follow A Dozen Cousins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adozencousins/
Visit the Project Potluck website: https://www.potluckcpg.org/
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Watch the full interview on Youtube: https://youtu.be/9ppYixP