We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ammarah Ahsan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ammarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I believe both paths have their distinct advantages and drawbacks. The satisfaction I derive from completing each order is consistently unique and never loses its appeal. Embracing a creative profession allows me to manifest my ideas into reality, an opportunity that a conventional job may not afford. The flexibility of working hours, a necessity with small children and other responsibilities, stands out as a significant advantage in the creative realm. Having briefly worked in the retail industry in the past, I gained valuable insights into customer service, proving to be advantageous in my role as a cake artist.

While the thought of returning to a regular job is not at the forefront of my current considerations, I have not entirely ruled out the possibility. Depending on my circumstances, I may explore this option at a later juncture in my life.

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

As a stay-at-home mom and a professionally trained doctor, my passion lies in the art of baking. Reflecting on my past, I realize that my creative spirit has been a part of me since childhood. Growing up in Pakistan, where my family frequently moved due to my father’s work, I would spend my free time collecting scrap materials such as fabrics and glass to create unique art pieces. Despite hailing from an affluent family, the resources to fuel my creative endeavors were not always readily available, and pursuing a career in the creative industry was not encouraged during that era.

My educational path was determined by my parents, leading me to earn an MD from a prestigious university in Pakistan. However, my life took a different turn when I got married and moved to the USA with my husband shortly after our wedding. Adjusting to a new culture proved challenging, and I eventually decided not to continue my medical career due to various personal reasons. The demands of raising children and managing the household left little room for pursuing anything beyond my immediate responsibilities, until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the lockdown, unable to go outside or meet friends, I found solace in baking. This hobby gradually transformed into a passion for cake decoration, and with the support of friends, I made the leap from a casual baker to a professional cake artist. Encouraged by my husband, I began advertising my products and services on Facebook, leading to my first official order – a small birthday cake adorned with rainbows. This marked a pivotal moment in my life, providing validation that my creations were worthy of being sold.

Although I embarked on my cake artist career four years ago, delivering hundreds of custom cakes, I still consider myself a beginner in the world of cake crafting. My pride lies in creating not only visually stunning cakes but also ones that delight the taste buds. Customer satisfaction is paramount to me, and while many clients provide detailed requests, I cherish orders that grant me creative freedom. My motto revolves around honesty with both clients and myself.

Navigating the delicate balance between quality and quantity poses a challenge, as the intricacy of designs sometimes requires me to decline requests. Interestingly, clients often choose to trust my judgment, resulting in exceptionally well-crafted products. I believe in the artisanal approach, distinguishing custom cake artists from mass-production bakeries. Without a supply chain or mass production, each order demands my undivided attention. While humbled by the trust people place in me for their cake needs, I emphasize the importance of allowing sufficient time for the creative process, setting me apart in a realm where quality takes precedence over quantity.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect is undeniably the positive feedback and customer satisfaction. The process of crafting something visually stunning that ultimately becomes the focal point of a special occasion makes all the hard work truly worthwhile. Witnessing my creations become a lasting fixture in people’s cherished memories adds a profound sense of value to the effort invested.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Inherently inclined towards pleasing others, I was brought up by parents who instilled in me the value of prioritizing others’ needs over my own. During the initial year of my professional baking career, the most challenging aspect was establishing clear boundaries with clients. Despite my perfectionist tendencies, I used to accommodate last-minute requests, striving to deliver the finest products. However, this dedication often came at the cost of neglecting other facets of my life.

Another significant struggle revolved around valuing my own products enough to decline lowball pricing offers. I vividly recall an incident where a client ordered half a dozen assorted-flavor cupcakes, only to vanish without settling the payment. Such experiences compelled me to reevaluate and reconstruct my understanding of business ethics from the ground up, a necessary step to navigate the challenges of survival in this competitive industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://m.facebook.com/100063545321975/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tscakesmore
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100063545321975/