We were lucky to catch up with Vanessa Musi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Vanessa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

When I was studying to become a Chef, I was doing my internship in a restaurant, I was required to do 800 hours of practice in restaurants and hotels. I wasn’t feeling well that day and blacked out and split my head on the wooden boards we used in the kitchens back then. I was later diagnosed with hypoglycemia. It was 1992 and no one knew what to do about this condition. I was told to change careers and that I wouldn’t make it as a chef. This turning point made me reconsider my life and challenged me to find my life purpose, I have always been a foodie and have had a sweet tooth and inspired me to create a new way of baking with healthier alternatives. I became the first pastry chef to make alternative desserts and I opened my healthy baking school in Austin Texas.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I got into healthy baking because of my love for food, desserts and my personal story of pre diabetes.

I teach online classes, do recipe development, host hands on classes in my healthy baking school, am a brand ambassador for brands and a top seller for Thermomix.
Problems I solve for my clients is teaching them how to bake healthier recipes: replacing sugar, flours and desserts people with pre diabetes/ insulin resistance can enjoy.

I am most proud of fining my life purpose: to create a sweet and healthy world, to have self started and self funded my healthy baking school which is a full commercial kitchen that has by far been the most difficult achievement of my life.

Also love challenges and goals: I was thrilled to graduate with honors from the French Pastry School and become the 1st top seller of Thermomix in USA + Canada.

What sets me apart is my creativity, my talent for recipe development, my bilingual background, that I work very hard and don’t give up.

My current challenges are making my school as successful and amazing as possible, creating more valuable content and doing a cookbook.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I decided to create my healthy baking school, I realized early on that it was going to be the hardest most challenging project I had ever done. To begin with I got a ton of NO’s, I didn’t have the resources, I wanted to build a school from scratch in Central East Austin (which as you can well imagine is crazy expensive) and practically impossible it was to find a property that had the zoning to do this. It took me 3 years to do this with huge challenges from finding the architects, to getting the permits, to getting the funds.

In the middle of all this both my Mom and Dad died who I was very close to and it was truly devastating. I also had some health conditions and many times I just wanted to give up. I still hear my dear Mom’s words in my ears: well are you going to give up now? I always say no. Being an entrepreneur and pioneer is a journey of always expanding your comfort zone. It’s never easy. Don’t give up!

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Being very consistent, soft skills are always the best, attitude, follow up, determination, having a clear purpose, being self motivated and driven. Setting goals and truly attitude first always. Knowing your self and being confident.

Finding your niche and doing whatever it takes to make your project work and going above and beyond. Giving a great service and adding value.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vanessamusi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefvanessamusi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefvanessamusi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-musi/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/vanessamusi
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjWC-w6Y9oxu3yGgYTJM4HQ
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/vanessamusi/