Cynthia Stroud
About
Hello, I’m Cynthia.
I was born in Nigeria and raised by my grandparents till I was 10. I started baking when I went to visit my mum during school holidays. Baking together was what we did to relax and bond. I baked my first cake on my own aged 8. And till this day, the smell of baking evokes a feeling of happiness and safety.
I fell in love with England after I came here on holiday in 1999 on my first ever trip out of Nigeria when I was 17. I knew within 24hours of being in London that I wanted to live here someday. So after my first degree in Microbiology, I moved to England in 2004 to pursue an MBA at the University of Buckingham. I stayed afterwards, supposedly to “work for 1 year”!
I started baking full time after I went on maternity leave in 2009 because I was reluctant to leave my newborn son. The target at the time was to make one wedding cake a month. The business soon took on a life of its own, 2 shops and a team of bakers later, we were making over 80 wedding cakes in some months.
One of my biggest influences remains my grandfather Thomas. He was a barrister who would sometimes represent people who couldn’t afford the going rate. And he almost always won the case. His clients just paid him with whatever they could. So I grew up thinking it was normal for a lawyer to be sometimes paid with chickens, goats, yams, plantains or whatever farm produce people had. It wasn’t till 4 years ago that I learnt just what lawyers earn! I learnt from my grandad that people, not money should be valued and when you are doing what you are passionate about, everyday is an adventure.
All I am and have is due to God's grace and favour. I'm aware of the blessings I have been given and with blessings come responsibility -I am keen to give back through my charity and to motivate others who are struggling with finding their place or feel they don't have what it takes.