Mo George-Payette | Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mo George-Payette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mo, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
While it is still most definitely a work in progress, at this point in my life and career I am breathing a bit deeper and seizing more moments to practice Mindfulness, Yoga, and other special activities that often slipped away while in the trenches of Retail as a CEO. Having launched my own business and still growing MOMO’s CBD brand, my life and work have become one in the same – I am most fortunate and grateful to be able to make a living with a passion project. I eat, breathe and sleep MOMO’s and the Hemp/CBD world still has a ways to grow so there is always something new to learn and adapt to… As I have grown older I look back at the flash of chaos while raising kids and definitely made it work- the activities, meal prep, all a full cycle repeating itself and now the biggest difference is that I dictate that cycle- and it is liberating…

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After spending 32 years in the Natural Products Industry leaving my post as CEO of a local chain of Natural Products Markets, I set out to live my truth and create a product that I not only craved but knew would help others in their quest to take the edge off and feel good – Enter MOMO’s CBD; It was not an easy road to head out on my own, but I was fortunate to have learned so much about products with integrity and transparent sourcing and knew that it would have to be Plant based, Ethically sourced, Non-GMO, and taste amazing. After months of trial and error with various Chocolatiers, and Hemp/CBD brands, I finally came up with a product that tasted amazing and had all of the right call-outs… When you combine the powerful superfood properties of Ethically sourced Peruvian Cacao with Full Spectrum Hemp-derived CBD, it is a portable Cacao ceremony for your taste buds… But that is not where the challenges end- There is packaging, branding, marketing, selling, lab testing, merchant processing, banking, censorship, cancelled Trade shows, legislation, regulation and so much more to get to a point where the benefits of CBD are recognized in foods and beverages- this is still an ongoing challenge. It takes determination, persistence and belief in oneself and I have received so many testimonials of how this yummy product is helping people – be it a bite with breakfast, mid-day snack, evening wind down moment, MOMO’s is here to lend support and while we still have a long road ahead- it is about the journey…

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being based in Orange County- First stop is always Crystal Cove/ Reef Point at low tide is the place to be – bring along a few MOMO’s Bars, grab a drink at Beach Combers and hang out for sunset. Find time to hit Gracias Madre in Costa Mesa for a Vegan Mexican inspired meal with amazing tequila beverages. Find our way to Impact Juice Bar in Old Towne Orange the next AM for one of their Superfood Smoothie bowls and walk around the Vintage shops. Maybe head up to Long Beach and visit the Arts District -say Hi to Native Sol and check out all of their cool clothing and jewelry and see if they need any MOMO’s Bars and then head to Under the Sun LB for a Vegan meal and ask them if they need any MOMO’s bars as well. Find a local bar such as The Federal for a couple of drinks .Depending on what day it is, we can hopefully check out one of the local Farmer’s Markets on our way back down south. The next day head south to Dana Point and visit Organic Tree Juice bar for one of their awesome fresh juice blends- check and see if they need any MOMO’s Bars or Coconut Lip BLISS…Head back to Crystal Cove for the day- hang out and enjoy the day, driving back to HB to grab takeout falafels and tabouli from Golden Olive -delicious authentic Middle Eastern food. Just in time to watch the sunset across the road at Seal Beach. Maybe hit up Main St for a night cap…repeat any of the above as time permits…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wuld love to give a Shoutout to the late Bruce Macgurn: the Visionary Founder of Mother’s Market & Kitchen- while he passed away a few years ago, his approach to life and work would lead us into many insightful discussions during the 30 years that I worked with him. From the time that I was a Veggie chef thru my journey leading up to CEO- he led by example and always acknowledged the People First- “Truth, Beauty and Goodness” was our mantra and he brought to us many philosophical books such as the Four Agreements, and constantly challenged us to go deeper and take on more…