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Name: Nelly Garcia
Business: Rocheli Patisserie, a bakery that will custom make cakes for various occasions
Industry: Food & Beverage
Location: Austin, Texas, U.S.
Reason for starting: I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I wanted to be financially independent while contributing to society by creating jobs, empowering women, and providing a product that people love. I decided to start a business that included my biggest passion, baking, that would also help other women around the world.
Related: Read about another woman baking her way to success here.
How do you define success? Success means being able to create change, not just for yourself but for a community and for other individuals. It means being in a position where your voice can be heard, and having the resources to create that change.
Biggest Success: I was named College Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 by Entrepreneur Magazine, I was featured in Austin Monthly Magazine as one of their “20 in their 20s” list, I won an award with Austin Under 40 in the culinary world and been featured in Forbes Mexico among other publications.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? I have faced many many challenges. The first one was being an immigrant who didn’t have access to funds to go to college or to start my own business. Another challenge was not having the resources to do so myself. And the third (and probably the most significant) is not being taken seriously as an entrepreneur for being “too young, female, hispanic, and inexperienced” which has made it harder to find capital, investors, or press coverage. I worked 2 full time jobs to get the money and prove them wrong.
I have a very long list of obstacles that I faced, and an even longer list of people who thought I would never make it. But with determination, sacrifice, and hard work, I proved everyone wrong. And I want to tell women that message: that it is very possible if you decide it will be.
Who is your most important role model? I have too many! I admire Oprah Winfrey, Sheryl Sandberg, Marissa Mayer, Kendra Scott, and Angelica Fuentes, a Mexican businesswoman.
Related: 5 Women Who Lead Authentically, On Purpose, Every Day
[box_light]Website www.rocheli.com
Twitter @RocheliPatisser
Facebook www.facebook.com/RocheliPattiserrie
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/rochelipatisser[/box_light]
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Edited by The Story Exchange