From Travel Blogger to Cake Empire: Olga's Journey to Building Christy's Bakery

Olga shares her remarkable journey from banking in Ukraine to building one of Geneva's most iconic bakeries—all starting with a single Facebook post asking "Would anyone want to buy these cakes?" In This Episode: 🇺🇦 Her path from Kyiv banking executive to entrepreneur (rejected for jobs for being "overqualified," so she tried something new) 📱 How a Facebook post in a Russian-speaking group launched the business with overwhelming interest 🍰 Baking with her daughter Christina—how family recipes from her grandmother's handwritten cookbook became bestsellers 🏪 Opening a bakery one week before COVID lockdown and pivoting to deliveries and crowdfunding campaigns 📈 Scaling from home-made cakes to multiple locations in 6 years (now in Plainpalais, near Manor, and Lausanne) 🇺🇦 Becoming Geneva's top employer of Ukrainian refugees (6 team members) and why this matters to her 🍪 The viral "crookie" trend that had people lining up from France 💪 Three pillars of her success: passion, persistence, and family support Key Quotes: "If you have an idea, just try. It's better to try and know you tried than regret you didn't." "I'm an entrepreneur who never stops. As soon as we earn something, we invest it to grow." "When you're busy, you're never sick." Why Listen: Olga's story proves that successful businesses often emerge from passion projects, not perfect five-year plans. She navigated international moves, crisis pivots, scaling challenges, and cultural integration while building something beloved in Geneva. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs, parents balancing business and family, and anyone curious about building authentic community-driven brands. About Christy's Bakery: Artisanal cakes rooted in Ukrainian traditions with modern techniques. Bestsellers: honey cake, Napoleon, red velvet. Known for viral trends, same-day orders via WhatsApp, and monthly local farm collaborations. 📍 Locations: Plainpalais | Near Manor | Lausanne 📸 Follow: @christys.bakery