Tanya Maurya shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Tanya, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Honestly, the first 90 minutes of my day look pretty normal. I wake up, make my bed, and freshen up. I grab something to eat, usually scroll a bit on my phone or catch up with what’s happening around, and then plan out my day. And if I’m in the mood, I’ll even hit the gym to get moving.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Tanya! I actually started The N.A.T.S Bakery as a small business, and honestly, it was one of the most exciting chapters of my life. What began with baking simple goodies turned into running a full setup where I was experimenting with recipes, handling customers, and even figuring out marketing to boost sales. It wasn’t always easy—there were late nights, messy kitchens, and lots of trial and error—but seeing people enjoy what I made was the best reward.
Alongside that, I work in digital marketing, which gave me some extra skills to promote the bakery and connect with more people. But baking has always been my happy place, and one of my biggest dreams is to open my own bakery someday.
For me, baking isn’t just about making sweets—it’s about building experiences and little moments of joy, which is exactly what I hope to keep doing through my journey.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I got my very first order from my bakery. It came in soon after I launched my Instagram page—a query for a birthday cake. Honestly, I was a little scared but mostly super excited. Things didn’t go perfectly though; I made a couple of blunders and was totally flabbergasted since the delivery was due the very next day. But with my sister stepping in and helping me turn those mistakes into something beautiful, I managed to complete and deliver the cake on time. Seeing that order go out, it made me feel like, ‘Okay, I can really do this—that’s the first time I truly felt powerful.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, many times. Two years back I actually hit my lowest point. Orders from Instagram had completely stopped, I was only baking for counter sales, and even that felt draining. I started doubting myself—maybe I wasn’t doing enough for my brand, maybe the competition was too strong. Eventually, I stopped baking altogether. For a few months, I did nothing, and honestly, it felt like I had lost my way. I had always thought baking was my calling, but in that phase, it didn’t feel like enough. I realized that just being good at baking doesn’t make you a good entrepreneur—you have to be an all-rounder.
That’s when I decided to step back and invest in myself. I pursued further studies and took up a job in digital marketing to understand what I was missing on the business side. Of course, it meant putting my bakery on pause, but I knew I was building the skills I’d need to run it better in the future. Today, I may not be a full-time baker, but I’m strengthening the very roots that once made me stumble. And I know when I return, I’ll come back stronger, wiser, and ready to make my bakery thrive.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Honestly, I don’t really know what my ‘public version’ is—I feel like I’m just me all the time. Sometimes that works out well, and sometimes not so much, but it’s who I am. I know there are moments where I should act more mature. For example, in professional meetings I do try to stay professional, but if I’m not well-prepared, I tend to blab out whatever’s on my mind. I realize it’s something I need to work on, and I am. No one’s perfect, but at the end of the day, whether I’m in public or in private, what you see is the unfiltered me.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had only 10 years left, I’d drop my corporate job without a second thought and pour myself completely into my bakery. I’d want to spend my days surrounded by the smell of fresh bread and cakes, creating something that brings joy to people. And I’d travel—oh, I’d travel as much as I could. From quiet little towns to bustling cities, mountains to beaches, I’d want to see it all, taste it all, and live it all. For me, those 10 years would be about chasing passion and experiences, not deadlines.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: the.nats.bakery
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