Zoya Mulla has always had a creative streak since her childhood, but it was only in 2017 that she found out her true passion. Dabbling with a career in fashion designing for over three years, she took a break from it in 2016, after the birth of her first daughter, but only to find out that she had a lot more in store.
She explains, “I started my baking journey in 2017, shortly after becoming a mother. What began as a simple hobby during that time at home slowly turned into a passion—and eventually, a full-fledged business.”
Today, she is not only pursuing her passion with her baking enterprise called `Sweet Home Bakery` but is also the sole breadwinner of her home. “Someone had to step up to ensure financial stability, and I was in a position to do so,” adds 33-year-old Mulla, who has expertise in fondant cakes and baking.
Honing her skills with each passing day, she specialises in gourmet food and is even a fondant cake artist, creating fully customised cakes and savouries all throughout the year including festivals such as the recently concluded Easter, as well as Ramzan, with daily iftar meals before that.
Ever since she started out in 2017, the journey hasn`t been easy, but Mulla juggles her home chef business with her three daughters and thoroughly enjoys every bit of it. She shares, “Juggling my food business with raising three daughters hasn’t been easy, but it’s a balance I’ve learned to manage with love and determination. I usually prepare for orders late at night when the house is quiet. Those peaceful hours are when I can focus best. Every cake and dish I make plays an important part in keeping our home running.”
Vasai-based Mulla pursues her passion and even manages her house with all that she earns from it. However, it is her daughters who she says are her biggest motivation. She explains, “I plan my schedule around their needs. Sometimes, they sit with me while I work. During this time, they are doing their homework, chatting or just being there. It is definitely chaotic but also incredibly meaningful.”
Mulla is one of many mothers who are juggling their time between their work and daughters. While many go to work daily, life isn`t any cakewalk for the Vasaikar, as she still faces many challenges today.
It is not only running a business but also a family of five that brings with it its own set of challenges. She expresses, “Balancing family life and the business is still tough, and financial pressure is constant, especially with the rising cost of ingredients and fluctuating orders.” However, Mulla says she has learned to stay resilient, adapt, and keep going. “I’m not just building a business—I’m building a future, for my daughters and for myself, one cake at a time,” she concludes.
