Ariana Tolka

Ariana Tolka is the co-founder and former CEO of Balkan Bites, a woman-owned food company known for its frozen burek, a traditional savory phyllo pie. Inspired by her Albanian family recipes, Ariana grew the brand from a home kitchen to retailers across the country, earning features in Bon Appétit, The New York Times, and Forbes. In 2025, she sold the company to a frozen food manufacturer and now advises food and beverage brands on growth and go-to-market strategy.