From HIV Survivor to Sweet Potato Pie Empire

Empress Edwards-El turns pain into purpose as she shares the extraordinary journey behind Yummy Treats, a family-driven dessert brand built from resilience, faith, and survival. After growing up surrounded by poverty, addiction, incarceration, and eventually being diagnosed with HIV at just 19 years old, Empress refuses to become another statistic. Instead, she builds a decades-long career in public health advocacy, works with major networks like BET, MTV, VH1, and Lifetime, and empowers communities facing trauma and chronic illness. When layoffs, caregiving, and personal loss threaten everything she built, she returns to the one vision she never abandoned: creating soulful comfort food with her daughters. In this emotional episode of Living Your Legacy, Empress reveals how entrepreneurship, family, faith, public health advocacy, and Sweet Potato Pie become the foundation for generational legacy.Key TakeawaysTurning personal adversity into purpose-driven entrepreneurshipBuilding a family business centered on culture, joy, and communityOvercoming stigma, poverty, and chronic illness through resilienceWhy authenticity creates stronger brands and loyal customersUsing public health advocacy and storytelling to inspire lasting impactNotable Quotes“A real empress doesn’t just inherit greatness. A real empress creates greatness.”“People can literally taste the love in our stuff.”“It began by me just trying to be the best mom that I could be.”“We don’t die. We multiply.”“Success is about more than money. It is about seeing the value in yourself.”