WARRIORS n
GIFTED WARRIOR
Katiana Z . Shum
atiana was born and raised in Caracas , Venezuela . From a very young age , she has been exposed to a very independent and creative upbringing . Her father ’ s passion for cooking has always inspired her . To this day , she fondly recalls watching him make roses out of the tomato peels , pancakes from scratch on Sundays , or Chinese Steamed cakes on very special occasions . She will definitely always be “ Daddy ’ s Little Girl ”.
In 2003 she decided to leave the nest to attend “ Cooking School ,’’ and in 2004 , she graduated Summa Cum Laude from The Orlando Culinary Academy , Le Cordon Bleu Program . While attending the Academy , she learned that she wasn ’ t only passionate about cooking , but she also possessed a strong affinity for baking . Katiana has always been interested in Visual Arts , and it was only natural for her to apply some of these techniques while decorating cakes and making sweet little confections .
Katiana has made hundreds of cakes and thousands of pastries , always accommodating her customers ’ dietary restrictions and demands . She has catered cakes for famous brands such as Louis Vuitton and notable sports celebrities . She has also participated in a few infomercials for a cake decorating company .
She is a Multi-faceted entrepreneur . She has been working for Jennifer Yon Agency for the last two years doing Marketing , Advertising , and Customer Relations . Katiana feels really strong about natural products and has been a DoTerra Essential Oils Wellness Advocate for a little over two years . She also started her own juicing business and is now venturing into becoming a vegan and has started tweaking some of her recipes to accommodate other clients by providing 100 % Vegan Organic pastries and confections .
What would you define as a Woman Warrior ? A woman warrior is a woman who knows her worth and believes in her strength . She is a woman who doesn ’ t allow adversity to defeat her simply because she is determined , and she believes that anything and everything can be accomplished .
What obstacles did you overcome to get to where you are today ? To become the woman I am today , I had to be able to find myself . I married at the age of 27 and changed my life entirely to the point where I didn ’ t recognize myself anymore . It took me ten years to realize the importance of Self Love and determination . Deciding to start over with 2 kids was the scariest thing in the world , but I was fortunate enough to have the support of my friends and family .
What inspired you to become the woman that you are today ? Being told to “ Get used to living in the darkness ” have been the words that have motivated me through the years . These negative words have been the fuel that has pushed me to be better every day and take life by the horns — my passion is to be free , be strong , be assertive , and never feel trapped . My kids , my mom , and my nieces are my inspiration to succeed in life ; Everything I do , I do it with love and with the intent to set an example for them .
What word of advice would you like to share ? Life is too short to settle ! Eat the ice cream , wear the mini skirt , dance in the rain , and love passionately . Never give up on your dreams and believe that absolutely everything is possible if you simply believe . n
Kate @ IbaSuccess . com Facebook : KenziPastries Instagram : KatCakeLady
COURTESY OF JENNIFER YON AGENCY
IBA Success Magazine n VOL 7 , Issue 1 38