Meet Taniya AHMED | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taniya AHMED and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taniya, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?

One of my first college courses was Introduction to Business. My professor, Mrs. Cummings, played a pivotal role at that time in my life, when I was interested in exploring other careers. She was disciplined and strict, incredibly straightforward—a no-nonsense kind of professor. There was no room for distractions in her class; even the slightest disruption, like a ringing cell phone, resulted in penalties for all of us. I feel like her class tapped into a talent within me that I was not fully aware of. Her class changed the trajectory of my life. I am immensely grateful to Mrs. Cummings for being an inspirational badass.

I would also like to give a special shout-out to Jessica McGaughey. She was truly the best boss, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with someone as remarkable as her. Her contagious laugh made everyone want to be around her. I was lucky to be directly mentored by Jessica. She taught me invaluable skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Under her guidance, I mastered the ins and outs of distributorship, learned how to effectively incentivize the team, and understood the importance of branding – “labels out!” Jessica set high standards in the market and inspired me to think creatively and innovatively when organizing entertainment for our sales rallies. Her vibrant personality helped me come out of my shell and encouraged me to develop my own unique style and charisma. Big thank you, Jessica!

Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

Sunbliss Cafe is more than just a coffee shop. We believe in excellent customer service where everyone leaves with a great experience that brightens their day. This is accomplished through our food, drinks, and most importantly, our awesome team members. We understand all it takes is a micro-moment of joy that can truly transform a person’s day.

We offer a diverse menu featuring handcrafted beverages, healthy food options, and signature creations like our famous blue top lattes. We use fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and everything is made with love. We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming space where people feel like they are a part of the Sunbliss family. We treat everyone like family because they are a part of this incredible journey.

Our commitment to excellence in everything we do has earned us recognition from reputable sources like the LA Times, which named us one of the best cafes in Southern California. Yelp, ranked us #6 in the nation and we’re often featured in Orange Coast Magazine. These accolades are a testament to our dedication to quality, customer feedback, and community engagement.

We are most proud of the positive impact we have on our customers and the community. We frequently hear from customers about how our cafe has brightened their day or provided a space for meaningful connections. We take immense pride in contributing to the well-being and happiness of others.

Giving back to the community is also an important part of who we are. We support local schools, charitable initiatives, and support other small businesses. We invite you to experience Sunbliss in Anaheim Hills and hopefully with more locations in the Orange County area.

 Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc. In your view, what are some of the most fun, interesting, exciting people, places or things to check out?

This one is easy! I’m a SoCal girl! I start the morning at Sunbliss for the first coffee of the day, then head over to a bakery in Laguna Beach. Before we spend the next day in Laguna Beach, we stop at Chaupain Bakery for a delicious croissant, cruise down to Laguna to visit a couple of art galleries and head over to Salt Creek Beach to chill and catch the sunset.

My trips consist of great views and food adventures. This means we’d head over to The Rooftop Bar to grab a drink, then go to The Cliff for some appetizers, drive down PCH, and check out Crystal Cove State Park.

After that, we’d cruise down to Newport Beach and grab dinner with some ocean views. Of course, a major stop would be Disneyland on one of the days and making a pitstop at the Fifth Hotel for rooftop fireworks. You can’t come to Anaheim and skip Little Arabia off Brookhurst. My go-to bakery is Forn Al Hara for amazing flatbreads, and my favorite place for shish tawouk and rotisserie chicken is Kababji Grill located in the same plaza. We’d wrap the night up at CheeSweet for their amazing baklava and delicious knafeh!

The last couple of days would be spent in LA. We’d start the day off with pilates and then it’s brunch time at Republique. Then we hop on over to Pasadena. I love introducing my friends to my all-time favorite hot chicken spot, Howlin’ Ray’s. Often imitated, never duplicated! Can’t forget about stopping by Sidecar Donuts in Santa Monica before exploring Abbot Kinney in Venice.

Each day would be filled with new discoveries and cherished memories, making it an unforgettable trip that highlights why Southern California is such a special place to me.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One of my first few college courses was an Introduction to business class. My professor named Mrs. Cummings played a pivotal role at that time in my life, when I was interested in exploring other careers. She was disciplined and strict, incredibly straightforward—a no-nonsense kind of professor. There was no room for distractions in her class; even the slightest disruption, like a ringing cell phone, resulted in penalties for all of us. I feel like her class tapped into a talent within me that I was not fully aware of. This one class changed the trajectory of my life. I am immensely grateful to Mrs. Cummings for being an inspirational badass.

I would also like to give a special shout-out to Jessica McGaughey. She was truly the best boss, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with someone as remarkable as her. Her contagious laugh made everyone want to be around her. I was lucky to be directly mentored by Jessica. She taught me invaluable skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Under her guidance, I mastered the ins and outs of distributorship, learned how to effectively incentivize the team, and understood the importance of branding – “labels out!” Jessica set high standards in the market and inspired me to think creatively and innovatively when organizing entertainment for our sales rallies. I will never forget, I hired an illusionist for an event and organized a large Oktoberfest kickoff party with her, that set the bar high and left the sales team excited to sell our beer. Her vibrant personality helped me come out of my shell, developing my own unique style and charisma. Big thank you, Jessica !

Website: https://sunblisscafe.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunblisscafe/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunblisscafe

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sunbliss-cafe-anaheim

Image Credits
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