How an education in business and leadership helped TWU alumna build a dessert bakery in her hometown

Food blogger turned culinary artist 

Carly’s journey into the culinary world began after she completed her Bachelor of Business Administration in Leadership and Management at Trinity Western in 2015. Shortly after graduation, she travelled to Hong Kong where she explored the art of food blogging. This adventure led her to follow her passion and complete her culinary and pastry training at Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London, England.

Desserts to celebrate 'life’s most important events'

“I have always loved baking since a very young age,” says Carly, “so going to pastry school was definitely a dream come true. I think my favourite thing about baking is creating beautiful and delicious desserts that are used to celebrate life’s most important events!”

Carly is not only the founder of Crème Cream Puffs, she’s also the head chef. One thing that she’s wanted to do in running her own kitchen is to create a positive atmosphere for her staff and to make a positive impact in the workplace. 

“I think for me, having worked in some harsh kitchen environments, I have really felt the calling to build a joy-filled kitchen where people feel respected, safe and seen,” says Carly.

Though the process of starting this business has had a steep learning curve, with many ups and downs along the way, Carly says she owes a lot of her understanding of how business works to what she describes as her “fantastic experience at Trinity Western.”

Persistence, plus business skills

“Looking back, I think the majority of my business classes contributed to my understanding of how a business works and what’s required in order to be successful,” says Carly. “I think one of the most helpful classes (although it was not my favourite at the time) was Stats class, where I learned how to use Excel. It’s been a huge asset as Excel is one of the most helpful tools when it comes to running my business.”

Carly felt that the most intimidating part of starting this business was knowing where to begin. But through persistence and staying adaptable, she has been able to succeed in her work.

“I really believe if you have a great product or service and are able to get it in front of the right people, you will figure out what you have to do to keep moving forward!” Carly says. “It takes a lot of time and effort to get a business off the ground, so stay persistent and trust the hard work will pay off.”

Special bakery discount for TWU Alumni

If you are in Calgary, make sure to stop by and try some of Carly's delicious desserts! TWU Alumni get a 10% discount off their order as well. Visit TWU Alumni Benefits to get the code.