TALK #1:
THE SWEET LIFE
As Christina celebrated her premier on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars with a gathering of friends and family, she was also facing one of the most challenging moments of her life. She had hired her mother as her first employee and only seven months into her business, scored a 1000-cupcake event that transformed her business and allowed her to expand into her unique dream, a dessert bar and lounge. She consistently accumulated awards and accolades and was asked to film an episode of Cupcake Wars.
In the middle of this abundance, she was stopped in her tracks by two major life altering changes. As her heart was torn between family and business, Cupcake Wars called, asking her to film an episode. Christina continued to thrive, focusing on the core of her dreams and building her family. She encourages the audience with her story.
TAKEAWAYS
In the middle of this abundance, she was stopped in her tracks by two major life altering changes. As her heart was torn between family and business, Cupcake Wars called, asking her to film an episode. Christina continued to thrive, focusing on the core of her dreams and building her family. She encourages the audience with her story:
How to turn difficult moment into transformational experiences.
How to balance the needs of her family with her thriving business.
The situations you need to say no.
Using change for the good. Lessons learned during the pandemic.
Talk #2:
FINDING THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS FOR A GREAT TEAM
Ten years ago, Christina abandoned a thriving corporate career to dedicate herself to baking. In spite of her self-described driven and perfectionist personality, Christina focused on expanding her team to match her dreams. With the help of her mother and several friends, Christina transitioned from an exhausted one-man show in a home operation to a commercial kitchen and her first employees. Today the award-winning Crème Cupcake + Dessert Bar is run by a strong team, leaving her space to give back through helping other businesses navigate tough situations and growth.
TAKEAWAYS
Christina shares key strategies to business growth:
The four pitfalls of doing it all yourself.
Cultivating opportunities that lead to growth.
Strategies to release the process without losing control.
Why creating the right team matters in a pandemic.
Talk #3
THE RIGHT RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
When Christina founded Crème Cupcake + Dessert in 2010, she was a marketing and management businesswoman without a culinary degree. She took a special recipe, some unique flavor combinations and the enthusiastic support of her friends and family and transformed it into a thriving business creating the most popular cupcakes and desserts in Des Moines. Even during a pandemic, she continues to thrive, pivot and give back to her community.
Christina shares stories and strategies—how to transform a skill and product into a marketable idea and break out of the pack. The must-do small business startup planning every business must do.
TAKEAWAYS
Transitioning from subject matter expert to business owner.
How to create a long-term strategy that builds on the success of a simple idea.
Why this plan is pivotal during a pandemic.
A new way to look at revenue and marketing.