Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Forster.
Hi Elizabeth, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi! My name is Elizabeth, and I am originally from the Bay Area, California. I move to Atlanta in September of 2019 after a long pursuit of becoming a veterinarian had ended. I ended up getting a job at an animal hospital working as a veterinary technician. I have worked as a veterinary technician at many animal hospitals within the past ten years throughout the United States, in pursuit of developing my skills to becoming a veterinarian. However, while attending veterinary medical college, I experienced multiple setbacks, resulting in anxiety, depression, academic challenges, and many health issues. After it was all said and done, I still ended up being dismissed from the program. After moving to Atlanta, there were many times I felt stuck, disappointed, confused, angry, sad, and left with no confidence in myself. I had to allow myself time to grieve over a career that was no longer attainable.
My goal was always to be a boss, to be a leader, to be one others can look up to and aspire to be. But during the pandemic, like so many others, I had the time to reflect on myself, understand and get to know myself better and realize how wonderful, amazing, talented, smart, and resilient I truly am. I began to re-evaluate my life and contemplate all the skills, talents, and wisdom I had gained from the past ten years. I realized that having a job that no longer served me in my veterinary career would not present any opportunities for growth. I knew I had to move on. So, I decided to take one of the things I re-learned about myself and turned it into a business and that was the love of making cupcakes. I started my new journey in April of 2020, of owning my own home-based, homemade gourmet cupcakery business. I researched and learned as much as I can on baking from scratch, on how to run a home baking business, and what it really means to be apart the fast and ever-growing community of Black female entrepreneurs.
What motivates me to continue building this business is that I want to be able to show other females that it is okay to start a brand-new career, especially after you may feel you failed at the first one. It is okay to pivot in your life as many times as possible because your happiness, your peace and quality of life are more important that what you do and more about why you do it. My goal is to tell my story through my creativity and testimony that things do not always work out the way you plan, and that is okay. I want to express that having enough courage and boldness to completely pursue a different career can be inspiring to others. I want people to understand that we are not defined by our job but by our willingness to move forward in any adversities we endure. I was never a girl with one interest, one talent, or one skill; I had many. Baking just happens to be one of them. Baking is also my way to be creative and free to be me. I realized that the same purpose-driven goals and my “Why” when pursuing veterinary medicine, that people are my “why.”
Moja Cupcakes is now a constantly growing and evolving business that uses social media and marketing to promote and share my products and my story. Being a representation of what it means to be resilient, to completely pivot one’s life and make a whole new dream come reality, is what I want to showcase and in hopes to inspire others, one cupcake at a time.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Once I decided to commit to making the decision to step out on faith and quit my job, I soon faced one of my biggest challenges, sleep. Although I love the idea of sleeping in or not having to wake up at a certain time everyday, owning your own business forces you to become more self-disciplined. Being an entrepreneur is amazing in that you set your own daily goals and task, however, having good time management skills and having a system in place is extremely important. I learned early on that being an entrepreneur is a 24-hour job. Whether I am physically baking or not, my mind is constantly thinking about the business, and how I can make it better. I traded in a 9-5 job for a 24/7 job. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Moja Cupcakes is a home-based gourmet cupcakery. Everything is made from scratch and uses all-natural ingredients. I like to create cupcakes that are connected to my culture but also invite traditional and unique flavor combinations that elevate the experience of enjoying a cupcake. I like to expand on the idea of what a cupcake can really be. The options are endless. Moja Cupcakes is about expressing creativity with food and culture that touches on nostalgic black culinary memories while expanding the flavor portfolio. Esthetics are a big part of Moja Cupcakes, as we all eat with our eyes first. What sets Moja Cupcakes apart is the consistent wheel of creativity that flows by changing the menu every month. It allows me to continue to challenge myself and others to willingly enjoy a sweet treat that not only looks good but tastes good as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck has never played in any part of my life or business. I have experienced many things in life that has not been so “lucky” or have not been in my favor. I actually still question God sometimes as to why I went through the things I did go through in order to get where I am now. But, what I can say, is that I am blessed. Being blessed in my life and my business has given me the opportunity to grow within myself and take the necessary steps to grow within my business. In my opinion, being “lucky” has nothing to do with me or my success.
Being strong, consistent, having faith, knowing my worth, being resilient, and determined is what has played a part in my life and the success of my business. I have been in many situations that was not so lucky. For example, while in my first year of vet school, I was hospitalized and on bed rest for 2 weeks for a blood clot in my leg at the age of 28. It happened right before a block of time of examinations. That was very unlucky. However, I was blessed enough to gather as much strength and determination I had to go back to class against doctor’s orders, walking with a cane across campus while maintaining my position as class president. Whew! Although I had a very unlucky experience, what drove me then to push through it is what drives me today.
I have continuously been proven by God that he keeps blessing me, despite all the un-lucky experiences I have had. I am still here. I am blessed to still be alive.
Pricing:
- Half a dozen Cupcakes are $25
- A dozen Cupcakes are $48
Contact Info:
- Email: mojacupcakes@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mojacupcakes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Moja-Cupcakes-100531795514619
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mojacupcakes
Image Credits:
Kofi Monte
