We were lucky to catch up with Katherine Coakley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Katherine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Each day of our lives is filled with risk. When we leave our homes to get groceries or put gas in our car there is an element of risk involved because we can not predict the outcome each day. Risk is something that we all must learn to embrace as common if we intend to reach our goals. We have been taught to see risk adversely, but the truth is, if you are willing to live you will have to take risks. Risk by definition is a situation involving possible loss, injury, or exposure to danger. Before I get my story, I want to affirm that all risks are not bad, it is a temporary space you occupy when you come into awareness of your potential purpose, calling, and desires. Risk is associated with growth, success, and innovation. Take the calculated risks, it may be the jump that changes your life forever.
Last year, I took a risk to leave a job opportunity many people would have loved. I worked with a highly influential person, and this allowed me to glean knowledge, enter valuable rooms, and serve great men and women. This was a great opportunity and one that I am grateful for because it affirmed, validated, and challenged me in a lot of ways. To some, this may have been their dream, but I knew that it wasn’t enough and that eventually, my purpose would call me to do more. During the pandemic, just like many others, I used social media as a way of connection, discovery, and entertainment. I started a food vlogging and blogging page to showcase my plant-based journey. Bahama Foodie managed to capture the attention of thousands of plant-based and non-plant-based people. As the page kept growing so did my curiosity about what this brand could be. I had considered it growing to become more but I didn’t know how. After some time, I reached a place on my journey that required that I make a decision.
After much prayer, conversation, and research, I took the risk and embarked on a journey of taking the creativity of my plant-based food that I showcased online and made it a business. I Planned to use all of my savings and the day I left that job; a bill came up that cost me several thousand dollars. As you can imagine this was not expected so I was riddled with anxiety since leaving my financially stable job. I paid the bill and used the balance of my savings along with help and support from family and friends who believed in me. Their gifts along with my savings allowed me to develop, and purchase supplies and inventory for the first few months of my business. Since then there have been sunny skies and days when it felt like a storm sat on my emotions, but when I took the risk I signed up to embrace the uncertainties as well.
I had restaurant spaces fall through, investments that required more investments until I watched my account come down to zero. Gratefully, during this time, I made a decision to start small even though it was not my preferred option. I started cooking from my one-bedroom apartment kitchen and it kept me and my team afloat. Despite all of the challenges, people were ordering and enjoying my food. We sold thousands of plant-based meals in our first year of business. Since then we have received international magazine features, and multiple grant funding to grow our business and move into a commercial space. People who are vegan and non-vegan are enjoying our food and feeling better within their bodies..
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 Katherine Coakley. I am from the sunny shores of Nassau Bahamas, I am a Plant-based Cook and life and wellness coach for women. My business story was birthed from my own personal story of fighting inflammation in my body. For years I suffered from inflammation that impacted my quality of life. This changed when I decided to go Plant-based. Since transitioning I have felt better in my body and mental health. After realizing the impact this diet had on me, I decided to share my recipes, food, and knowledge with the world via social media. My business, Bahama Foodie is The Bahamas’ only digital, exclusively Plant-based restaurant that cooks an array of multicultural meals with Bahamian Flair. Our uniqueness is creative flavors, presentation, and mouthwatering food that causes people not to miss the meat. Since launching we have been able to change the landscape of how natives see a plant-based lifestyle allowing them to decrease their intake of certain food. We re very proud of the ground that we have covered in such a short time and we are looking forward to helping people locally and internationally to enjoy delicious Bahamian food made plant-based.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe my authenticity in my personal brand made it easier for people to trust me. For years people watched me create before I started my business. They saw me cook food that looked delicious and other things that had to be thrown away. Allowing my audience to journey with me authentically aided me in fostering an engaging community and building my reputation
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
To be patient with me. I can be very goal driven and sometimes this causes me to be rigid with timelines and milestones. This journey has fostered deeper levels of grace and patience for myself and the purpose of my journey. Allowing myself to be present in lessons without the pressure of achievement has given me more peace, security, and room to create. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hellobahamafoodie.com
- Instagram: _bahamafoodie
- Facebook: Bahama Foodie
- Email: info@hellobahamafoodie.com
Image Credits
Photography by : Macarra Ferguson