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

ORICHA, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Taking risks is something we’re way too familiar with. Starting Wisdom and deciding to open a brick & mortar was a big risk we decided to take, a huge one at that. When I decided to open a vegan bakery & cafe, I only knew 1 vegan personally at the time & I knew the perception the general public had of “Veganism.” The community was much smaller when I decided to start. The Idea of executing this dream, and the spark it gave us to pursue it fueled our will to open our first brick and mortar. Me & Nemanja Plavsic (My husband & Co-Owner) knew we would stop at nothing till it was open. Taking a risk is like taking a challenge, you know what you want the outcome to be, but the process is always where the surprises land. it is always up to you to take the challenge or forfeit.

Opening our first brick & mortar was not the first risk we took together. It was one of the big ones. We worked very hard to get it up & running. I was even 6 months pregnant at the time. Our “why” is bigger than ourselves. We’re both giving people & family orientated. This was a step to spread our gifts & love to the world. We had no mentors, contractors, or marketers. Just a dollar & a dream. Can’t forget the amazing vegan community that showed up & showed out. The first week of opening gave us all the confirmation we needed to know we were on the right path.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I like to say, that this industry chose us. Before starting Wisdom, or even being vegan I was on the search for my passion. The feeling of being called to do something with no direction was discouraging because you have to try & fail at a whole bunch of things until you have found a connection.

I remember going to California & the only vegan I knew at the time made a pumpkin tempeh soup for me & Nemanja, I remember wondering how this lifestyle would be sustainable. When I got home, I immediately took a deep dive into this new world, went cold turkey vegan & never looked back. Every dish or baked good made added to my awareness of food, and I became more food-conscious. Hence, Wisdom was born. I brought the idea to Nemanja, and he fell in love at first thought of the idea which was very comforting to me because I didn’t know anyone, I could tell this new dream to that would understand. I should also mention before going vegan I loved to cook & bake, explore recipes, and provide the whole hospitable dining experience to family, friends & peers but it was not until I went vegan, that I realized I had a deep passion for it and wanted to share with the world.

Nemanja was always a coffee connoisseur. Double shot of espresso, sparkling water & a vibe was a universal love language for him. Our passions made us ideal partners to bring Wisdom to life. Wisdom is spreading awareness one cupcake at a time.

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

I think the most important part of this process is to be able to learn from your failures & obstacles with grace. During COVID, we honestly did not know what direction the world was going. We had to temporarily lay off our staff, but we still stayed open and worked ourselves. It was a challenging era, but our resilience is the reason we are here today. It is always important to see the bigger picture on your journey. The best fuel to get through are your dreams.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Me and Nemanja met in Fort Lauderdale, Fl 2015. We both were very passionate and looked at the world as an oyster. Once we became serious in our relationship, we moved to Spring, TX in 2016.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wisdombakeryandcafe.com/
• Instagram: wisdomveganbakeryandcafe
• Facebook: Wisdom Vegan Bakery & Cafe
• Yelp: Wisdom Vegan Bakery & Cafe

Image Credits
Ruben Fugon: Photographer (In Store) Niftee One: Photographer Julie Elizabeth: Creative Director