We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Dunkel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever fully overcome imposter syndrome, but I’ve definitely gotten better at recognizing and managing it when it shows up. It tends to resurface from time to time, and I think it’ll always be there in some form. This might be an unpopular opinion, but as long as it doesn’t take over, I actually see value in having it around. It keeps me humble and pushes me to maintain high standards. While I know perfection is out of reach, it motivates me to keep striving for it and to always give my best in my work.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My husband and I are the proud owners of slow rise, a sourdough doughnut business born from my lifelong passion for baking. For years, doughnuts were the one treat I kept coming back to, and in 2022, when a friend shared her sourdough starter with me, the first thing I made with the starter was of course, doughnuts.
Our doughnuts are fermented for 72 hours, which gives them a soft, fluffy texture with a subtle tang that’s completely unique. Most of our doughnuts are filled with a variety of seasonal, locally sourced fruits and produce, and that’s what makes each batch so exciting and fresh. Being at the local farmers’ market has been an incredible way for me to experiment with new flavors, with the ingredients practically at my fingertips.
The support from our community has been overwhelming and life-changing. What started as a family affair at the farmers market has now turned into something bigger. I made the bold decision to leave my 15-year career as a Food Scientist to pursue slow rise full time. Now, we’re excited to be in the process of opening our own brick and mortar.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
First and foremost, passion for the craft is absolutely essential. Without that love for what you’re doing, I don’t think I would have been able to power through the long hours, challenges, and all the hard work. We’re up at 1 a.m. on doughnut days, so the passion has to be there to keep you going. If you’re not excited about it, it’s going to be hard to make it through.
Another important quality is staying curious and committed to being a lifelong learner. Although my background is in Food Science, everything about baking has been self-taught. The principles of science still apply, but I’ve had to dive deep into research and experiment to perfect our recipes. Transitioning from a Food Scientist to running a doughnut business was a massive shift, but embracing the learning process has been key. There’s always something new to work on, from perfecting the sourdough process to navigating the complexities of running a business. I love learning, and that curiosity keeps me motivated.
Lastly, one of the most impactful parts of this journey has been the incredible support from our community. The farmers’ market has been such a valuable space for us to connect directly with our customers, share our craft, and gather feedback. We’re in our fourth season now, and many of our customers are returning, which is so rewarding. It’s become about more than just doughnuts, it’s about the relationships we’re building, learning people’s stories, and watching their families grow over the years. That connection has been life-changing for me personally.
For anyone just starting out, my advice is simple: just start. If it weren’t for my husband and our three boys pushing me, I honestly don’t know if I would’ve had the courage to begin. I’m an introvert, risk-averse, and tend to overanalyze everything. But they encouraged me to take that leap, and I’m so glad I listened. Sometimes, you just need that little push to step outside your comfort zone and make things
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I’ve heard the advice that you should never work with your spouse, but honestly, I can say without a doubt that we wouldn’t be where we are now without my husband, Jeff. He’s an engineer, and his skills have been absolutely crucial in getting slow rise off the ground. From building our commercial kitchen from scratch to helping us scale up doughnut production, he’s been hands-on in every way. And even while still working his 8-5 job, he does a lot of the heavy lifting, both literally and figuratively.
What makes him even more invaluable is that he’s my sounding board and my emotional support. He’s always there to listen, challenge me, and offer ideas, even when things feel overwhelming. He believes in me, even when I’m doubting myself, and that faith has been a guiding light through all the ups and downs of this journey.
So, for us, working together has been one of the best things we could’ve done. We balance each other out in ways that make our business stronger, and I’m so grateful for him, not just as a partner, but as the person who makes it all possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://slowrise.co
- Instagram: slowrisekc
- Facebook: slowrisekc
Image Credits
I took the images myself
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
