We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Audrey Broas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Audrey, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My parents, hands down, no questions asked.
My siblings and I were raised that if you wanted something bad enough you can earn your own money to pay for it. My parents were and are the most incredible parents I could’ve ever asked for; they raised us as parents first then hoped that they became our friends. Life didn’t always go the way that we had hoped financially, so being parents, they protected the family and made sure we had what we needed, a roof over our head, food in our stomach and clothes on our back. Everyone knows that as a kid you always wanted the name-brand clothes, newest toys, etc. and although it wasn’t always in the cards for us, they always did what they could and worked and worked to be able to provide the best they could. So, by the time I was 14 I was babysitting, and I started my first real job the day after my 16th birthday so I could buy the “important things” in life, the sparkly headbands, the newest school t-shirt, the Frappuccino at Starbucks after school.
Looking back on it as an adult I can’t imagine growing up any other way. I think growing up the way I did allowed me to have what I needed, truthfully most of what I wanted, but with an idea on reality and that you can’t always get everything you want when you want it. My first job was at Nothing Bundt Cakes in high school, then when I went to college, I was an event planning intern, I worked in a clothing boutique downtown, was a culinary intern for my campus, and then was a teaching assistant for the culinary course my senior year (all while taking about 15 hours of classes each semester). I “graduated” in May of 2020, so as I like to say, I am still on spring break as I was sent home in March of 2020 and never went to campus for class ever again.
I was a Hospitality Management and Event Planning major so 2020 was a rough year. From March until August was basically the first time, I didn’t have a job since I was 16 (I didn’t work my first semester of college to let myself get adjusted but by December had a job lined up for the beginning of spring semester as it felt weird not to be working). I have since gotten a job managing a restaurant here in Dallas, TX and being their event coordinator for the last 3 years. While doing that full time, I run my own business AUDSARE on the side, baking for anyone that allows me the privilege to be a part of their life memories.
I think the best thing about always working with people and especially with baking is getting to be a part of the memories in people’s lives. Food feeds the body and the soul, and I believe that. I strive to accept every order that I can so I can do just that. There are many sleepless nights or lack of sleep evenings when my baking and work schedules not necessarily line up but after it is all said it done it brings me so much joy. In the restaurant, I get to help plan baby and bridal showers, birthdays, engagements, etc. and I get to see the smiles on each of their faces and knowing that I got to be part of it makes all the work that goes into it worth it beyond compare. Ever since I was little, I have known working with people in this capacity is something I was meant to do and I am so excited for all the memories doing so in the future.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
In a few short words… I keep myself busy! I have a full-time job managing a restaurant here in Dallas, Texas where I also am the event coordinator. (which is far from a 9-5 job), then when I am not at the restaurant, I run a baking company from my home (another very non-9-5 job). Thankfully I can control my schedule with baking so once I have my restaurant schedule, I build out my baking schedule for the week.
AUDSARE, my baking company, is something I have been dreaming about since my junior year of high school. I have always been in love with the kitchen, I grew up being attached to my mom’s side in the kitchen helping and learning anything that I could. My junior year of college I studied abroad in Florence, Italy and took a semester of pastry courses. When I returned, I made my very first wedding cake for a friend of my sister’s.
My favorite thing about AUDSARE is being able to add a special (and yummy) touch to people’s lives. At this point (since 2019) I have been able to make 16 wedding cakes, countless sugar cookies, and celebration cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations. One thing that I love to use to my “advantage” as I am sure most independent bakers would agree upon is the flexibility that I have to create whatever my customer is looking for. If I don’t have a flavor listed, I can make it, if I haven’t made a design, I can make it, if there is something they want I will try everything in my power to make their dream come true.
I think I am just always excited about the future. Since I am not a full-time baker I truthfully don’t get as much practice time as I would like, so with every order I learn something new and get to have more experience under my belt. I learn the best consistency for royal icing cookies, new flavors that become a staple, and new tips and tricks that I didn’t know the last order. New things that I offer and do are honestly as much of a surprise to other people as they are to me!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Work-ethic, humor, and a support system. I know these may not all be typical qualities that you would say are crucial for success in baking, I feel like they have been in mine.
Work-ethic, well that one may be a little more self-explanatory. With my work schedule I have to be willing to work unusual hours and be willing to have an 18+ hour workday between my 2 jobs. And these may not be the case for everyone, but I am sure everyone has had these days whether it is because they work multiple jobs, they are a parent, or life just gets in the way. That being said, if you are passionate about it enough you will always find a way to get it done!
Humor, this has become a crucial part of my life. I am my biggest critic and I hold myself to such a high standard. I see Instagram posts, Pinterest photos, YouTube videos, etc. and I instantly think that I should be able to create what I see and that is so far from the truth. So, when I try to create the exact replica and it doesn’t turn out the way I hoped, it can be a bit discouraging. So, I just have to sit back, laugh a little, and remind myself that I am not a professional by any means and appreciate the work that I have done and make notes of what I could’ve done better and apply them the next time I do it.
A support system. This should go without saying for anything that anyone does in their life. As much as you can be your own support system sometimes for need just that 1 person to tell you how amazing you are, to not stress out, or bring you a coffee when you are hours deep into baking with countless hours ahead of you with less than a handful of hours of sleep to look forward to (this one hits home for me!)
If you can have these 3 things in your life, I feel like you will go far no matter what you do. Believe and work towards your dreams, have someone cheer you on, and remember to laugh!
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
I think one challenge, and one that has been with me the majority of my life, is having a work-life balance. I get so involved in my work, that the relationships I build with my restaurant guests and my baking customers, that I feel like their lives are a part of my life. I will break my back to make sure that they are taken care of. This will always be who I am, and I pride myself in this characteristic of mine. Growing up I don’t think it was as crucial of an attribute that I needed to make sure I had but as I am growing up and reaching the next stage of my life, I am starting to try really hard to make sure that I prioritize my own life outside of work.
I have realized that always wanting to be a part of other’s stories and memories I have almost created the “always the bridesmaid never the bride” status with my work. I am ready for the next phase of my life, and I am wanting to create those memories that I see so many other people making and so I have really been trying to make an effort to set my schedule and plan my work life around it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.audsare.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/audsareimbaking
- Facebook: facbook.com/audsareimbaking