Entrepreneurs in the making Steffy Joseph: ‘If there’s anything I love or want, I will try to do it’ |27 January 2022

With the ongoing pandemic, while in lockdown in 2020, many youths were home and had to think of ideas to occupy themselves. Some even had to rethink their career path. Many became entrepreneurs in their own way. They started cooking, baking, creating videos and saw opportunities to create their own businesses.

Seychelles NATION will try to regularly showcase these ‘new’, young, and daring entrepreneurs and today we have a chat with Steffy Joseph who is trying her luck with her amazing cakes, doing acrylic nails and sewing.

Out of nine contestants, Steffy came out as the winner of the cake decorating competition organised as part of activities for last year’s Youth Festival under the theme ‘Aspiration’.

Seychelles NATION: Please tell us who is Steffy Joseph?

Steffy Joseph: If I have to describe myself using one word it would be ‘determined’. If there’s anything I love or want, I will try to do it. I might fail a few times but I will achieve it if it is really what I want. I am also very creative, passionate and mostly patient. I am always ready to learn something new. In the last 5 years I learned how to do acrylic nails, bake cakes and sew.

Seychelles NATION: Tell us your educational journey and what you are doing now.

Steffy Joseph: I started crèche at Anse Etoile primary up to P6. I was one of the best performers in the P6 National Exams. I then went to English River secondary (S1 until S5). Got all of my IGCSEs and passed including my French B2 exam. I proceeded to do my two-year studies at the School of Advanced Level Studies (A level), where I studied Travel and Tourism, Sociology and Psychology. I was at the time still not sure what I wanted to do so I chose to continue with my studies until I could figure it out. I am currently in my second year of studies at the University of Seychelles after taking a Bachelor of Laws undergraduate degree. I chose law since it gives me a variety of job options.

Seychelles NATION: When did the love for baking strike you?

Steffy Joseph: Growing up with internet at home, I would always go on YouTube to watch cake making videos but never really wanted to actually make one myself. As I got older and being in the kitchen cooking more frequently I realised that we have all the tools needed to make a cake.

Seychelles NATION: How did you start?

Steffy Joseph: The first cake I made in 2018 I didn’t use any recipe to be honest. I didn’t measure anything and did not know what I was doing. The cake was a mess, it had this big hole in the middle of it and did not cook properly. I posted it on my Instagram page and I remember this lady that already had a cake business reposted it and made a meme out of it. I did not let it get to me but instead searched for more recipes to try. My second attempt was much better but lacked decorating skills. After that I made cakes only to share with friends and family. I always posted my progress on social media and that’s when people started to order for occasions.

Seychelles NATION: Now what are you doing in the cake business?

Steffy Joseph: I can proudly say that I am satisfied as to where I am in the cake business. I did not want to create social media pages for my business as I don’t want to struggle with balancing schoolwork and my other small nail business, but I have recently started a tiktok account to post my cake videos.

I now make chocolate, vanilla and red velvet flavoured cakes but if the client would like something different I will research, try first then propose it to them. I also make caramel, eclaires, pies and napolitaine cakes just to name a few.

Seychelles NATION: What are you proposing for Valentine’s Day?

Steffy Joseph: I recently added cakesicles and the smashable heart to my list of goodies. So for the coming Valentines I have advertised different treats boxes that will be available but upon order. It consists of cakesicles, popsicles, little chocolate hearts and heart-shaped cake covered in chocolate. The perfect gift for a loved one that likes chocolate!

Seychelles NATION wishes Steffy all the best in her endeavours and invites all young entrepreneurs to come forward if you want to share your new ideas. Feel free to contact us on 2597812 and we will give you a space to share your story.

Vidya Gappy

Easy Eclairs recipe by Steffy Joseph

Ingredients:

- 100g unsalted butter

- 1 cup water

- 1 cup flour

- 4 eggs

- whipped cream

- chocolate syrup

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius

- Melt butter in saucepan