By Naya Seth
Photos courtesy of the McWilliams family
At just 13 years old, Mariana “Mari” McWilliams is already making waves as an entrepreneur. Inspired by others starting businesses, she launched Mari’s Gold—a snow cone stand named after the marigold flower, offering 15+ delicious flavors perfect for Arizona summers. With help from her parents, Mari secured the right licenses, bought equipment, and started promoting her brand through Instagram and word of mouth. Now, she’s booked almost every weekend!
Mari admits it hasn’t all been easy—starting a business meant facing fears and tackling a bigger workload than she expected. But her determination paid off. She even wrote and published “Mari’s Big Idea,” a book about her journey, and “Mari in the Safari,” a fun animal fact book.
Next up: Mari is hosting a young entrepreneurs market in Gilbert on October 25, 2025, through the Acton Children’s Business Fair. For more information, visit childrensbusinessfair.org/phoenix-arizona.
Mari’s advice? “Find something you’re passionate about and just give it a try!”
Follow her on Instagram @marisgold_snowcones to book an event or cheer her on.
