18 Oct MARIBEL LIEBERMAN | EXECUTIVE SPOTLIGHT

EXECUTIVE IMPACT: MARIBEL LIEBERMAN SPOTLIGHT

TURNING PASSION INTO ART, AND CHOCOLATE INTO A GLOBAL LANGUAGE

At Liftoff Enterprises, we celebrate visionaries who blend creativity, courage, and entrepreneurship to transform industries and inspire communities. This Executive Spotlight shines on Maribel Lieberman, founder of Maribel New York, whose journey from selling sweets as a child in Honduras to redefining the art of chocolate has become a global story of resilience, culture, and craftsmanship.

MARIBEL LIEBERMAN: FROM HONDURAS TO NEW YORK’S FINEST CHOCOLATE

Maribel Lieberman’s story began in Honduras, where her childhood curiosity and creativity first sparked a lifelong entrepreneurial spirit. “You never know you have creativity in you until you do things,” she recalls. “When I was eight, I started selling sugar candies — and from that little business, I found out I was an entrepreneur. I’m super independent, and I love creation.”

That early spark led her to New York, where she studied at Parsons School of Design, inspired by her mother, a seamstress who taught her the beauty of design and detail. Though she began her career in fashion, Maribel soon discovered her true canvas wasn’t fabric — it was food.

“When I started cooking after moving to New York, I realized it wasn’t just about making a dish,” she says. “It was about creating — mixing cultures and ingredients to make something new.”

CREATING A NEW KIND OF CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE

In 2000, Maribel combined her love of art, culture, and cuisine to open her first store, Lunettes et Chocolats, a unique concept blending eyeglass design and gourmet chocolate. With only $50,000 and boundless imagination, she transformed chocolate into an artistic medium and storytelling tool.

“At the end of the day, I’m a designer,” she says. “I look at chocolate more as an art medium than as food. Every piece tells a story.”

Her approach — pairing bold flavors like saffron with fine cacao — reintroduced chocolate’s true origins to the world. “People used to think the best chocolate came from Europe,” she explains. “But cacao is a gift from the Americas. I wanted to tell that story.”

Today, Maribel New York’s creations are enjoyed around the world — from Brooklyn to Kyoto — where every truffle, ganache, and cup of hot chocolate carries a piece of Maribel’s history, artistry, and vision.

INNOVATION THROUGH CHALLENGE

Maribel’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles. Her business faced the shocks of September 11, the 2008 financial crash, and the COVID-19 pandemic — each one testing her resilience and adaptability.

“I went through three tragedies,” she says. “By the time COVID came, I was already graduated from how to handle problems. You can’t go against the wave — you have to go with it, find solutions, and never give up.”

That philosophy — calm in chaos, creative in crisis — has shaped her leadership and sustained her company through decades of change.

THE ART OF RESILIENCE AND GROWTH

For Maribel, success is not a destination but a journey of continuous evolution. “When people ask how I feel about what I’ve built, I tell them — I’m still here, still growing,” she says. “For me, the word retirement doesn’t exist. As long as you have health, energy, and passion, you keep going.”

She believes entrepreneurship is not only about passion but also perseverance: “If you want to do business, you have to be resilient. Mistakes make you stronger. You just have to believe in yourself.”

MARIBEL NEW YORK: WHERE ART AND FLAVOR MEET

Walk into Maribel’s flagship shop in Soho, and you step into another world — one that feels equal parts New York, Europe, and imagination. “When you open a box of Maribel chocolates, it brings you a smile,” she says. “When you enter the store, you feel connected to something beyond a city — it’s a world of art, warmth, and story.”

Her signature hot chocolate, a cult favorite among visitors, has become a must-try for anyone seeking comfort and creativity in one cup. “Start with the hot chocolate,” she laughs. “That’s where the addiction begins.”

EXPANDING HER STORY: A BOOK THAT CONNECTS CULTURES

In 2024, Maribel launched her first book in collaboration with Italian publisher Rizzoli, featuring 65 recipes that celebrate her love for global flavors and simple, fresh cooking. “The recipes are easy,” she explains. “I wanted people to mix fresh ingredients, cook, and enjoy. It’s a great gift idea — part story, part inspiration.”

Her book highlights five cultures close to her heart — Honduras, the United States, Spain, Italy, and France — blending recipes, photography, and the spirit of shared connection through food.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS

Maribel’s message to future leaders is clear: courage and consistency matter as much as passion.

“Don’t be afraid to start small,” she says. “You don’t need everything figured out. Just begin — and when challenges come, remember there’s always a solution. Never give up.”

A LEGACY OF FLAVOR, CULTURE, AND CONNECTION

From her early candy-making days in Honduras to her artistic chocolate empire in New York, Maribel Lieberman has built more than a brand — she’s built a bridge between culture, art, and humanity.

Her story reminds us that resilience and creativity are the sweetest pairing of all.

Permission granted by Maribel Lieberman to feature all quotes, names, company, and offerings across Liftoff Enterprises platforms.