We recently connected with Delvira Rodrigues and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Delvira , thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I am a passionate and driven entrepreneur who created and successfully manages a small food business in the Bay Area. Combining my love for culinary arts with an opportunity, I conceptualized and established the small coffee shop in 2017, creating a unique menu that catered to diverse palates. Through effective team management, problem-solving, and a focus on customer satisfaction, I cultivated a warm and inviting atmosphere, transforming my business into a beloved destination for food enthusiasts. With a strong emphasis on quality, innovation, I learned to work with financial management and do a effectively marketing advertise for our neighborhood. As the founder and manager of my small food business, I am proud of my accomplishments and ready to bring my entrepreneurial spirit and expertise to future endeavors.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hey there! So, here’s a bit about me: I’m originally from Brazil, and I moved to the Bay Area as an immigrant. Those early days were tough – opportunities were rare and it felt like a big climb. But then something amazing happened. I started making these incredible cheese breads pastries, and when people tasted them, they just fell in love. It was like a taste of Brazil right here in the Bay Area.

You know what helped me along the way? My buddy who owned a restaurant – he was like a guiding star, showing me the ropes. And then there was the Small Business Administration (SBA) with all their advice, like a steady hand helping me through the hurdles. The best part was opening up a coffee shop in our neighborhood. See, we didn’t have any Brazilian flavors around here. Sure, there was all kinds of food, but that unique South American taste was missing. And now, with the cheese bread manufactury , it’s like bringing a slice of my culture to our community, and it feels amazing to share that flavor and warmth with everyone.

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

You know, one of the biggest lessons life taught me was that patience, resilience, and unshakable belief in your dreams are way more powerful than I initially thought. Back in the day, when I started my journey, I was all about rushing things. I wanted quick results, instant success. But guess what? Life doesn’t really work that way. I stumbled upon challenges I didn’t even expect, and that’s when I began to understand the importance of taking it slow sometimes.

It was like building my dream of introducing those incredible cheese breads pastries to the Bay Area. At first, I thought it would be a walk in the park, but reality hit me. There were days when things didn’t go as planned, and it seemed like my dream was hanging by a thread. But, those moments of doubt actually fueled me to dig deeper. I had to learn to be patient, to embrace every challenge with resilience, and to keep that unbreakable faith in my vision. And you know what? Over time, with persistence and that unwavering belief, things started to fall into place. That’s when I truly grasped that dreams don’t happen overnight. They’re like those cheese breads – they need time to rise and grow into something truly amazing.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

So, there was this major time in my life when I had to do a complete 180-degree turn. Imagine this – I used to be a Computer Science professor back in Brazil. But then, I moved to the Bay Area and this whole new chapter began. I decided to open a coffee shop, and suddenly I was dealing with pastries, coffee, and people, instead of code and classrooms. It was like stepping into a whole new world.

Then, you won’t believe what happened next. The pandemic hit, and it felt like the whole world turned upside down. We couldn’t run the coffee shop the same way anymore. That’s when the pivot number two kicked in. We started focusing on takeout food, delivering meals to people’s homes. It was about adapting, finding new ways to connect with our customers when they couldn’t come to us.

But you know, every cloud has a silver lining. After the pandemic, we decided to take things even further. We shifted our focus towards growing the manufacturing side of our business, especially those delicious cheese breads that everyone loved. We started supplying them to markets and stores all around the Bay Area. It was like watching this whole new avenue open up, and it wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t adapted during those challenging times. So, these pivots, they taught me that change can be tough, but it can also lead you to places you never imagined.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brazilianbreads.com
• Instagram: @brazilianbreads
• Facebook: brazilianbreads
• Linkedin: Delvira Rodrigues
• Twitter: @DelRod81