Maize’s Market is a heart-centered bookstore located in the East Valley with a mission to provide children with access to books by offering unique new books, thrifted gems, and a selection of free books.
Children’s access to books at home is directly correlated with their likelihood of high school graduation, and Ciara believes with her whole heart that every child deserves that opportunity.
AZF: What is your “life motto”?
This isn’t happening to me, it is happening for me.
AZF: Did you always know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur? If not, when did you realize that it was the right path for you?
I have been in the corporate world, working as an environmental scientist for a long time. I enjoy my work and feel very grateful for the opportunities I have had, but there has always been a yearning to create something.
I look back at my childhood and remember setting up a little stand to sell golf balls at the sidewalk crossing of Foothills Golf Course. I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit in me, and I think that finding a community of other women creating their dreams inspired me to just go for it!
AZF: How do you feel best supported?
As a mother, sometimes it can feel difficult to ask for help. I have an incredible support system built out of my family, friends, mentors, and therapist. I think there are different people who can serve different purposes, depending on where you need support.
AZF: What motivates you to keep going amidst the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur?
We all have tough days, and there are moments when I just want to throw in the towel. When I feel this way, I take time to reconnect to myself and my “why”. Why did I start doing this in the first place? What impact am I trying to make? Answering those questions fuel me forward.
AZF: Describe your perfect Saturday.
My perfect Saturday morning starts with a hot Pilates class at The Workshop, followed by a Bongiorno Bagels haul to bring home to my family.
AZF: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a young entrepreneur who is just starting out?
You don’t have to know how you will do it, you just have to know why you are doing it.
AZF: What excites you most about being an entrepreneur?
The process of sourcing the thrifted books lights me up. Flipping through the stacks and finding a book that I remember from childhood, or a book with a beautiful note written inside that gets a second life. I also love showing my three boys that it is possible to create something from nothing.
Learn more about Ciara Schewe by following along on Instagram @maizesmarket
About the Foundress
The Foundress is a creative community of female entrepreneurs established by Coley Arnold. The women-led networking group currently has over 120 members who receive exclusive access to mentorship from experienced female entrepreneurs and industry leaders; community gatherings that feature expert speakers and the opportunity to connect with like-minded women; as well as monthly Mastermind Groups where members can brainstorm and collaborate together. Learn more at foundress.co.
