This Week We Feature Young Professional Shondel L. David
Christian baker Shondel L. David is a proud Virgin Islander with a bubbly personality and a knack for entrepreneurship. She is the owner of ‘Paradise Treats’, a speciality shop and bakery crafting cakes, treats and other sweet delights.
Mastering the Art
"East End we come from," she told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), noting that she grew up in the East End, Tortola community and attended the Francis Lettsome Primary school and Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) respectively.
Now a resident of Ballast Bay and a mother of one, Shondel is the recipient of an Associate's Degree in Business Administration from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).
She is currently employed at the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) as an Administrative Assistant.
According to our Young Professional, starting a bakery was never the plan, "after mastering vanilla cake, after ten tries, and also cheesecake, Paradise Treats was born,” she said.
Spreading the word of God
One unique thing about the business is that Shondel also uses it as an opportunity to spread the word of God. “Being a Christian, I also use this medium to share the word, on my cake boxes you are gifted with a scripture."
She said at Paradise Treats persons can get speciality cakes and cookies, “your wish is our command and everything is baked with a little love in every bite".
Our Young Professional said what she enjoys even more about her business is getting good feedback from customers.
According to Shondel, one challenge is that while getting the cakes exactly like the picture sent by the client is sometimes difficult, things eventually work out as she is able to source supplies.
“Event planning was always my dream but being a baker does not detour me from that. Now I can plan and cater for events in the near future.”
Fanding Purpose
Shondel said Paradise Treats was initially started from personal savings and, as a mother, this was done with the aim of creating a better life for her son.
She said a number of persons who inspire her include Takiyah George, Tanniqua Baptise, and Kesha Barry who are all young professionals that took their passion and ran with it despite the challenges.
Parting Advice
In advice to young people she used the famous worsd of former school principal Elmore Stoutt, who said, “can as much as you can while you can". She added that once a person finds his or her passion, no time should be wasted going after it.
Shondel underscored that heading into business, this is when you find out who your true friends are, “but don't let that discourage you, keep pushing!”
“Follow your passion, always put God first and remember with him all things are possible,” she left as final advice to anyone looking to pursue a dream.
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