We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natasha Ellington. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natasha below.
Hi Natasha, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I come from a long line of strong women who intuitively knew how to hustle. My Grandmother and mama make the top of that list. They were both single mothers who made things happen with little to no help. They overcame obstacles that sometimes seemed defeating but never gave up. That’s where I pull my strength from. My tenacity and determination from. Another portion I have to give credit to the industry. You’ve got to be able to pivot and bounce back quickly in order to make it. There’s very little wiggly room for women, especially black women to make mistakes. So the ability to learn fast and be light on your feet becomes a skill set. I owe a great debt to those who’ve taken the time to invest in my ability.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve been a Chef for 20+ years and owner of my catering company, Cafe Jo’el, for 7 years. Most of my clients are repeat clients who value my creativity and dependability. They want an elevated experience that comes coupled with consistency and I provide that. Be on the looking out for some rebranding in the near future. Business is constantly evolving and I am excited about our trajectory. Brace yourselves for some uniques moves!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I believe that for myself, going to college for my profession was a good foundation for my career. It gave me tools that I still use today. Another great skill set I’ve acquired is my palette. And that comes from years of never being afraid to try new things. I am always looking for a new flavor to add to my repertoire or a new twist to add uniqueness to a dish. Lastly, looking back I wish I could’ve advocated for myself like I do now. Like my mama used to say “a closed mouth don’t get fed!” Meaning if you don’t say it, how will anyone know what you want? That’s a skill set I had to learn the hard way. Folks will pass over you without blinking an eye if you don’t make it known that you want to be seen or heard and in everything in life you should be using your voice. It could be the difference between staying stuck and making major moves.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would like to collaborate with an investor to be honest. I’ve been asked so many times when I will open a restaurant and I think the time has finally arrived. But not just any investor, someone who is not intimidated by a strong knowledgeable woman and has excellent communication skills. So if there’s some looking for a formally trained chef with tons of knowledge and experience I can be reached at [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: Cafejoelkc.com
- Instagram: Chef_Natasha_Ellington
- Facebook: @Cafe Jo’el
- Linkedin: @The_Natasha_Ellington
Image Credits
Photo credit: Caintography
