We recently connected with Iyare’ Mack and have shared our conversation below.

Iyare’ , appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I truly believe that your passion to reach your goals have to outweigh any fear of failure to be successful. You have to want something so bad that you’re determine to give it your all. In giving it your all, you must understand that there will be some stumbling blocks along the way. You need passion, persistence, determination, dedication, effort, and tunnel vision to turn those stumbling blocks into stepping stones. You must keep your eyes on the goal and not the distractions. Most importantly, you must trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart and allow Him to direct your path. Trusting His will for my life and not depending on my own is what it will take for me to be successful.

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

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia and spent the majority of my childhood living in Stone Mountain/Lithonia, Georgia. I’ve always loved to cook and became really good at it. As a young girl, I remember feeling fascinated while sitting in the kitchen with my mom, watching and helping her cook delicious southern meals. My upbringing is rich in Southern-United States and Nigerian culture. My mom is from Birmingham, Alabama. My father is from Benin City-Edo State, Nigeria. He cooked often and introduced me to Nigerian cuisine at a very young age. Since a child, I have been exposed to diverse cultures and backgrounds.

I thought about starting my own catering business years ago. Family and friends were encouraging me to do it as well. I always felt as if I wasn’t ready and the timing wasn’t right. It wasn’t until 2021 that I finally decided to step out in faith. I truly believe God was just waiting for me to make the move. I decided after much prayer to step out in faith again in April 2022 by quitting my full-time job in Healthcare to become a full-time entrepreneur. My desire was to focus more on my watering my catering business. He has opened many doors and poured out blessings ever since I took those leaps of faith. My business is growing and flourishing every day.

Yare Cooks is a full-service caterer offering catering services, private dining options, television/film production catering, and meal preparation. I provide top-tier customer service, produce quality meals that are delicious, enjoyable, and are genuinely made with love.

I am known for preparing Southern-style food with a twist. I have been taught how to prepare staple Southern and Nigerian cuisine which sets me apart from others. I also enjoy cooking dishes from all over the world. I love interacting with people. I truly strive to build and maintain great client relationships. I want to make every catered event and dining experience memorable. I want every prepared dish to feel like home and that it was made with love.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

During my undergraduate studies, I majored in Biology with aspirations of becoming a pediatrician which was my ideal career growing up. After observing and working closely with several physicians/clinical staff, I decided to pursue my nursing degree instead, which is still a future plan of mine. I have actually been working in healthcare since the age of 16 with various well-known hospitals/clinics and in different roles expanding my skills and knowledge. Earlier this year, I quit my full-time job as an advocate for ill patients assisting them with their needs and guiding them through barriers they may encounter while hospitalized and after discharge. I have always enjoyed helping and serving those in need. Nevertheless, I haven’t felt as enthusiastic and happy as I am with my catering business.

Initially, I wasn’t sure how to be an entrepreneur full-time or what that actually looked like because, I was always working for someone else. I didn’t know what the risk were, how your business could be thriving at times, and occasionally have times when business is slow. I didn’t know how much money out of pocket you have to spend on your business to actually make money. I still don’t have it all figured out. However, I know that I am exactly where God wants me to be at this moment. The journey hasn’t been easy, but God continues to provide and make a way for me. I have been given the opportunity to still help and connect with people through my catering business which is a blessing.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

My business has been funded 100% out of my own pocket. My husband, mother, and older sister have helped me out tremendously as well with helping to purchase supplies and/or additional necessities. I was still working a full-time job and catering was just a part-time business for me until April 2022. The income that I had coming in from my full-time employment initially helped to fund my business. “Funding your business out of pocket is NOT for the weak” as I’ve seen stated many times via social media. I truly understand the meaning of that because, I’ve been experiencing it. God continues to open doors and provide for me though. I am extremely grateful for it all. I am currently looking into more funding through grants, loans, and credit to assist in helping my business thrive.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yare.cooks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YareCooks-107631564996304/
• Other: Tik-Tok : @Yare.Cooks