Happy Wednesday! It’s time for me to introduce you to this week’s womanpreneur.
Dawn Ricca has always been super creative, but when you see the cakes she creates you will not believe your eyes. She painstakingly creates these masterpieces by hand – each one more beautiful than the next.
Learn about why she started her business, Have Your Cake, and jump on the Dawn fan-bandwagon with me!
Meet Dawn Ricca!
When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a flight attendant because I was fascinated with travel.
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
When my girls were little I struggled to find a birthday cake or special occasion cake that had any creativity so I started to create my own.
What is the biggest struggle you’ve encountered as an entrepreneur and how did you solve it?
Organization was tough for me. I found that writing lists on paper of all the details that needed to be done for each cake helped me to keep on track. Just the simple act of crossing things off that list gave me a sense of control and satisfaction.
What do you think are the pros and cons of being a womanpreneur?
A major pro would be that I am in control of every aspect of my business. I get to be as creative as I want to be without limits. I also love that I have the flexibility to choose my schedule. One of the major cons would be that I am always working. I find that I put lots of pressure on myself because there is no one that shares the responsibility with me.
Do you have any mentors or coaches that you work with?
I admire many cake artists, but Ron Ben Israel is my idol. I research and study his work and techniques online and through books and articles. I was never formally trained and I wish to one day be able to take a class under his instruction.
What advice would you give to someone reading this that has the entrepreneurial “itch”?
Take that first step. If you have a passion or talent go for it. You have nothing to lose.
What is the secret to achieving work-life balance for you?
I have no secret. It’s just making sure I am home to cook dinner for my family every night. Working from home makes it easier for me to include my family in my day and I am able to be there for all the little things we take for granted sometimes.
How do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in everything I see, nature, fashion, etc. I am always trying to figure out how I can transform what I see into a cake.
What is your favorite book?
Any book on baking and cake artistry I can find!
What is your favorite quote?
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” Winston Churchill
What do you do to decompress?
A long hot bath always helps to clear my mind.
Get Ready to Drool
I look forward to Dawn’s photos on social media – they are amazing and always make me smile. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Get ready to be amazed. What’s even more amazing is that the cakes are delicious – although I’d be so sad to have to cut into any of these masterpieces!
If you are in the NJ area or know of anyone that is, send them over to Dawn for their next cake. They will love you for it!
Don’t forget to read about the previous womanpreneurs!
Theresa Russomanno says
Thank you Dana for showcasing Dawn. I’ve had cakes made by her for my daughter’s shower & Birthday & all of my cousins in the Manalapan, NJ area have had cakes made by Dawn too. They were all different but beautiful & delicious. I found this interview so enlightening.
Dana says
Theresa, it was an absolute pleasure and honor to showcase Dawn! I am so glad you enjoyed the interview. I wish I lived closer so I could enjoy her cakes more often!! xo
Crystal Carder says
Her cakes are gorgeous! She is super talented to make those, I know I can barely icing a cake without it looking like a kid made it (haha). These are fantastic.
Dana says
Crystal, I am totally with you! Dawn’s cakes are phenomenal!
Owen G. says
Her cakes are so lovely, the Louis Vuitton cake looks really nice. Haha. She never missed any detail.
Dana says
Owen, that cake is my FAVE!!!
Chad says
This is amazing!!! She is such an inspiration and her cakes are out of this world. Great interview.
Dana says
So glad you liked the interview, Chad!
GiGi Eats says
OMG the TALENT! I can’t get over it!!! She needs to be on that food network show! HA! I would totally root for her, she is an ARTIST!
Dana says
GiGi, she is a total artist!
Kenzie says
OMG I’m in LOVE with her cakes! I’m bookmarking her so that I can use her in the future
Dana says
Please do, Kenzie! Her cakes are amazing!!!
BohoVoyage says
She’s an amazing artist! Her LV cake looks so real! I like that she seems down to earth. Her favorite quote and advice are encouraging and real.
Dana says
She is so down to earth – a true great soul!
Sarah says
These cakes are beautiful! I love that Winston Churchill quote! This has been encouraging to me to keep pushing through!
Dana says
I am so glad that this article was encouraging for you, Sarah!
Sarah says
That was super intersting to read! I am a womenpreneur myself and I love reading the story of other women! Plus, her cakes look sooooo delicous!!!
Dana says
I love that you are a womanpreneur as well! Her cakes are both beautiful and delicious!
Joseph Abimbola says
Wow, her cakes are really really creative. Thanks for the insightful interview.
Arun Dahiya says
Omg, her cakes are so beautiful. I won’t be able to eat them, will just keep looking. Haha. She is an inspiration that with determination we can achieve anything.
Fatima Torres says
Dawn’s designs are incredible. I love how she encourages others out there to just go for it.
Flavia says
Those cakes are pure art! Dawn is so talented. Thanks for introducing her to us – This series you put together is so inspiring.
Dana says
I couldn’t agree with you more, Flavia! I’m glad you are enjoying this weekly series. Stay tuned to more womanpreneurs over the coming weeks!
twinspirationalparties says
Such a great artist.. So humble and her advices are so motivating and inspiring
Alexandra Cook says
She is really an inspiration. I love her and her creation. These cakes only show how passionate she is.
Amy says
Oh wow, those were a stunning cake. I love how creative she was. I lover talent,
Danielle says
She sounds so amazing and those cakes are spectacular! I loved learning all about her.
Kalyan Panja says
Nice going through you lovely interview and this inspirational post for women.
David Elliott says
This is really such a cool post. She’s definitely an inspiring person. That’s the way to go I think. Find something where you can contribute and go for it.
Monidipa Dutta says
I love reading about inspiring people. She is truly awesome. I liked her work and I loved this interview!
Amy-Lynn Denham says
Holy shit. I don’t think that cake makers get enough credit for the level of artistry that goes into their work. Those are masterpieces.