Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Guenzel.
Hi Kayla , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My most recent career path was in the tech sales world, what a fever dream that feels like — but I was a honestly pretty dang good at it and my future was promising…
But despite that trajectory, I felt a tugging at my heart that sales wasn’t all there was for me.
I was always eager to be my mom’s right-hand-man in the kitchen over the holidays, where she frequently hosted 10-20 loved ones at a time. She made those parties seem effortlessly magical. Decorated to the nines, whipping up dish after dish… Because of her, hosting and feeding people has been engrained in my DNA since I was a little cherub.
I brought that same enthusiasm to college, despite being a broke student I would find some way to scrounge up enough money to make ‘family dinner’ with my girls, all of us pouring over the homemade meal. I went on to study nutrition and got even more engrossed with cooking to nourish myself and my community. I loved learning how food can be medicine!
Since college I’ve continued to host whenever I can (even fit 12 people in my 1 bedroom apartment for Thanksgiving) as well as continued to study nutrition, wellness, hormones, holistic healing. I’ve read all the books, listened to all the podcasts, but most importantly have learned through lived experience of healing several hormonal issues mainly through nutritional intervention. I know first hand the power of proper nutrition!
It dawned on me that I should do something with this passion of mine, cooking, nourishing, hosting, instead of searching for meaning where there was evidently none for me.
So I did! Last August, I stepped back from the sales world and jumped in to the world of entrepreneurship as a private chef.
I love helping people feel good through food. I love helping busy families come together over proper nourishment instead of takeout for the 3rd time that week. I love using my knowledge in nutrition to help people in the most loving way I know how — a delicious and nourishing meal 🙂
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
is it ever? LOL.
No, it was not, It was a really big risk to quit a job where I was on a path towards stability and success. I definitely got some concerned calls from loved ones… and I definitely felt a little crazy, my old friend Imposter Syndrome chirping in my ear, “Why do you think you’re so special? Why do you think YOU can build a business?”
It is so cliche to say, but I felt empty inside. I knew I could make A LOT of money in tech sales but at what cost? My sanity? My soul felt like it was being crushed by the weight of a thousand suns (yes, the dramatics are in fact necessary). I had to take the risk, I had to give it and myself a shot.
Thank goodness I did! (Always bet on yourself).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m not your typical chef, I went to school to study nutrition and continue to self study to this day. That means I am not just making food that tastes good, the meals I cook are nutrient dense and DO good in your body. In a world full of ingredients you can’t pronounce, I’m using whole foods, no seed oils, high quality proteins. You can rest easy knowing you, your partner, and/or your family are doing something wonderful for your body.
Right now I am most proud of my newest offering called Golden Month Nourishment — I started to notice most of my clients were new moms who really care about what they put in their bodies but just didn’t have the time to take care of themselves in the way they wish they could.
So I developed Golden Month Nourishment, which is inspired by traditional Chinese medicine. In TCM, they devote the first 30 or so days post birth to deep restoration for the mamas, versus the western concept of ‘bounce back’ culture. I am running a program that offers very specific nourishment for the soon to be new mamas of ATX that encourages restoration, balance, and rebuild Qi.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Not going to lie, this is probably the hardest part, and I am still always trying to network (fellow chefs, get at me!) But what I can say is, shoot your shot. Send emails, DMs, offer a free set of hands for any events they’re working to learn their craft. Put up flyers. Talk to coffee shop owners. Talk to anyone who will listen, ask for help, ask a million questions. Just try, the worst thing they can do is say no.
That is honestly my advice in general. Just start doing things. Do it messy and chaotically. “A decent plan executed consistently beats a perfect plan executed occasionally.” I had no idea what I was doing when I started this, but I am so glad I took the risk and DID THE DANG THING! 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nutritionbykayla.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritionbykayla_/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nutritionbykayla_
Image Credits
Florence Maillot
