Meet Mrugesha Gurjar

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mrugesha Gurjar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mrugesha below.

Mrugesha, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Starting Tili’s Bakery was a leap of courage – a journey that began after I left a traditional bakery job where I knew I was ready for more. I often found myself as the only person in the room with my background, ideas, or vision. But instead of letting that hold me back, I chose to lead with it.

When I launched my home-based bakery, I had no business background in the USA – just a deep passion for baking and a belief that personal, handmade desserts can bring people joy. I channeled that belief into every cake, every order, and every customer interaction. Being the only one in the room taught me to trust my instincts, listen closely to my clients, and deliver a product that felt truly personal.

I built Tili’s Bakery from the ground up, focusing on creativity, quality, and relationships. I took part in local markets, partnered with other small businesses, and shared my journey authentically.

Being the only one in the room pushed me to be brave, to take up space, and to turn my passion into a business. Now, I hope my story reminds others that it’s okay to be the first – it often means you’re opening the door for many more to follow.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Mrugesha, and I’m the founder and cake artist behind Tili’s Bakery in Austin, Texas. A custom bakery born from a dream and built with heart. After restarting my baking journey in the U.S. I created Tili’s as a place where imagination meets flavor. Our tagline is “You dream it, we bake it,” and we mean it, from vintage-style cakes to character-themed birthday creations, each piece is made with care, detail, and a personal story.

What makes Tili’s Bakery special is the connection we create with every customer. Whether it’s a baby shower, gender reveal, or milestone celebration, we take the time to craft not just a cake but a memory.

One of our most exciting recent moments was baking 100 custom cupcakes for Amazon Prime’s new series “Overcompensating” launch party in Austin. It was such an honor to bring our designs and flavors to a brand-new audience at that scale. Opportunities like this remind me how far this journey has come.

Looking ahead, you’ll also see us popping up at more local artisan markets around Austin and introducing seasonal dessert cups. Tili’s Bakery is still growing, but it’s already a space full of love, creativity, and resilience, and I can’t wait for what’s next.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three qualities that have made the biggest impact on my journey are resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to learn.

Resilience was key when I had to start over from scratch after moving countries. I had once built a full bakery kitchen in India, and after relocating to the U.S., I had to rebuild everything – equipment, clients, and confidence. But I kept showing up, one cake at a time.

Adaptability helped me navigate unexpected turns. Whether it was adjusting recipes to meet local preferences or learning how to market my business in a completely new environment, being flexible has allowed me to grow rather than get stuck.

The willingness to learn kept me moving forward. I didn’t have all the skills or knowledge when I started, but I taught myself through trial and error, late nights, and a lot of Googling. That mindset opened doors I never expected – including being part of Amazon Prime’s launch party for their new series Overcompensating.

For anyone early in their journey: Don’t wait to feel “ready.” Start where you are. Be willing to fall, get back up, and ask for help. Keep learning, stay flexible, and trust that every small step adds up to something bigger.

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?

I’m deeply grateful to all the mentors, senior pastry chefs, and cake artists I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years. Their guidance, technique, and high standards played a crucial role in shaping my skills and mindset.

Working in professional bakeries and handling custom orders taught me the discipline, precision, and creativity that this field demands. Beyond the kitchen, I also learned so much from the broader baking community – especially through YouTube tutorials, baking bloggers, and online forums where passionate artists share their experiences and knowledge so generously.

Each of these experiences helped me grow, refine my craft, and build the confidence I needed to succeed on my own path.

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