Chef, Owner & Co-Founder at Kora

I’ve learned the most over the last two years on both a personal and professional level as an owner and founder of Kora than I had ever learned in school or working at any job. Entrepreneurship tests your grit, your drive, and commitment to your vision by putting you through some of the most grueling challenges and uncomfortable situations. But it is only these moments that allow for incredible growth and lessons.

I really love the Steve Jobs quote, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards.” I didn’t know it then, but hospitality was always a part of my life since childhood. Hospitality seems to be in our blood, I have seen it in the graciousness towards our guests to provide utmost comfort to make them feel good and special and the acts of service that we display to meet this sentiment. The consciousness—knowing the lasting impact of a feeling, good or bad, during any experience. We had so many people come in and out of our home growing up, mostly for huge parties we were always throwing, but I was able to witness first hand how to create an unforgettable feeling, whether it’s through delicious food (of course my personal favorite), service, or interpersonal connection. Subconsciously I think I always knew I would be in the business of creating unforgettable experiences for others, but I only connected the dots when I finally asked myself why I wanted to be a chef.

I like to make my team try new skills that they might be a little bit apprehensive about to build their confidence, or remind them of why attention to detail matters, why intention matters. For example, I might ask, “Why do we make sure all the pastries are facing the exact same way on the tray and in the box? So when the customer opens it, they feel the care and intention to make sure that they are all placed perfectly.” Or, “Why do we set our quality standards so high? Because we have customers who are trusting us enough to try our pastries often to enjoy them at monumental events in their lives.”

Use your mistakes as learnings. If accepted with humility and with a mindset of problem solving and NOT self-pity or doubt, you will find mistakes are actually opportunities for becoming better, and knowing better.