We were lucky to catch up with Mk Drayna recently and have shared our conversation below.

MK, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I never thought I wanted to be a business owner. I thought owning a business would take over every aspect of my personal life, I was confused by all the paperwork, and I didn’t think I’d be able to make a decent living for myself just selling cakes. At the same time, I knew working for someone else wasn’t actually what I wanted. My dream job was to be creative at work and make my own schedule. I got to a point pretty early in my career when I realized that my dream job didn’t exist at another company— I’d have to create it on my own terms. I took a huge chance on myself and I quit my job, making the leap to launch Whisk Chick full time at age 21. I found a commercial kitchen space with incredible luck at the right place at the right time. I was also lucky to have an incredible support system: a friend to make my website, my accountant grandpa to help with tax paperwork, a partner who supported this choice from day one, and countless other friends and family members to encourage me along the way.

The first couple years were full of mistakes and learning opportunities. I did a big rebrand pretty early on to attract clients looking for luxury cakes, not just everyday birthday cakes. I invested time in social media marketing, and have now grown my TikTok following to over 220,000 followers, which has been hugely impactful for growing my business into that perfect niche of upscale cake design. Burnout is a very real, looming danger, but I prioritize my hobbies, even when they prevent me from making sales. I learned very early on that the “hustle” mindset is a recipe for burnout, and despite being an entrepreneur, I will always prioritize my mental health and my fun.

I moved kitchens in January of 2024, which has allowed me to teach classes. I share a collaborative kitchen space with Lucy Bakes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s definitely unconventional but it works very well for our businesses. It’s been fun to grow together!

MK, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always loved baking, but my hobby took off in high school when I was going through some severe mental health issues. I used baking as a coping mechanism to combat anxiety. I struggled in a classroom setting, so I knew that a four year college wasn’t realistic for my future. I got my first bakery job at age 17 and absolutely loved it, solidifying my decision to pursue baking as a career.

I enrolled in the Baking & Pastry Arts program at Milwaukee Area Technical College in 2017, taking cake orders out of my house on the side and working at Harbor House in Milwaukee on their pastry team. I graduated in 2019 with my Associate Degree in Baking & Pastry Arts. A gingerbread freelance project landed me a job offer for a head pastry chef position at a French bakery, where I worked until 2021 when I quit my job to pursue my “side hustle” full time.

Whisk Chick is my one woman cake business, specializing in unique, custom cakes for every occasion. I also offer custom decorated cookies, cupcakes, and cakesicles. I take a lot of pride in creating something truly special for every client: no two cakes are the same. I also started offering classes this year, which have been tons of fun! I love working with other people and oftentimes the long work weeks alone in the kitchen are lonely. Classes have been a great way to work with new people and get to know past, present, and future clients on a personal basis.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started posting videos on TikTok in 2020 just for fun as a way to advertise my business. I saw how successful others had been with baking videos, so I thought I’d give it a shot. My first few videos that started to really blow up were vintage heart shaped cake designs. This trend was very new, so the content was in high demand. What really worked for me was finding a format: a sped up cake decorating video, with a voiceover explaining my design choices. I was surprised with how much people enjoyed my voiceovers! I’ve loved giving tips and sharing stories. My advice for aspiring content creators is to find a format that’s unique. This will make you more memorable over time as more and more people discover your content.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

A huge part of what’s helped build my reputation is working with other well connected professionals. The biggest one is probably working with reputable wedding coordinators. I have taken the time to foster those relationships, do them favors, and make myself memorable when I get the chance. Those connections are hugely important, as they bring me to clients with flexible budgets and creative visions. Another big one is the social media following. People seem to trust me and see me as reliable when they see my socials. I think that can definitely be misleading in some industries, because anyone can gain a following for any reason, but it has really worked out for me so I’ll roll with it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://whiskchick.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whisk.chick/

Image Credits

Claire Neville Photography