Baking Dreams, Vyna Raja's Path to Entrepreneurial Success

Meet Vigneswari Naraja, known as Vyna, the visionary behind this thriving bakery. Her journey from corporate banker to esteemed baker is a testament to resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication. Vyna, the founder of Fancy Custom Cake and Zest and cakes cafe, embodies the belief that with hard work and unwavering passion, any dream is within reach. Her inspiring story serves as a beacon of empowerment for women everywhere, proving that pursuing one’s true calling can lead to extraordinary fulfillment and success.

From Banking to Baking, A Leap of Faith

Vyna’s story begins in the world of finance, where she navigated a successful career in an international bank. Despite her corporate achievements, Vyna felt a longing for something more a desire to pursue her own business and carve a path uniquely her own. Inspired by a childhood love for baking and fueled by a deep-rooted passion, Vyna made a pivotal decision to transition into entrepreneurship.

“I was comfortable in my banking career, but I knew deep down that I wanted to start something of my own,” Vyna shares. “No one in my family had ventured into business before, but I was determined to follow my passion for baking.”

Vyna Rajah was inspired by Anna Olson, sparking her dream of owning a bakery shop and crafting delicious pastries and cakes in her own kitchen from the age of 5. Little did she know then that baking would become her lifelong passion. Since childhood, Vyna has loved baking cakes for her parents, friends, and visitors to her home, often volunteering her skills for special occasions despite lacking formal training at the time.

“I started pursuing my childhood passion for baking part-time. Ever since I was young, I have loved watching baking shows, especially “Sugar,” hosted by Canadian pastry chef Anna Olson. I was truly obsessed with her baking show.”

Leaving behind the stability of corporate life, Vyna embarked on a journey that would define her entrepreneurial spirit. Starting with humble beginnings from home, armed with basic baking tools and an unwavering determination, Vyna honed her skills through trial and experimentation.

“At that point, I decided to pursue baking full-time and began by taking a basic baking class to learn the proper techniques. After mastering the fundamentals, I continued to refine my skills through countless experiments and self-guided learning. Encouraged by positive feedback from friends and family, I gained the confidence to start selling my cakes. I promoted my baking through Instagram and other social media platforms,” Vyna told.

Building own Bakery from Scratch

With no formal business background and facing personal challenges, including caring for her ill father, Vyna relied solely on her perseverance and dedication to establish her bakery. She rented a small, affordable cafe named Zest Cakes and Cafe, located in Kuala Lumpur a less visible area but quickly turned to digital platforms like Instagram to showcase her creations and build a loyal customer base.

“Without any business background and without anyone’s help, I started up my business. During this time, my father fell ill with dementia, requiring my mother to care for him, which meant I couldn’t rely on their assistance. I embarked on this journey alone, creating a genuine platform for myself,” Vyna uttered.

For six months, she ran a home baking venture using basic ovens and tools. In November 2021, Vyna took a significant leap by opening her own bakery shop. Over the course of two and a half years, she has navigated the challenges of owning a bakery, a journey that stands as a testament to her resilience and determination.

Vyna further explained that, “Despite facing numerous obstacles and initial skepticism, I remained steadfast in pursuing my passion. I started out alone, managing every aspect of the business single-handedly for the first year before gradually expanding and hiring staff to support me in delivering exceptional products and service.”

“This journey has reaffirmed my belief in hard work and dedication, fueling my commitment to providing the best possible experience for my customers through quality baking and unwavering passion.”

Mastering Baking Styles and Cake

Every new recipe undergoes rigorous tasting and experimentation; only those that satisfy Vyna’s standards of taste and quality are presented to her customers. Through extensive research and months of experimentation, she meticulously refines the textures and flavors of her cakes to ensure they exceed customer expectations. Vyna carefully balances ingredients like butter, sugar, salt, and flour, personally testing each recipe to guarantee its market readiness and customer satisfaction.

“If the outcome of the cakes is not satisfactory, I will never give it to my customers because I never compromise on delivering a subpar product. I always put myself in my customers’ shoes, ensuring that they celebrate and enjoy my cakes with happiness. Whether the dessert or cake is small or large, I strive to provide the best quality to all my customers,” Vyna said.

Throughout her journey, Vyna has crafted over 1000 cakes for a variety of prestigious events such as award functions, weddings, and special occasions. Known for her efficiency and expertise, she can complete a single cake in just one hour and manage up to 10 cakes in a single day. This remarkable ability not only highlights her skill and dedication but also underscores her commitment to delivering quality creations promptly to meet her clients’ needs. Her capability to handle such demanding tasks speaks volumes about her experience and proficiency in the art of baking and cake decoration.

