We were lucky to catch up with Ulonda Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ulonda, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
When I think of the word resilience, my Mother’s face appears. My Mother is the strongest woman that I know. She raised 4 successful children, and she made it look so easy while she was going through some of her toughest battles. As a single mother of 4 and working a fulltime job, she still managed to complete her masters program. If this doesn’t scream RESILIENCE, then I don’t know what does. My Mother has and will never stop pushing her children for greatness. So yes, everything comes from her.
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?
Pansul’ originated from my late grandmother Pansy; I use to always tell people the stories of how my she and I use to bake and cook during the holidays (especially Christmas). I was her shadow in the kitchen. I’ll never forget making her famous jelly cakes, fruits cakes, and orange slice cakes. Those are some of my most memorable moments that I hold close to my heart. Back in 2019, I came up with a way to carry her through my culinary experience. And, I did that by naming my catering business after her. This is how the unique name “Pansul” was derived. I took the first four letters from her name and combined it with the first two letters from my name. The legacy will continue. Knowing I’m upholding such a special name will make me work harder at completing my goals and dreams.
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?
As I look back over my Culinary Career, the four qualities that are essential to my success would have to be passion, stamina, creative, and teachable.
Passionate: A great chef has to be passionate about the food, cooking, and their brand. Your love for the art of cooking must be clear and articulated through the time, quality, and effort you put in your cooking & baking process.
Stamina: Without stamina, what is going to drive you when you’re too tired to keep going? Stamina pushes you to persevere for a love you so desire. Stamina keeps me grounded and focused on the art of doing what I love the most, cooking.
Creativity: Customers loves a creative chef. It is one quality that brings in the customers. Creativity adds to my brand, and it makes me stand out amongst others in the field.
Teachable: Being teachable has been the most impactful thus far. Keeping an open mind and the willingness to learn from others has played a major part within my career. This has made me a better Chef.
The best advice that I can give my future chefs is to always carry this along the word “CHEF”
C-commitment to quality
H-Handle Leadership
E- Effective Criticism
F-Flexibility
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My biggest area of growth over the past 12 months was graduating from Culinary School! There were so many days that I wanted to give up, but I continued to ask God for the strength to carry on. I wanted my children to be proud of me and my accomplishments. So, to see them share and talk about my work speaks volumes because I know all is well, and my mission has been completed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Pansul_Kitchen
- Facebook: Pansul’
- Other: Chefulondawilliams@gmail.com
Image Credits
Darius Williams Ellen Nicole
