A Day in the Life of GoMacro Co-Founder and CEO, Jola Sonkin

GoMacro is proud to be founded and owned by mother-daughter team, Amelia Kirchoff and Jola Sonkin. During her battle with cancer in 2003, Amelia created the MacroBar™ recipe in her kitchen on the Wisconsin family farm. In the years following, Amelia and Jola began spreading the power of a balanced, plant-based lifestyle through clean and delicious MacroBars. To help support the business as GoMacro expanded, Jola relocated to Southern California, where she still resides with her family.

We're sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how Jola embraces motherhood, entrepreneurship, and a healthy lifestyle. Here's what a typical day in the life of our Co-founder and CEO looks like!

 

Rise and Shine

Mornings are all about getting everyone ready for the day. Breakfast for my kids varies from day to day, but they always love my mom’s recipe for homemade vegan pancakes topped with fresh fruit, or cashew yogurt with granola. I usually reach for an almond milk smoothie with spinach or kale, a banana, and protein powder.

After seeing the kids off to school for the day, I like to get in a good workout. Most of the time, I opt for resistance bands and the Peloton Tread. I also practice yoga, so I make sure to squeeze in two classes a week. It's a great way to center my mind while also getting in a good stretch and some core work.

 

On the Job – Balance of Strategy & Execution

My typical workday involves various meetings, making sure that our long-term strategy is top of mind, and that daily operations are running smoothly. I'm also continually working with leadership to ensure that The GoMacro Way is being fostered throughout their departments, and that we are staying aligned with our company mission in everything that we do. We just started an Ingredient Committee that meets once a month to discuss flavor profiles, standards, and new sourcing opportunities, to ensure that every ingredient we use meets our high standards. I'm also part of our Green Team, which includes individuals from several departments coming together to guide our sustainability efforts.

 

Winding Down

My goal is always to wrap up my workday in time to pick up my kids from school. I try to make a conscious effort every day to show them that you can be family-oriented while also having a successful career. I want them to know that they can do anything they put their mind to.

I love supporting them in their many extracurricular activities, so I spend a lot of my evenings enjoying one-on-one conversations as I chauffeur them to and from practice. I also take piano lessons once a week, which is nice because it gives me the chance to slow down and focus my mind on something different from the day-to-day. We try to eat as a family around 5:30, but depending on who has practice and when, sometimes things get shuffled around.

Our meals typically include whole grains, a lot of veggies, and a protein. I love to try out new recipes, and always try to introduce a new meal to the family once a week. One of my favorite go-to recipes is a Kale Chopped Salad with Brussels Sprouts and a Maple-Almond Vinaigrette.

If there's time after homework and dinner, we love to play games as a family -currently our favorite is Rummikub! Then it's off to bed for the kids – and we're usually not far behind after a jam-packed day.

To learn more about what inspired Jola and her mother Amelia to start GoMacro, check out Our Story.