We were lucky to catch up with Yvonne Lopez-Luke recently and have shared our conversation below.
Yvonne, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I want to start by saying that my life has not been easy from being a foster child since the age of 5 and in and out of 14 foster homes and 10 group homes. I have been on my own since the age of 15. After having 4 children and I presently have 21 Grandchildren i came home from being incarcerated for 3 1/2 years I decided that i wanted to change my life! I signed up for college and I attended Hostos Community College where I earned my associate degree in business management. I didn’t want to stop there I enrolled in Lehman College to continue my education where I graduated with a degree in business Administration as my concentration and a minor in Philosophy. All the while i was cooking from my home and selling dinners on the weekends from my home and starting my catering business catering family events I now attend Southern New Hampshire University. I am about to start my 3rd term on February 26th, and I am studying Business/ Social Media Marketing. I feel God gave me the hands to make this food and I feel totally feel as I cook, and people will be eating my delicious food i feel good about this! my long-term goal is to own my own food truck and possibly a small restaurant one day. Until then I will continue to cook, sell dinner. & donate meals to the less fortunate. God be the glory!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My Name is Yvonne Lopez-Luke I am a chef. Caterer and a Student at SNHU. I love helping people and feeding a needy Community. My proceeds from my food sales go to several different Churches and organizations as I volunteer and donate my time to these causes. This is a small business that is right now being operated from my home however I would love to expand to a food truck and restaurant that will also have proceeds dedicate to different causes and continue to feed the needy. The best thing about my brand that it is from a self-made Mom who was formally incarcerated and made with love at all times!
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?
Looking back, I realized that I always had quality skills, organizational skills and I am business skills. My advice would be to stay steadfast even through your struggle. Be very confident in their skills and whatever product one is selling. Increase their marketing skills and definitely need to network.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
One of my biggest challenges would probably be that i need more space to cook and trying to purchase a food truck.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: YvonneLopezLuke
- Facebook: Yvonne Lopez- Luke
Image Credits
The pictures that I submitted are of me of course A picture when I graduated from Lehman College with My Bachelor’s degree My Husband and My friend/sister who i also collaborate with her on her business compassion cosmetics. Our picture which is the last one we received a proclamation from Mayor Adams for Love your Block which is Throggs Neck Houses
