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

Daniela, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)? Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style.

I remember one day I was sitting in class and I became so overwhelmed and felt like the weight of the world was on me. I started questioning myself and what I was capable of, I had made up my mind right then and there and decided to give up on the program. I packed up my things with tears in my eyes and headed out the door. I thank God that my instructor stopped me and made me remember that I wasn’t a quitter. I can say that my apprenticeship experience was probably one of the most pivotal stages in my life and career. My chef instructor (much love to Chef Joan Denton) shaped me to be the Chef I am today. She motivated me, inspired me, and showed me all the different aspects of food and techniques of cooking.

If I learned anything during that time, it’s to always show up for yourself and to keep going, your future self will be so proud looking back!

After I graduated, so many opportunities opened up for me and I was connected with many different people. If I had given up I don’t think I would have the same confidence and skills that I have today. I believe everything happens right on time, imposter syndrome tried to win, and I almost gave up but I didn’t! Being in an environment with like-minded chefs, praying before every food service as a team, being provided resources, and being encouraged every day while getting my culinary training and certifications, were all blessings that I needed in that season of my life, I couldn’t have asked for more.

I make sure to always carry that love and dedication in all my ventures because it’s that same grace that carried me through and made it possible for me to be where I am today.

Daniela, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Daniela Falade, I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in Arlington, Texas! I’m a mother of 1 beautiful son and the owner of Yaya’s Creations. We provide affordable luxury dining experiences through private chef and catering services. My passion for culinary arts started when I was just a kid watching my mother cook and also cooking for my siblings and I as my immigrant parents worked long hours to keep us all afloat. I believe that regardless of your background or where you are from, everyone deserves a chance to eat good, quality food. My love for capturing my creations through food photography not only attracts new clients but over time it allowed me to dive deeper into the world of content creation. I now create content for my business, restaurants, local businesses, and organizations.

Being a small business owner to me means listening to my clients, learning to their needs, and bringing their ideas to life.
Even if 2 clients have the same menu, I still make sure to tailor everyone’s event to fit their specific needs. I’m most proud of my resilience and my ability to adapt, I’m capable of producing a wide variety of dishes which sets me up to work with anyone who would like my services!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

2023 was a difficult year for me, I had more orders than ever, and I was still working a full-time demanding job that I thought was the peak of my career while still being a mother! I remember being mentally and physically drained most days but knew I had to keep going. I believed I would soon be in a better position than I am today. I would have orders all weekend and still show up to work Monday morning still giving my all. I was getting to a point where I knew I had to eventually make a decision, but it was a decision I wasn’t ready for. However, it’s funny how God works.

I ended up being wrongfully terminated, and with that job being my main source of income, I started to fall on hard times financially. Although I was getting orders, running a business can be so unpredictable I could go from back-to-back bookings to none. Amid this rough time in my life with the support of my family and my faith, I never lacked anything I needed. I struggled a little bit but my son and I were still taken care of so I was allowed the freedom to invest in myself and my business.

Because of not giving up my dreams, I’m now able to expand through different ventures, I’m able to partner with other businesses, network more than ever, and then some!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe being personable, easy to talk to, and most importantly the type of service I have to offer plays a big role. The connections I make help me keep clients and get referrals which helps me showcase who I am to new and existing customers. Also with things like social media, I’m able to reach larger audiences and form online communities with those who follow me. Both my clients and online community get to see my growth and how I interact with others.

Honestly, Just being myself and doing good business puts me in positions that help me to continue to grow the image behind the reputation.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @yayaascreations_
• Facebook: Daniela Falade
• Other: tiktok- @yayaascreations_