Meet Shyana Barrozo

We recently connected with Shyana Barrozo and have shared our conversation below.

Shyana, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Developing my confidence and self-esteem has been a combination of foundational support and personal effort. Growing up, my mother played a crucial role in shaping my self-worth. She consistently instilled positive affirmations in me, teaching me the importance of believing in myself. She never allowed me to speak negatively about myself, always encouraging me to recognize my strengths and value I brought to the world.

However, as I’ve gotten older, I realized that true confidence is something that requires ongoing effort. I learned to focus less on the opinions and judgments of others, and more on staying grounded in my own beliefs and self-image. I’ve worked hard to develop an inner voice that reminds me of who I am, and I make a conscious effort not to let external perspectives shake what I know about myself. I also make sure to give my best effort in everything I do, because knowing I’ve put in 100% effort helps me face setbacks or failure without feeling bad about myself. I know that I’ve given it my all, and that’s something I can always be proud of.

By consistently practicing self-affirmation and remaining true to myself above all, I’ve been able to maintain a strong sense of confidence that isn’t persuaded by outside influences.

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?

I own a cotton candy business called Sugar High, where we specialize in creating unique flavors and toppings that take cotton candy to a whole new level. We provide our services at a variety of events, including weddings, birthdays, baby showers, grand openings, outdoor markets, and public gatherings. We also offer pre-packaged cotton candy goodies and party favors that make for fun, sweet additions to any celebration.

What excites me the most about my business is the opportunity to connect with my clients and their families. I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of such momentous moments in their lives, and it’s especially rewarding to be invited back for multiple events over the years. Seeing how much joy our cotton candy brings to their celebrations never gets old!

Sugar High is a woman-owned small business, and I take great pride in providing top-notch customer service and a memorable experience for everyone I serve. I genuinely love what I do, and I believe that passion shows through in the care and attention we put into every event. Above all, my goal is to make each event sweet, special, and full of joy for my clients.

We have exciting things on the horizon, and I’m constantly looking for new ways to make our cotton candy offerings even more fun and unique for our clients. Whether you’re planning a grand event or just looking for a fun treat, I hope to continue making Sugar High a part of everyone’s special moments!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I believe the three most impactful qualities or skills in my journey have been resilience, creativity, and customer service. Resilience has been essential in helping me navigate the ups and downs of running my business. There are always challenges, from running an event to managing unexpected mistakes. Learning to stay focused and bounce back from these challenges has allowed me to keep pushing forward and growing. Creativity is at the heart of what I do. My ability to come up with unique cotton candy flavors, fun toppings, and custom party favors sets my business apart. It’s important to not only think outside the box but also to be willing to experiment and evolve in ways that keep the business unique and exciting. Customer service has been a cornerstone of Sugar High’s success. Building strong relationships with clients, understanding their needs, and exceeding their expectations has helped me establish trust and friendships. Providing an exceptional experience that goes beyond the cotton candy is something I’m so passionate about.

For those early in their journey, my advice would be to develop resilience by embracing setbacks as learning experiences rather than failures. Stay committed to your goals, even when things get tough. Foster your creativity by constantly looking for inspiration, trying new things, and being open to feedback. And finally, always prioritize your customers. Focus on building genuine relationships, listening to their needs, and offering an experience that goes beyond just the product.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

A book that played an important role in my personal development is Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. It really shifted my perspective on life and opened me up to the world of self-help. Her honest and empowering approach helped me realize that so many of the limiting beliefs I had were self-imposed, and that I had the power to change my story. It encouraged me to take responsibility for my own happiness and success, and not to wait for external validation or perfection.

A few words of wisdom from the book that really resonated with me are: “If you want something different, you have to do something different.” This pushed me to take action and step out of my comfort zone when building my business, knowing that change requires effort and courage. “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously.”
This reminds us that personal growth is ongoing and that it’s okay to be in the process of becoming the best version of ourselves while still being proud of who we are right now. This book was the first of many self-help books that influenced my personal growth and the mindset I have today.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sugarhighcottoncandy_
• Facebook: Sugar High Catering

Image Credits

@lindseywhitephoto