We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ebony Cline. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ebony below.

Ebony, appreciate you joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

I got my first client online through Instagram. I was promoting my 21-day challenge, which I run every three months when I received a direct message from a young lady who wanted to change her eating habits and start living a healthier life. That young lady is now my client, and she has lost 20 pounds after participating in my 21-day challenges for three months.

I was thrilled by my client’s transformation, and she told me, “Ebony, you saved my life.” At that moment, I realized this was my calling: to help people with their fitness journeys and lifestyle changes. I understand now that my purpose is much bigger than myself; it’s about my mission to educate people on healthy options and the importance of a consistent workout routine. I will continue to encourage the young and old to live their healthiest best lives.

I also have a business/ bakery where I cater to those with a sweet tooth by offering healthy dessert options. My specialties are banana pudding and strawberry shortcake crumble cake.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Ebony Njcole, and I am the fourth child in a family of eleven siblings. I grew up in Queens and later moved to Harlem, where I discovered my passion for creating desserts. This passion led me to start my bakery, “Queen of Banana Pudding and Desserts,” which caters to events and celebrates special occasions.

In addition to my bakery, I am also a distributor and work as a Wellness and Fitness Coach. My goal is to eventually open my own fitness center and encourage my peers to stay active.

I believe that health is wealth, and my mission is to educate my community on how to live their healthiest and happiest lives.

I am also starting my podcast again, where our mission is to share our truths, creativity, and encouragement with our listeners. We aim to nurture, uplift, and inspire others, striving to make the world a better and more compassionate place.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I have learned is: “It’s not always about money; it’s about the mission.” This means that while financial gain is important, sometimes the true driving force behind a decision or action is a larger purpose or goal. When you fully commit to your purpose, you’ll be rewarded in the long run.

The backstory is that I had a customer who needed some gym sessions but didn’t have the funds at the time. I decided to train her for free because her health and well-being were more important to me than the money. Two months later, my client came into some money and unexpectedly deposited a significant amount into my account without mentioning it. I believe that if you take care of people, the universe will return the favor to you tenfold.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My resilience stems from my passion! In 2020, when everything shut down, many businesses struggled—including mine. To adapt, I got creative by adjusting my menu prices and offering free delivery. I focused on customer satisfaction. My love for baking and coming up with new ideas for my menu fuels my determination. Passion drives me to persevere through numerous challenges. I enjoy experimenting with new techniques, flavors, and ingredients for various order requests. Each order is unique, and I learn something new every time. The joy of seeing my customers enjoy my creations motivates me to keep going, even in the face of difficulties. Remarkably, my business began to flourish about a month into the pandemic.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: Queenofbananapuddin
• Facebook: Queenofbananapuddin