Calgary's sweetest startup

Sarah Omar graduated from Mount Royal University in June with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. But long before she crossed the stage, Omar had already begun building her sweet legacy through Sarah’s Cookie Jar, a cookie business nestled within Cedar’s Deli in northeast Calgary.

Baking has always been second nature to Omar.

“My mom would always find me mixing doughs in the kitchen. I went through seven Easy-Bake Ovens as a kid.”

By the time she reached high school, Omar had graduated from toy ovens to real batches, baking cookies at her parents’ restaurant. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she began handing them out to customers as a small act of kindness during a tough time. With encouragement from her family, Omar launched Sarah’s Cookie Jar on Instagram — turning her hobby into a business.

One of her first major milestones came early: a fundraiser for her home country of Lebanon following the Beirut port explosion. Omar raised $1,700, and her parents matched the total. The proceeds were sent to support rebuilding efforts.

When she started at MRU, Omar was balancing classes and growing a small business. In her last semester, Sarah’s Cookie Jar was really taking off.

“Since graduating in June, I’ve had my full focus on taking my cookie empire to the next level. Step by step, and with my degree in hand, it’s a very accomplished feeling!”

Her studies in psychology and public speaking gave her a deeper understanding of people — essential for customer service and hospitality. She credits MRU’s professors and her peers for shaping her journey and helping her grow into both an entrepreneur and a community-minded leader.

Tamara Jenkins, a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology, left a particularly positive impact on Omar through her engaging lectures that emphasized the application of psychology in everyday life. Omar shared that Jenkins, who also served as her guidance counsellor, played a pivotal role in helping her explore the many paths available after graduation. The two often joked about “cookie therapy,” never imagining that what began as lighthearted banter would one day blossom into a business.

“I’m extremely blessed and thankful to have spent the last four years of my life learning and growing at MRU alongside growing my business, having equal passion for both.”

Now, Omar is all in on her business, and her passion is baked into every cookie.