Meet Vanessa Drews

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vanessa Drews a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
For the longest time, I’ve heard quietly in my mind, “bakery, bakery”. This small voice always reminds me that I’ve come so far in my baking journey, and if I just keep going – this voice will become a reality. I have been in business full time – after leaving my nearly 20 year legal career – for five years, and a bakery is what I’ve created, literally from scratch. I feel as though my purpose is doing all I can do in my power to make my children, mother, loved ones and friends proud of me going after and achieving my goals.

I decided to step away from a career that I loved so much seven months before a global pandemic. Ever since my first day I became licensed as a Food Processor/Manufacturer in the State of Minnesota, one key goal has been finding purpose in providing amazing dessert to everyone – for all occasions, providing to restaurants and featured on menus, weddings, etc. The comfort I still find each day when I turn on my ovens, put on my apron, and get down to business – I’m fulfilling my purpose of becoming a successful baker, literally, one cake at a time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
What I do on a daily basis is such a trip to me sometimes. I’m fulfilling my dreams and having THE best time doing it. Don’t get me wrong, oftentimes I am very stressed about various aspects of a operating a small food business, but overall, I truly love my job. For starters, I have found such a wonderful famiy-like baking environment. Since February 2021, I have called the headquarters of Cheesecake Funk within the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest hotel, in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The relationships developed within this wonderful place is truly also another reason why I love going to work every day. I co-exist within the hotel by creating some truly dreamy desserts that both my customers enjoy, as well as all guests of the hotel get to enjoy and experience as well.

Every week I produce cheesecakes for my restaurant partners, the hotel and my customers who preorder from my website. In addition, I also supply cheesecakes to one of THE most magical places in Minnesota, heck, the world – Paisley Park. It gives me great joy baking for visitors and guests of Prince’s magical space. I used to work for Prince and he coined my name, Cheesecake Funk as well. It’s truly the best to focus on growing this wonderful brand and connecting with as many dessert lovers as I can!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
In all I do, I always try to be thoughtful, kind and loving. I’ve found that being an entrepreneur can be a very solo, lonely and isolating place, but being mindful of being thoughtful, kind and loving in all I do, helps drive my passion for success. These qualities help create meaningful moments with my children, family and friends. It also allows me to create a wonderful customer experience to my restaurant partners and customers. Dealing with the many aspects of an evolving entrepreneurs’ life, I find joy in creating moments where others find joy as well.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
This is such a great question. Yes. I believe that putting things out in the universe will bring it all right back to you (at the right time). My dream is to expand Cheesecake Funk into a larger manufacturing facility and shipping across the US. I would love to connect with someone/a team who can help me establish scalable manufacturing and access to shipping Cheesecake Funk across the US – and globally one day. There is a large demand of Cheesecake Funk, and growing in this capacity is my dream.

Investors, manufacturing teams, Goldbelly – absolutely happy to connect!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Vanessa Drews

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your