Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Today we see a lot of home bakers and self-learned chefs coming up, how did studying it professionally help you? 5 must tips for being a successful baker.
Ms. Pooja Dhingra:
The combination of hotel management and the culinary arts really helped me when starting up my own cafe. While in Paris, I had the opportunity to work under some great chefs, which taught me discipline and techniques that would have been hard to master alone.
My 5 tips to bake successfully are to:
- Be patient in the kitchen
- Be consistent with your work
- Practice, practice, practice
- Be precise
- Don’t forget to have fun!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You once mentioned in an interview that you faced body shaming, tell us how did you cope with that and message for the people who go through the same. One motivation quote to live by.
Ms. Pooja Dhingra:
Growing up overweight makes you believe that you’re not worthy of love until you become a certain size. I used to cry after every family gathering because all my extended family would say was “you have such a pretty face, why don’t you lose weight or no one will marry you”. When I moved to Switzerland at 18, that’s the first time I saw myself beyond what I ‘looked’ like. The most important things I have learnt over the past years are that it all comes down to self worth and self love and not being bothered by what other people think of you.
My favourite quote is “Thoughts become Things”, which is also painted on the wall of my office!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have been selected by Forbes India for their ‘30 Under 30’ achievers list for 2014 and the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list. How would you rate your journey?
Ms. Pooja Dhingra:
When it was announced that I was mentioned on the lists, I was obviously immensely happy and couldn’t believe my luck! I am extremely grateful to Forbes for placing me on the same lists as worldwide recognised talents. However, I don’t believe that success can be defined or quantified by just the number of laurels you receive. Success is created on a daily basis, and everyday is a challenge.