We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kayisha Thompson. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Kayisha , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day include prayer, meditation, and journaling of all of the things that I am grateful for. If I am not in the position of gratitude, I use that as a tool to dive into why I am no longer in a position of gratitude and how to change that
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kayisha Thompson, and I am the CEO and Cake Executive Officer of De L’or Cakery Corporation, a luxury dessert brand specializing in artisanal sweets with a bold Caribbean twist. I’m a recipe developer, culinary instructor, and entrepreneur who believes in blending creativity, culture, and business strategy to create desserts — and opportunities — that leave a lasting impact.
De L’or Cakery is known for its exotic, elevated flavors, including our award-winning cookie signature creations like our Wicked Dark Chocolate Cupcake and Salty Sea Chocolate Chip Cookies. What makes our brand truly special is that we combine high-quality organic ingredients with the warmth and flavor of the Caribbean, creating desserts that feel nostalgic, comforting, and exciting all at once.
Beyond the sweets, my work is rooted in empowerment and education. I teach bakers and creatives how to turn their passion into profit, and I’m currently expanding De L’or Cakery through wholesale partnerships, corporate events, and airport concession opportunities. I recently launched my new e-book, Sprinkle Your Hustle, which helps entrepreneurs price confidently, market effectively, and build sustainable income from their talents.
At the heart of my brand is a simple mission:
To inspire others to dream boldly, bake fearlessly, and build the life they envision — one delicious step at a time.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Honestly, everyone around me seemed to see me clearly before I could see myself — my social media manager, acquaintances, and even coworkers. People would tell me out of the blue, “You’re going to be a multimillionaire.” Instead of inspiring me, it used to make me angry.
At the time, I was living in struggle-survival mode, despite the awards, recognition, and the evidence that I was doing something right. Every time I took two steps forward, it felt like life knocked me ten steps back. I wasn’t seeing the fruits of my labor, even though I was pouring everything into my work. If it wasn’t for my brand, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with my student loan payments. I was grinding silently and surviving loudly.
This world is built on appearance, and because of how I was raised — to always carry myself polished, well-groomed, and put together — people often assumed I was financially rich. At first, I saw that as their ignorance. But over time, I realized it’s really society’s conditioning. People equate presentation with prosperity, and that isn’t always the truth.
But there’s another side to it: People treat you the way you treat yourself.
Even in my hardest seasons, I showed up with excellence. I carried myself with pride. And in a way, people reflected to me a version of myself that I wasn’t ready to see yet — a woman capable of greatness, wealth, and impact. Now, I’m finally stepping into the version of myself they saw long before I did.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain the first week of this past October. That’s when I finally walked away from a highly toxic job — a place filled with bullying, harassment, slander, and even cyberstalking. It got so severe that I had to involve the EEOC and the NYS Division of Human Rights. I was exhausted, mentally and emotionally, from carrying something no one should ever have to endure.
What struck me most was when my boss actually apologized and said, “Kayisha, you didn’t deserve all of that. I gave that girl everything she wanted and it wasn’t enough.”
I looked at her and replied, “Yes, because you treated her as if she was my boss — instead of the other way around.”
But the final straw was a petty, unnecessary email from the administrative assistant who was supposed to be supporting me. That was it. I responded with an iconic, unapologetic email — and I made sure the entire department saw it, including HR and finance. Not out of spite, but out of truth. I refused to be silent anymore.
Around that same time, something symbolic happened: I was one of 100 business owners gifted a brand-new laptop from Square and Visa during a team dinner event. It felt like divine timing — a reminder that my future was bigger than any toxic environment I had outgrown.
I took that laptop, sat in a café, and poured every ounce of pain, strength, and experience into completing my new e-book, Sprinkle Your Hustle. In that moment, I chose to turn everything I had survived into something powerful, purposeful, and profitable.
That was when I stopped hiding my pain — and started using it as fuel.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the culinary industry tells itself is that you must go to culinary or pastry school to be successful. That is absolutely false.
Did I go to pastry school? Yes.
Did I finish? No.
And yet, I’ve built a thriving brand, won awards, taught hundreds of students, and created products that sell out — all without a formal degree on my wall.
There are countless pathways to success in the food industry. I earned scholarships from the International Cake Exploration Societé and trained 1:1 under some of the most respected cake designers in the field. That hands-on mentorship shaped me just as much, if not more, than any classroom could have.
Another misconception — especially among some formally trained chefs — is that if you didn’t attend culinary school, you’re “unregulated.” That couldn’t be further from the truth.
We are regulated.
We are required to carry food liability insurance, obtain local food licenses, maintain permits, and even secure national certifications such as the ServeSafe Manager credential. We work under real standards, real regulations, and real accountability. What people don’t realize is that passion, creativity, discipline, joy, and a willingness to learn can take you just as far — sometimes farther — than traditional schooling. For some, it’s that one family recipe your grandmother passed down that becomes the door-opener to opportunities you never imagined. You don’t have to know how to do everything. You just have to know what you’re great at and commit to mastering it. And to be clear — if I had the resources now, I would absolutely return to pastry school, not because I need it to succeed, but because I value knowledge expansion. Education is a tool, not a requirement. Success in this industry is not defined by where you trained, but by how boldly you show up, how delicious your flavor is, and how consistently you keep growing.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I truly feel as though I am now living what I was born to do. For 26 years, I worked in Human Services — a career that was both rewarding and challenging. I am deeply grateful for the connections I made, the youth and families I supported, and the skills I developed along the way.
But looking back, I realize I often loathed working with the adults and leadership. Leadership was frequently narcissistic and self-serving, and if you genuinely cared, you were often punished for it. It was a difficult environment that taught me hard lessons about people, boundaries, and perseverance.
Now, as the Cake Executive Officer of De L’or Cakery, I feel at peace. I operate from a place of joy, creativity, and purpose. Every day, I get to build something that reflects who I am, my passions, and my vision — and that kind of fulfillment is priceless.
I’m no longer doing what I was told to do; I’m doing what I was born to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Delorcakery.com
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/Delorcakery
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Delorcakery
- Other: https://www.Sprinkleyourhustle.us
Image Credits
Kayisha Thompson, I took all of these photos and/or have rights for paid images
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
