We recently connected with Taylor Ditzel and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, appreciate you joining us today. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?

Two People come to mind when I think of the best boss, Tammy and Angel. Angel Started out as my partner in cake decorating and taught me almost everything I know about it, she is where my love for cake started. Tammy was our boss and an amazing role model. She is everything you wanted in a boss, hardworking, present, good listener and problem solver. Eventually Angel moved up and then they both become my boss. These two women are an inspiration, for me in how I would like to manage people someday, firm when needed but soft and understanding at other times. their work ethic made me want to work harder for them and make them proud.

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

My name is Taylor, 28 years old, born and raised in South Florida. I have a degree in baking and pastry and I’ve always worked in the culinary industry. My first job in the field was working at Cookies by Design and after about 2 years I moved on to Whole Foods. At first just working nights, and when the position came open to do cakes I applied. I had an amazing mentor and friend who I give all the credit to for teaching me how to decorate. My passion for cake decorating started there. I slowly had people asking me to do cakes on the side for them until it became a full blown side hustle. I would work my 6am-2pm shift, come home and work my 2pm-11pm shift making orders. It was not until covid hit and I got laid off from my new hotel job, went back to work and Cookies by Design I decided it was time for me to go full-time working for myself. Everything I do is with passion, I love being creative and putting my all into someone’s special event.

I have a degree in baking and pastry and I’ve always worked in the culinary industry. My first job in the field was working at Cookies by Design and after about 2 years I moved on to Whole Foods. At first just working nights, and when the position came open to do cakes I applied. I had an amazing mentor and friend who I give all the credit to for teaching me how to decorate. My passion for cake decorating started there. I slowly had people asking me to do cakes on the side for them until in become a full blown side hustle. I would work my 6-2pm shift, come home and work my 2-11pm shift making orders. It was not until covid hit and I got laid off from my new hotel job, went back to work and Cookies by Design and then. decided it was time for me to go full-time working for myself. Everything I do is with passion, I love being creative and my putting my all into someones special event.

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

The first time a customer ever told me they hated what I made for them. Man, did they break my heart with that one. Their exact words were “I’ve seen your work and its not up to the same quality.” I was devastated! I cried my eyes out and I wanted to give up so badly, but I knew I had other people relying me to make their events special. I knew one persons opinion of my work didn’t determine my worth, it did however change how I conduct my business and the effort I put into my work. those are the moments that help mold you as an artist, business owner, entrepreneur, and those moments stick with you forever.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

A lot of trial and error! Baking is truly my passion and I’m very particular about how things taste. Before I really started getting orders I would just bake in my free time. I would come home from work and try recipe after recipe until I found ones I really liked or that I could tweak to liking. My family has fallen victim to many tasteless and dry cakes, haha. Thankfully that’s not the case anymore, I’ve curated all my perfect recipes.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: taylornicolecreates