We recently connected with Jelissa Lamboy and have shared our conversation below.

Jelissa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

At The Sugar Connection, our mission is to create joyful, hands-on cake decorating experiences that foster creativity, build community, and inspire connection. But it’s more than just about cake—it’s about giving people a space to slow down, tap into their creative side, and share meaningful moments with others.

This mission is deeply personal to me. As a Latina entrepreneur, I know firsthand how powerful it is to have a seat at the table—and sometimes, to create the table yourself. I started The Sugar Connection because I wanted to merge my love for baking with my passion for bringing people together. It’s not just about teaching a decorating technique—it’s about celebrating culture, confidence, and connection in every swirl of buttercream.

The most fulfilling part? Seeing strangers become friends at my classes, watching someone light up when they realize they made that cake, and knowing they’ll walk away with more than just a treat—they’ll walk away with a memory. That’s the heart of our mission, and that’s why it matters.

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.

My name is Jelissa Lamboy, founder of The Sugar Connection—a pop up cake decorating experience rooted in creativity, connection, and community. I’m a Latina entrepreneur, a passionate baker, and a firm believer that something as simple as cake can bring people together in powerful ways.

I’ve been in the culinary industry since I was 16 years old. I attended a vocational high school for culinary arts and went on to earn my degree in Baking & Pastry Arts from Johnson & Wales. I’ve worked in fast-paced kitchens—including at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox—and eventually landed a lead pastry role at a new restaurant. But shortly after, COVID hit, the world shut down, and so did this new exciting job experience. I was pregnant with my second daughter at the time, and I needed to find a way to generate income before her arrival. That season of uncertainty became the beginning of something beautiful.

I started baking out of my apartment, and with just $400 and a dream, I launched The Sugar Connection in 2021. What began as making cakes for family and friends turned into an obsession with the process—not just the final product. I fell in love with the creativity, the artistry, and most of all, how cake decorating could light people up and turn any gathering into something magical. That’s when I realized I didn’t want to just sell cakes—I wanted to create experiences. The Sugar Connection was born to do just that. Our first class was a cake-and-candle event in collaboration with Vivian from Lit Vibes in 2023. The concept was inspired by a paint night I had once attended. I realized how much I valued unique, interactive experiences—especially ones that gave people something to take home beyond just a memory. I wanted to recreate that joy, but make it edible.

But this business wasn’t only born from passion—it came from a deeply personal place. As a mom of two, I struggled with losing my identity in motherhood. I had my first daughter at 20 and was the first in my friend group to become a mom. While they were living out their twenties, I often felt forgotten and isolated. Hosting these classes became a way for me to reconnect with myself. They helped me heal—and gave me the opportunity to create a safe, empowering space for others to do the same. What sets us apart is that we’re not just teaching a skill—we’re crafting heartfelt experiences that leave a meaningful impact long after class is over. I wanted to build a brand that celebrates self-expression and joy, especially for women and communities that don’t always see themselves represented in spaces like this.

At The Sugar Connection, we host pop-up and private cake decorating classes across the city—at breweries, rooftops, event venues, and even inside people’s homes. We purposely host with other small businesses to give them a spotlight as well to help them grow! Whether it’s a birthday, girls’ night, or just a fun night out, we provide everything needed for an immersive experience. You don’t need any baking experience—just a good attitude and maybe a love for sprinkles. Our events are hands-on, creative and empowering. Our events may start with a room full of strangers, but by the end, we’re friends rooting for one another. That’s what makes us different. We’re not just decorating cakes—we’re celebrating people, making memories, and building community. I always say, if someone leaves my class and doesn’t feel like they gained a new friend in me, then I haven’t done my job.

I’m incredibly proud of the community we’ve built. We’ve had the honor of being featured on WBZ, CBS, and 7 News Boston, as well as in articles on MassLive, Meet Boston, and Boston Uncovered. I also recently became a published author for a chapter in Slaying Boston, where I shared my journey of building something meaningful from scratch- my own recipe for life!

While we currently host just 3–4 events a month (since I’m still mostly a stay-at-home mom to my 4-year-old), my dream is to one day open a permanent studio space where these experiences can thrive and grow. If you’re an investor reading this—I’m your girl! I believe in this vision wholeheartedly.

