We were lucky to catch up with Habiba Musawar recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Habiba , thanks for joining us today. Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?

“The best boss I’ve ever had is life itself. Life has been my toughest critic and my kindest teacher testing me, breaking me, and rebuilding me stronger every time. Through its challenges, failures, and blessings, I’ve learned resilience, gratitude, and faith in ways no classroom ever could. And if there’s one person I’d thank, it’s my husband the one who kept cheering for me when the world fell silent, who believed in me when I began to doubt myself. As a mother, I’ve discovered the purest form of strength and love the kind that keeps you moving forward even when you’re exhausted, because you know little eyes are watching and little hearts are learning from your courage.”

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

My name is Habiba Musawar, owner of CakeCouture a self taught baker, wife of a very wonderful and supportive husband and proud mom of two boys. By education, I completed my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in Pakistan. During my last year of studies, I got married, and soon after my husband returned to the U.S. Since my family didn’t allow me to work outside, I spent the first five years of marriage at home, waiting for my spouse visa. Those years were some of the hardest—we were apart most of the time, and I went through the early years of motherhood with my first child without my husband by my side.

When my visa was finally approved, I came to Dallas to join my husband. At first, it was just the two of us and our children. I didn’t have friends or family here, and it often felt lonely. But I always wanted to be independent, to do something meaningful for myself and for my family. That’s when baking found me.

It all started with a cheesecake. My husband, who is from New Hampshire, told me he missed the cheesecakes from back home. Out of love, I baked one for him, and he encouraged me to keep going. Soon, friends tried my baking, then their friends, and before long Cake Couture was born. What started as a cheesecake has grown into custom cakes, luxury wedding cakes, and dessert tables.

The journey has not been easy. I’ve faced sleepless nights, cakes falling apart, missing ingredients at midnight, and even negativity from people who questioned, “What is she doing?” But I kept going—with prayer, determination, and the constant support of my husband. He helps with the kids, runs to the store when I run out of ingredients, and even delivers cakes when needed. Along the way, Cake Couture gave me more than just a business—it gave me a community. Through it, I’ve made so many friends and connected with other bakers who inspire and support me.

Today, I feel proud that what began with one cheesecake in my kitchen has grown into a brand people recognize and trust. Cake Couture is my passion, my dream, and a reminder that with faith, hard work, and the right support, you can build something beautiful even from the hardest challenges.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What helped me build my reputation in the market was a combination of consistency, quality, and personal connection. From the very beginning, I focused on making every cake and dessert with care and attention to detail, ensuring that not only did it taste amazing, but it looked beautiful too. I also made it a point to listen to my clients, understand their vision, and deliver a product that exceeded their expectations.
Word of mouth has been huge happy clients sharing their experiences with friends and family helped me grow organically. Reliability has also been key: meeting deadlines, maintaining quality even under pressure, and being approachable made people trust me.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has been word of mouth and personal referrals. My clients are incredibly supportiveonce they taste my desserts or cakes, they naturally share their experience with family and friends. People notice the luxury and quality in my creations, and that encourages them to recommend Cake Couture.

I’ve also been fortunate to have supportive influencer friends who love my work. They’ve tried my cheesecakes and wedding cakes and continue to share honest reviews and beautiful posts without any fees, simply because they believe in my brand and want to support a small business.
Additionally, wedding planners have been a great source of referrals. After tasting my cakes for events, many recommend me to their brides, which has helped me grow my client base organically.
In short, my reputation, quality, and strong relationshipswhether with clients, influencers, or plannershave been the key drivers of new business.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cakec_outure?igsh=MTM0Zjc4cWg5bXpxbg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JigJUNGfi/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cakecouture68?si=IMTgoL_jKXpoyVHJ
• Other: https://www.threads.com/@cakec_outure?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

  Threads

Image Credits

Mostly are from my phone some are from photographers at event