September 22nd, 2026

For Rochelle Williams, a career as a Pastry Chef has been more than just the ability to create sweet treats. Her career, which she first began to explore during co-op terms in secondary school, led her to found The Dessert Artist. The Kitchener-based bakery creates custom cakes, cookies, Jamaican patties and dessert patties. 

Her journey as an entrepreneur is led by passion, inclusivity and representation. Her inspiration stems from the question: “What would little Rochelle have loved to have seen in a bakery?”

Finding Creativity Through Education

As a Waterloo Region District School Board alumna, Rochelle attended Crestview Public School, Stanley Park Public School and Grand River Collegiate Institute.

Rochelle decided to get involved at Grand River to build community in her new secondary school. This led to her signing up for extracurriculars like the baking club, wrestling, rugby, student council and choir.

“I knew I loved food, but I also knew I needed a creative outlet,” Rochelle says.

Having a love for creativity and working with her hands, Rochelle’s favourite class was Art. She remembers her teacher opening the classroom during lunch breaks so students could continue working on their projects.

Exploring A Career Through Co-op 

Rochelle’s interest in baking began when she was 12 years old and she took a cake-decorating course. She began making cakes for friends and family, eventually taking on a three-tier wedding.

In Grade 11, she decided to trial the realities of a career in the culinary arts, exploring the pathway through a secondary school co-op placement. Her placement as a Pastry Assistant and Prep Cook at a restaurant in Kitchener provided her with the space to hone her skills in a real industry environment. 

In Grade 12, she continued building her skills at a local bakery, experimenting with decorating and different baking techniques.

For Rochelle, co-op offered a chance to explore the industry before graduating secondary school, which helped her to determine what her best post-secondary pathway would be. 

Through her co-op placement, Rochelle also competed in Skills Ontario, which she said helped her to work on her skills and better understand the realities and expectations and realities of the career path.

In reflecting on the co-op experience, Rochelle said, “It was helpful to go out into the world without risk and too much personal investment to test out the path.”

After graduating, she attended Humber College, earning a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts Management.

From Pastry Chef To Entrepreneur

Owning a business wasn’t originally part of Rochelle’s plan. Before entering the workforce, she imagined working her way up within an established company. As Rochelle gained experience, she valued the opportunity to explore her ideas. The skepticism she faced when exploring international treats and new concepts did not align with the vision she had for her future.

Eventually, carving her own path gave Rochelle the freedom to bring those ideas to life.

Today, The Dessert Artist allows her to combine her love of food and creativity with her commitment to culture and representation. With the creative freedom provided by entrepreneurship, she has the space to create custom cakes and treats that celebrate Black culture, including cake toppers and cookies featuring different hairstyles and identities.

She also strives to make her desserts more inclusive for people with dietary restrictions.

For students considering a career in baking, or any career built around a passion, Rochelle has simple advice: “Make sure you really love it.”

She says it is also okay if a passion doesn’t become a career. Sometimes, keeping something you love as a hobby can also be the right choice.

The industry can bring difficult moments that test your morals, boundaries and priorities. But for those who truly love the work, she says, “it can be incredibly fulfilling.”

Celebrating Alumni of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB)

Graduates of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) are accomplishing incredible things in our community, our country and around the world. We are putting a spotlight on their success in their chosen pathways and how their time at WRDSB supported them to graduation and beyond. WRDSB provides students with a solid foundation for success, and we are excited to celebrate the contributions and achievements of WRDSB alumni.

Learn more about our incredible WRDSB graduates.