This isn’t just a business—it’s purpose. It’s love. It’s healing. I’ve been brought to tears more than once by guests who’ve pulled me aside to thank me for creating an escape during tough times. I never take any of it for granted. I want every guest to leave knowing how appreciated they are. I’m incredibly proud of the community that’s grown around this brand. Seeing people come alone to a class and leave with new friends—or watching someone decorate a cake for the first time and beam with pride—that’s the magic I live for.

For anyone new here, just know: if you’ve got a sweet tooth and a creative spark, you belong with us. Whether it’s your birthday, a girls’ night out, or just because—you don’t need to be a baker to join the party.

We’re a unique business because of the heart behind it all. We advocate for mental health, celebrate individuality, and believe that everyone deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and loved. I want to be everyone’s hype woman because I truly believe we all have a purpose, and we all deserve to shine.

The Sugar Connection is where cake becomes the starting point for confidence, connection, and lifelong memories.

Let’s create, connect, and inspire—one cake at a time.

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

One story that truly reflects my resilience is how The Sugar Connection was born. I had just landed a lead pastry position at a new restaurant—a role I had worked hard for—but shortly after, COVID shut it all down. I was pregnant with my second daughter, staring down an uncertain future with no job security and a growing need to provide for my family.

I could’ve let that moment break me. Instead, I turned inward and asked, What can I do with what I have? I had $400 to my name, a talent for baking, and a heart full of dreams. I started baking from my apartment and began building a vision that would become The Sugar Connection. I used that small investment to launch my very first pop-up class in 2023—a cake and candle night with Vivian from Lit Vibes—and the rest is history in the making. The first year of classes I also took on homeschooling for my oldest daughter, which was extremely Rewarding but also showed my true resilience of how many ways I could stretch my times and abilities.

But my resilience didn’t stop there. As a young mom who had her first daughter at 20, I often felt isolated and overlooked. Motherhood was beautiful, but also lonely and demanding. I struggled with my identity and mental health, but I kept going—even when no one was clapping yet. I used my pain and personal growth as the foundation to build a business centered on joy, community, and healing.

Now, every time I step into a room full of strangers ready to decorate cakes, I remember that dark season—and I feel proud. I built something out of nothing, not just for myself, but for others who need a little light, a little fun, and a lot of love. That, to me, is resilience. Not just surviving—but creating something beautiful in the middle of the storm.

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

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is that I can’t please everyone. As someone who naturally leans into being a people-pleaser, this has been a really tough but necessary shift for me—especially as a small business owner.

When I first launched The Sugar Connection, I wanted everyone to leave feeling happy—not just from the class experience, but from every interaction leading up to it. I was overly flexible with policies, constantly making exceptions, and bending over backwards to accommodate people’s changing schedules, requests, or last-minute cancellations. I did it from a good place, but the reality was, I was putting myself in really difficult positions. It created unnecessary stress, financial strain, and left me feeling taken advantage of more times than I’d like to admit.

My classes are all non-refundable and non-transferable—not because of greed, but because this is my job. It’s my only source of income, and with only 3–4 classes a month, every ticket counts toward providing for myself and my children. I’m not backed by a corporation or team. It’s just me—handling everything from marketing and customer service to production, content creation, photography, design, and beyond. It’s a labor of love, but it’s still labor. I’ve had to learn to set boundaries and stay firm in my policies, even when it feels uncomfortable.

It’s a hard balance because I never want someone to walk away with a poor impression of me, and I still do my best to lead with compassion and understanding. But I’ve realized that protecting my peace and honoring the work I do is just as important. The truth is, many people are quick to accept that their flight is nonrefundable or that they won’t get their money back for a concert ticket—but when it comes to small businesses like mine, that same grace isn’t always extended.

Over time, I’ve had to remind myself: I am a mother. I am human. And I am allowed to run my business with care and structure. I’ve found that most of my clients do understand and respect that. They see me not just as a business—but as a person. And I’m proud of that connection we’ve built.

This lesson is still something I’m learning in real time—how to hold space for others while also protecting my own. But I’ve grown so much through it, and I know that standing firm in my boundaries isn’t about being rigid—it’s about being responsible, sustainable, and true to the value of what I offer.

And even though I’m still in my humble beginnings, I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thesugarconnectionbakeshop.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesugarconnectionbakeshop?igsh=MThrbGoyeWtwbzg2eA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thesugarconnectio?_t=ZP-8vVY44bRu18&_r=1

Image Credits

Some images are from @shotbysark