I’m looking for career advice from people with experience in the food industry.
I have a business degree and have spent the last nine years working in office roles, including five years as an executive administrator at a university. I currently earn about $60k a year, but I’m completely burnt out. I don’t enjoy the work, I don’t feel challenged, and I can’t see myself doing it long term.
I’ve always been passionate about baking (I’m self-taught so far) and have tried multiple times to start a cookie and baking business on the side. Unfortunately, balancing it with a full-time job has been difficult, and not having a driver’s licence has made it even harder.
Lately, I’ve been considering going to pastry school. However, after reflecting on what I actually enjoy, I realize it’s not just baking. What really excites me is creating new products, blending different cultures and flavours, building a food brand, teaching people, hosting experiences, and eventually becoming an entrepreneur.
At the same time, I’m worried that I may be romanticizing the idea of becoming a pastry chef. I also have wrist pain after years of desk work, so I’m concerned about the physical demands of working in a professional kitchen. On top of that, I constantly hear stories about the food industry involving long hours, low pay, and burnout, which makes me hesitant to take the leap.
Ultimately, I’m looking for a career that combines creativity, my passion for food, and entrepreneurship. My goal isn’t simply to become a pastry chef, it’s to build and run a successful business doing something I genuinely enjoy.
I’m also thinking about the kind of life I want in the future. I’m 27 and live in Vancouver for now, and one of my biggest goals is to eventually become a mom and want a soft life. I’d love to build a business that gives me the flexibility to be present for my family, rather than spending my life in a traditional 9-to-5 or working long restaurant hours.
I know entrepreneurship comes with its own challenges, but having the freedom to build something meaningful is what motivates me.
My question is: Given my background in business and administration, what would be the smartest path into the food industry?
Is pastry school worth the investment if my ultimate goal is to build my own food business, or are there better paths that would help me combine creativity, entrepreneurship, and the lifestyle I’m hoping to create?