Megan Schmitt shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Megan, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I have been walking a strategic path for the past five years, but I’ve started to wander. I’ve gotten to a point with my business where I could take a left, and stay on track, or take a right and see where it leads me– I decided to take a right. I think there will be some major changes to take place in the next year, I’m uncertain if they’ll be good or bad yet, but they’ll be something!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Megan, founder of Cheeze and Thank You—a Chicago (formerly St. Louis) plant-based cheese company. We’re best known for our fresh plant-based mozzarella (yes, the kind you can slice onto your pizza or melt into lasagna), which was the first of its kind in the mass market. What started as a passion project in my St. Louis kitchen about nine years ago has grown into a brand you can now find on shelves at Whole Foods and other grocery stores.
What makes Cheeze and Thank You special is that we’re chef-driven: everything we create is made to perform like traditional cheese in your favorite recipes. Before I ever made vegan cheese, I made dairy cheese—I wanted to replicate that same experience in plant-based form so that the consumer couldn’t even tell the difference. The best compliment we get is when people say they can’t believe it’s vegan. We started with our fresh mozzarella, and now we’re expanding with new products that make cooking at home just as fun and delicious—whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or simply cheese-obsessed.
There’s a new chapter of food exploration ahead for me this fall, and I can’t wait to bring that energy back home!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I’d say my parents taught me the most about work. My mom owned her own business, so entrepreneurship has always run deep in me, and my dad instilled in me a strong sense of work ethic and the importance of understanding finances. Together, they showed me that passion and practicality go hand in hand.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly, yes—almost every single day. Owning a business means making every single decision, putting in long hours, and carrying the weight of it all on your shoulders. There are definitely moments where it feels overwhelming and exhausting. But then there’s always a spark—the love for what I do, the people who support it, or just remembering why I started—that keeps me from actually giving up.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire my parents for their character. My mom built her own business with grit and kindness, showing me that real strength comes from integrity, not power. And my dad has always rooted for the underdog—he taught me to value fairness, humility, and hard work above everything else.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing?
I think I’d regret not taking risks that scare me a little. Every big step in my journey—starting Cheeze and Thank You, putting my products on grocery shelves, even saying yes when I wasn’t sure I was ready—came from leaning into fear. If I don’t keep doing that, I’d regret playing it too safe.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cheezeandthankyou
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganschmitt787/
- Facebook: @cheezeandthankyou
