Meet Emma Gibb

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emma Gibb a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Emma, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I have long suffered from imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome makes me feel like a child playing a game in a world full of grown ups. Overcoming this is a constant battle. I still am plagued by this feeling. I always tell myself, “Fake it until you make it.” I have to self reflect each day and give myself credit for overcoming obstacles, learning from mistakes, being proud of my accomplishments, and trying to see myself the way that others do. When I look back to even just a few months ago. I can see so much personal growth. This gives me strength to push forward.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Emma Gibb and I am a self taught pastry chef. I grew up in New Mexico and I am wildly inspired by the culture and the cuisine. I began baking professionally only recently after years of baking for friends and family. I was working a job in retail that made me miserable and I finally decided to take the plunge and pursue a true passion. I opened a small business called The Worldly Whisk. It’s a one woman show. My main focus is desserts and pastry, however I am available for savory spreads as well. I am currently a vendor in the San Diego Farmer’s Markets. I pride myself on offering a wide selection of treats. In fact, I never have the same menu twice. There’s always something new to try and experience. I am currently in progress of opening a bakery store front on Newport Avenue in San Diego. I have partnered up with Sourdough & Moore in this new venture. We hope to be open soon and can’t wait to support our local community. Our bakery will focus on fresh desserts and pastries, and of course the best sourdough bread in San Diego.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

This is a hard question because it’s hard to choose just three. In my opinion, networking is probably the most important skill. It was hard for me to put myself out there but without the help of everyone I have met along the way, I would still be at the beginning. It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for the community around me. My best advice for networking is this: be your true self, do your best to remember the names of everyone you meet, be the kindness that you want to receive, and when you receive help- pay it forward. A quality that will be needed is relentless work ethic. Regardless of your industry, starting a business is no small act. It requires more work and time than you can possibly imagine. I work 6-7 days a week. I usually take two Sundays off a month. Most days I work over 12 hours. I have a never ending, always expanding to-do list. I rarely get more than 5 1/2 hours of sleep, but I have never been happier. I am making my own dreams come true and that is powerful. The road ahead is long and daunting. But if you stay the course, make sacrifices, and truly put in the effort, that road will be full of moments of joy, personal accomplishments, and important life lessons. Finally, a truly important skill is organization. For my personal business I must navigate between different government agencies for permits, tracking business finances and expenditures, calculating costs and profits, etc…. Now that I am a partner in opening a new business, all of that has exploded exponentially. Some days I feel like I am drowning in emails and paperwork. Staying organized will be your raft in the sea of chaos. Get a binder. Organize your files. Stay on top of your finances. Keep check lists of your to-do’s. Prioritize your time. Most importantly, don’t ever be afraid to ask for help.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

This may be a corny answer, but it’s the truth. My parents. They could not be more different from each other but they both raised me to be independent, studious, and generous. My dad specifically taught me everything I know about managing finances, staying organized, prioritizing my time, and how to manage paperwork. My mom taught me to never take no for an answer, to research everything, and to always give without ever an expectation of anything in return. Oh yeah, she also taught me to bake.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @theworldlywhisk
• Other: The Instagram for my new venture: @sourdoughandmoore