We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sara Brook. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sara below.
Alright, Sara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?
My mom and my grandma. They were both very passionate about so many causes, people that were important to them, and they treasured their family above all else. They were strong and determined and they didn’t mind sharing their opinions on anything and everything. Not to mention they loved fiercely, to put it mildly.
I was lucky to get to work with my grandma for 15 years before she passed. She worked for “hugs and kisses” in each of my businesses. When she turned 80, I took her on a Tauck Tour of Washington DC, the Amish country and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was hard to keep up with her, but somehow I managed!
They are still very present for me even though Mammaw died in 2000 and my mom died in 2017. There’s a huge 11×14 portrait in my office of me, my mom, my grandma and my baby girl who was 6 months old at the time (she’s now 32!). I sit across from that photo and draw on their strength whenever I need it, or whenever I want to chat about something or get their advice. I can hear their voices in my head as I’m sitting there staring at them. I derive great strength and great peace from that photo and all that it represents; it makes me feel very loved and safe.
Sara, 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?
For me, life has been sweet. I have loved desserts since the day I was born, and even have a special anniversary edition Easy Bake Oven in my office! After nearly 40 years in business, I still love looking at pictures of desserts and coming up with new recipes.
At the age of 21, I launched my first dessert business, The Executive Sweet, in my parents’ kitchen in southwest Houston. After selling that business, I launched Sara Brook Desserts, another dessert catering company. When customers repeatedly asked for the chocolate sauce I created, I decided to devote full time to marketing and selling my sauce, The Great Chocolate Cover Up, nationwide through specialty and gourmet food stores. In 1992, I sold that company and stayed on as a consultant for two years.
In 1995, I founded my third (and favorite) dessert company with my 4-year-old daughter, Jennifer at my side: Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe, Houston’s premier dessert bakery. Since opening, Dessert Gallery has consistently been recognized for Best Desserts in Houston by a wide variety of publications. In 2001, I received the prestigious Award for Culinary Excellence as Pastry Chef of the Year from My Table Magazine. In 2011, I was one of 18 national finalists for the ABC News Nightline People’s Platelist Award. In 2017, I graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. And in 2019, I was chosen as a Houston Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree. More recently, Dessert Gallery was recognized for Diversity in the Workplace and in 2021, I was named “Most Admired CEO” by the Houston Business Journal.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to give up on perfectionism. I wish I could answer every phone call, greet every customer, bake every cake, etc., but it’s just not realistic and it’s no way to go through life. It breaks my heart when I read negative comments on social media. I just have to take a deep breath and move on, and hope that we can continue to make more people happy everyday.
Can You Share A Story From Your Journey That Illustrates Your Resilience?
I’ve been through some tough times as a small business owner. I trusted people at different times who always ended up breaking my heart, but I never quit. I am strong, determined, and when all else fails – I’ve got that portrait of “the girls” in my office that keeps me strong and grounded. I started my first business 38 years ago, and I still love it as much today as I did back then. I have a wellspring of hope and faith inside of me that propels me forward day after day. I feel very fortunate to have made a career of my favorite activity since childhood – baking! I’ve got great opportunities ahead of me as the future looks so bright. Of course, I can’t wait to get to the bakery tomorrow to see what’s on the baking schedule (and to see if there’s any crumbs left over for “mama”).
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Treat everyone like they’re the most important employee because they are! I have nothing without my team, most employees call me “Mama.” I greet every employee by name, I know what’s going on in their life and I care about them as human beings, not just as employees. I love being surrounded by a diverse, talented group of people who bring depth and dimension to my life. Of course, it helps even more if they love dessert!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dessertgallery.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dessertgallerybakery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DessertGallery
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dessert-gallery-bakery-&-cafe/mycompany/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DessertGallery
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DessertGallery
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dessert-gallery-bakery-and-cafe-houston-2
Image Credits
Family portrait image credits: Sara Brook Headshot image credits: Dessert Gallery