She further explained, that “throughout my journey, I have created over 1000 cakes. I am capable of producing up to 10 cakes in a single day, with each cake typically taking about an hour to complete. My passion for baking drives my efficiency, allowing me to work swiftly without compromising on quality. When ingredients are readily available, I can fulfill customer orders immediately. However, if specific items need to be ordered, it may take additional time to complete the cakes.”

Vyna’s Special Moments & Achievements

One of the significant highlights in Vyna’s baking journey was when she had the opportunity to provide desserts and cupcakes for Nayanthara’s son’s birthday celebration last year. This moment marked a special occasion where her creations were chosen to be part of a notable event, reflecting the trust and recognition she has gained for her baking skills and quality products.

“When Nayanthara arrived in Malaysia, I received a message asking to serve desserts and cupcakes. Initially, I wasn’t aware that it was intended for Nayanthara’s son’s birthday. Miss Malaysia Priya, who knows our work quality, service, and taste from previous occasions, got in touch with me for this special request.”

“She gave me an opportunity to bake desserts for Nayanthara’s son’s birthday and approached me to do that. They only gave me a theme for the desserts, and the setup had to impress both baby boys. Hemaji also joined me to offer food for the event. I made cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts.

I completed the task in a very short period without sleep, but I feel it’s a milestone after so much effort and sleepless days. I feel proud that my products were so well received by people. I really need to thank Priya for giving me this opportunity as I have been working with her for 4 years.”

Inspiring Others: Teaching and Mentoring

Vyna explained her motivation for becoming a mentor and sharing her baking skills with others. She noticed that many people struggle to learn and master baking on their own. Recognizing this challenge, she made the decision to teach baking in a detailed and accessible manner.

Her goal is to simplify the learning process so that her students can grasp baking skills easily, avoiding the difficulties she herself encountered. By choosing to mentor others, Vyna hopes to impart knowledge in a way that is more straightforward and less daunting than the trial-and-error method she experienced. This way, she aims to empower her students to achieve proficiency in baking with confidence and enjoyment.

“I started offering baking classes because I’ve seen many bakers struggle to learn and become experts in baking. Considering this, I decided to teach everything in detail and in an easy-to-learn manner for baking skills. I want to be a mentor to my students, guiding them to learn easily rather than going through the difficult path I experienced.”

“Last year, I worked on a government project where I conducted classes for 10 students funded by an entity called APPGM (All Party Parliamentary Group). I assisted the students in opening a business, registering for SSM, designing a logo, setting prices, creating a name, and selling their products on digital media,” Vyna informed.

Overall, Vyna has conducted personal and group baking classes in Penang and Johor Bahru. In the coming months, she is scheduled to conduct baking classes in mid-July and August in Ipoh, Melaka, Kuantan, Seremban, Penang, and Johor Bahru, as there is considerable interest in her classes in those locations.

“It was a proud moment for me as a mentor when my previous students baked cakes for Father’s Day celebrations. I feel very proud of their achievement. I received positive feedback from them that their baking skills have improved significantly, and they also shared pictures of the cakes on social media.”

The Rise of Vyna’s Fancy Bakery

“Last January, I got engaged to my fiancé, Aryan Vimal Menon. Since then, my mother, Kalaiselvi, and Aryan’s family have been incredibly supportive of my business endeavors, actively working alongside me. Aryan, who previously worked as a banker, has been a particularly strong pillar of support for my business.

Inspired by our shared vision, he made the decision to leave his banking job to join me in developing our venture into a family business. Together, we are dedicated to nurturing and growing our business, leveraging both our skills and passion to create something meaningful and successful.

A Vision for Social Entrepreneurship

Vyna plans for the future, she remains committed to giving back to her community through social entrepreneurship initiatives. Her goal is to empower underprivileged individuals, particularly women, by providing opportunities to learn baking and start their own businesses.

“In the future, I want to switch to social entrepreneurship, as I aim to contribute positively to our community during my time here. I have always had the desire to make a difference in this community while I have the opportunity. Through this platform, I intend to empower women. For last Women’s Day, I conducted a free baking class for 10 B40 single mothers, and I also gave them prizes and souvenirs.”

“I wish to create business opportunities for women and those in need, and I am currently working on it. If anyone aspires to start a business, they can always contact me, and I am willing to help them.

As I mentioned, I plan to start a social entrepreneurship initiative and am currently collecting funds for underprivileged people who cannot afford to pay for and attend my baking classes. I will soon reveal more details to the public,” Vyna said.

“Believe in yourself and your product. Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow. And always prioritize quality and customer satisfaction they are the foundation of any successful business.”by Vyna.

Vigneswari Naraja’s story is one of courage, determination, and the transformative power of following one’s passion. Through Vigneswari Naraja Fancy Bakery, she not only creates delectable treats but also inspires others to pursue their dreams with unwavering dedication. As she continues to expand her bakery’s reach and impact, Vyna Raja remains a beacon of hope and empowerment in the world of baking and beyond.