Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Leonard.
Hi Kristin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
After culinary school, I went to work for a pastry chef in Destin, Fl doing wedding cakes and custom cakes (for 4 years) before moving to Orlando in 2018. I took a break from the cake industry to manage & bake for a coffee shop, which closed down due to the pandemic in 2020. I started Whisk Me Away Bakery at the end of the lockdown, mostly baking for neighbors and friends, eventually branching out into markets and pop-up events. I love what I do and hope to continue doing it for many years as my business grows.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Surprisingly fewer bumps than I expected. There were of course various frustrations in making sure I had the right paperwork and licenses, a lot of back and forth and waiting around, but it has been mostly smooth. I think the hardest part is growing the customer base and juggling another full-time job until the business starts returning enough of a profit to fully support itself.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Before culinary school, I was majoring in art. I love having the ability now to turn food into art. I enjoy decorating cakes as a creative outlet, but more than that I love the never-ending learning process. There is always a new trend or a new technique to master or experiment with. For me, it’s usually the spur of the moment ideas & experiments that end up getting the most positive feedback, and I’m always very pleased when I become known for something I was making up on the fly.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve been incredibly blessed to have some amazing mentors. I’ve somehow managed to luck into working for 3 different woman-owned businesses in my field and they’ve all taught me so much about the ins & outs of the industry and shown a ton of support for my endeavors. Networking is probably where I’m weakest, but I’ve been very lucky to have extremely supportive family and friends surrounding me. For the most part, I let my product and skill speak for itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: Wmabakery.com
- Instagram: W.m.a_bakery
