Meet Stephanie Scott | Baker & Cake Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
Deciding to leave my career of 18 years to become a full time entrepreneur has, by far, been the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make. Over the years the passion I once had for my job dwindled and I found that I was no longer fulfilled by it. When the pandemic hit and the entire world shut down, I had an opportunity to experience what it was like to focus solely on my business without having to “find the time” in between doing my job. It felt great to wake up every day and put my all into something that was mine. Once things reopened and I returned to work, all I could think about was how I could have that feeling all the time.

Even though I knew full time entrepreneurship was what I wanted, I was still apprehensive. I was at a crossroads where I could either stick to what was familiar, which was my job or I could step out on faith and become my own boss doing what I love. It was a terrifying thought to think of leaving this place where I had been employed for so long, put in so much hard work & dedication and made a pretty good salary. I mean, even though I no longer liked my job, that direct deposit was guaranteed every two weeks. We all know, that’s not exactly the case when you work for yourself.

I prayed about it and asked God to lead me to the right decision. On the morning that I emailed my resignation letter I cried, I said another prayer and then I hit “send.” And do you know what happened? Absolutely nothing! After 18 years of service, the company that I cared so much for didn’t so much as acknowledge my departure. So, while I did battle internally on whether or not I should leave, and trust me, it was difficult, this validated that it was ultimately the right decision.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
For as long as I can remember I’ve always been a creative person. Growing up my mom was an early childhood educator. She was always coming up with new projects and activities for her students and I was always her helper. My creative gene definitely came from her. And I think that’s what sets me apart from others. I have the ability to take the most common thing and create something fresh & new.

That’s the same approach I take when it comes to creating custom cakes. I mean, let’s be honest, there are sooooo many bakers out there, you could get a cake from anywhere. But do you want the typical run of the mill cake? Or would you want a unique interpretation of your theme that is an edible work of art? I pride myself in providing my customers with this type of experience. I love when they tell me “it’s too pretty to eat.”

It wasn’t easy getting to this point. In the beginning I would accept pretty much every cake order that came in regardless of the style, technique or theme. I felt like I had to in order to have customers and make money. This led to me doing a lot of cakes that I didn’t necessarily enjoy doing. But I had to remind myself that baking & creating cakes was supposed to make me happy. In order to do that I needed to realize that not every customer is MY customer. I had to discover my cake style. I learned to trust my instincts & believe in myself and my talent. I’ve learned to stay true to who I am and not compromise that just to make the sell. Now, I only accept orders that align with the type of work that I want to produce.

I understand that it can be a scary thing to trust someone else’s vision but I want my customers to know that they’re in great hands. It feels amazing when my they trust me enough to allow full creative freedom. That’s actually when I produce my best work!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a Texas transplant. I moved here from Atlanta less than a year ago so honestly, I’m still figuring things out myself. I’m not sure I’d make the best tour guide. LOL! However, being a small business owner I understand the importance of shopping small. And I also love to support black businesses when I can as well. When I moved I joined several local Facebook groups dedicated to supporting black owned businesses in the area. These groups are my go-to when I’m looking for good food, fun things to do or events to check out.

So far all of the recommendations have been great, although I’m still looking for a good wing spot. I’m from the ATL so you know it’s all about the wings!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Most people probably wouldn’t guess this but the baking community can be pretty competitive at times. With that being said, it can be difficult to make genuine connections with other bakers. Fortunately I’ve been lucky enough to meet some wonderful women throughout my cake journey. These are the women that I can call when I have a baking emergency or even when I’m having a bad day & just need to vent. They’re incredibly supportive and believe in my potential sometimes more than I do myself. They always have my back and encourage me to go for it even when I’m terrified.

When I initially decided to start offering custom cakes I honestly had no idea what to expect. I definitely didn’t expect the cake to blow up in my oven. Well, it did! I immediately called Tamisha in a panic and almost in tears. “What do I do? I don’t know what I did wrong! Maybe I should give the customer a refund because I don’t know what I’m doing!” She let me have a mini breakdown and then she calmly said, “Sis, clean out the oven & try again. You’re gonna KILL this cake!” And you what? I did! And I’ve been killin’ them ever since!

There were so many cake artists that I admired when I first started out. There was one whose work I fell in love with & I found myself double tapping every pic she posted on Instagram. I was definitely a fan! Never did I think we would ever meet in real life, let alone become friends. I always considered her to be out of my “cake league!” But everything happens for a reason & life brought me to Texas and as a result brought me Millie. Now, she’s FAMILY! If we don’t speak at least once a day, it’s a problem. She pushes me, sometimes not so gently, out of my comfort zones. She makes me realize my own greatness & that I am just as talented as those that I admire.

I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my Cake Sisters, Tamisha & Millie. Thank you for believing in me and thank you for just being you. I love you to life!

Website: www.sdluxurybakes.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sdluxurybakes

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sdluxurybakes