Mary Nguyen
Founder and President | Olive & Finch
Mary Nguyen is a self-taught chef and a leading figure in Denver’s culinary scene with more than 20 years of experience. From her early career in investment banking and commodities trading to becoming North America’s only female executive sushi chef, Nguyen has built a reputation as a prominent BIPOC chef. She is the founder and president of the Olive & Finch Collective, a diverse portfolio that includes restaurants (Olive & Finch), cafes (Little Finch), a food and beverage production and distribution company (Finch, On The Fly) serving institutional clients and a hospitality management consulting firm (Collective Management Partners) supporting hospitality brands.
Beyond her success in the hospitality industry, Nguyen is deeply committed to mentorship, education, and inclusive community development. She serves as Chair of the Asian Chamber Foundation and sits on the board of the Emily Griffith Foundation—both of which support education and workforce development initiatives. In these leadership roles, she works to remove barriers to entry for historically excluded communities and champion opportunities for growth and meaningful representation in both education and leadership.
Nguyen also sits on the boards of the Colorado Asian Chamber of Commerce and Visit Denver, where she advocates for minority-owned businesses and serves on the chamber’s DEI Task Force, providing diversity training to corporations and nonprofits. Through this work, she helps organizations engage more effectively with the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and ensures their voices are included in key economic and policy discussions. In addition, she serves on Huntington Bank’s Advisory Board, focusing on expanding access to financial resources for small businesses, driving community development, and addressing disparities through fairness and equity. She is also a member of the Give 5 Advisory Board, supporting civic engagement and leadership among experienced professionals. Passionate about educating the next generation of entrepreneurs, Nguyen has worked with Junior Achievement and continues to mentor young business leaders through the Young Americans Bank, helping them develop financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and the confidence to lead.
Mary Nguyen was recently honored with the 2025 Girl Scouts Women of Distinction award, which recognizes exceptional leaders who serve as role models for young women and demonstrate a deep commitment to their communities. Mary has also received the title of Outstanding Woman In Business by the Denver Business Journal, an award granted to innovative women business leaders who contribute significantly to their community. Olive & Finch has also earned widespread acclaim—named a finalist in the Denver Business Journal’s Small Business Awards, included in ColoradoBiz’s list of the Top 200 private and women-owned businesses, and recognized as a finalist in the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Awards for Ethics. The brand has received multiple accolades from 5280 Magazine, including Readers’ Choice awards for Best Chef, Best Bakery, Best Brunch, and Best Cocktail Menu. Westword Magazine also ranked Olive & Finch among the Ten Best Places to Eat Breakfast in Denver.
Additionally, she was featured in “The Empowerment Project,” an award-winning film celebrating the achievements of a select group of women across the United States from various fields, and was the featured chef in the Denver episode of “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.” She also regularly appears on Colorado & Company, Colorado’s longest-running daily show on Channel 9, in a segment titled “Fresh Takes with Chef Mary,” where she discusses culture, hospitality and lifestyle with more than 20,000 daily viewers.
A proud Denver native, Nguyen is a dedicated steward of the city’s growth and development. As an entrepreneur and community advocate, she believes in the power of hospitality to bring people together and strengthen communities. Through thoughtful investments, collaborative partnerships and a shared vision, she works to shape communities that celebrate diverse cultures, vibrant culinary scenes, dynamic city centers and welcoming public spaces.
