Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mikayla Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mikayla , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I have taken so far in life was opening my business. So i have been baking since I was about 8 years old. I started selling sweet potato pies during the holiday season in 2019 which is the same year I married my husband. In August of 2020, my husband and I found out that we were expecting our now almost 2 year old son. When we found out, we made a mutual decision that I would quit my job and focus on my health and bringing forth a healthy baby. October 2020 is when another baby was born. In October 2020 my husband got connected with a digital design artist that created my first logo as a surprise for me and that is when my husband pitched the idea of me going into business for myself. Everyone always liked my cooking but going completely into business for myself at the start of the pandemic was not something I thought about doing. Kay’s Bakes was born and made her debut in November 2020. By January 2021, Kay’s Bakes had grown into Baked like Kay, LLC with the help of my siblings, husband, and some great like minded black business owners. We are still in our growing phases but going into business for myself helped me to find a new passion of mine, something else that truly makes me happy outside of my family, baking and seeing the smiles on my clients faces when they get exactly what they expected and paid for. This risk has turned out to be something amazing.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I own Baked like Kay, LLC which is a home based bakery. This business is still in the growing phases and we’re still learning the ins and outs but we’re expanding everyday. I just recently went back to school to hone and improve my craft because I started as a self taught baker. I’m learning new skills in both the kitchen and the business world and it’s giving me more variety. Most baking businesses that I’ve run across sell a variety of one thing but we sell a variety of multiple things. Things that you may not have had before and things that bring southern comfort to you without you having to do any of the work.

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

I have had to unlearn trying to or wanting to quit just because business is slow. Businesses have slow periods and busy periods and we have to learn to ebb and flow with the movements of the business especially in those painful growing stages.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

My baking business actually began as a side hustle. This was something i just did to do it because i like being in the kitchen but then my husband saw the joy that it gave to me and the happiness it put on my face. This is now a business but it’s not full time yet. I’m growing and learning and as i grow i hope the business will too.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @baked.like.kayllc
• Facebook: Baked like Kay, LLC.