Chef Mawa McQueen

Isaacson School - Advisory Board Member

Chef Mawa McQueen is the owner and executive chef of Mawa's Kitchen in Aspen and Crepe Therapy Café in Aspen, Snowmass Village, and Boulder. Drawing from her upbringing on the Ivory Coast and in France, she has built a reputation for bringing food and comfort to diverse communities.

Her accolades include the Colorado Governor's Minority Business Award (2020, 2022), James Beard Award Best Chef West semifinalist (2022), and MICHELIN Guide recommended restaurant status for Mawa's Kitchen (2023-2025). She has authored Mawa's Way cookbook, Unstoppable Ambition (in French and English), and Unstoppable Workbook: Mapping Out Your Mindset For Success. She also owns Mawa's GrainFreeNola, producing gluten-free, protein-rich, vegan granola.

Chef Mawa's community impact includes receiving the Spoons Across America Award for Excellence (April 2025), serving on the Ment'or Culinary Council, and Sylvia Center Culinary Council. She is an alumna of the James Beard Foundation Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program and Colorado Restaurant Foundation. Her philanthropic work includes raising over $20,000 for Brake The Cycle to build a well in Zambia and serving as Ambassador for Action in Africa, supporting education initiatives in Uganda.