After running the bakery solo for a month (cranking out ~1,600 cookies start-to-finish and still beating last year’s sales), Dani reunites with lead baker Mercedes to unpack what real leadership looks like inside a small creative business. They trace Mercedes’ journey from family nanny to indispensable kitchen lead, and share how communication, production schedules, and simple systems helped them regain rhythm fast—hitting ~1,200 cookies in four days after reset. If you’re building a baking business or growing a creative team, this episode shows how to empower people, hire for fit, and keep the oven—and the business—humming.

Who This Episode Is For

• Home bakers turning pro and setting up repeatable bakery systems
• Creative entrepreneurs hiring their first team member
• Small business owners learning to delegate, lead, and scale sustainably

Big Takeaways

• Rhythm > hustle: It took a week solo to find rhythm again—and another week post-vacation to regain the team rhythm. Systems make both possible.
• Empowerment is essential: In small teams, you need self-motivated people who own outcomes, not just tasks.
• Hire for fit + teach skills: Personality and willingness to learn often beat perfect experience in tiny teams.
• Communication is the core system: Clear weekly production mapping (orders, cutters, colors, due dates) keeps volume high without burning out.
• Confidence compounds: Leaders lend confidence early; team members grow into leadership by acting on it.

Practical Highlights Mentioned

• Weekly production map: orders → cutters → icing colors/consistencies → due dates
• Clear role ownership (e.g., oven lead) + fast feedback loops
• Normalize quick recovery: fix the mistake, keep the schedule
• Track your own participation so you can step out for teaching, content, and growth projects

🧭 Connect with Dani

Website: daniskitchenshop.com
Instagram: @daniskitchenshop
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