Purple Lipstick, Polar Bear Ears, and a Different Definition of Success with Rochelle Williams
- cgoucher
- Jul 13
- 7 min read
I first came across Rochelle during a fireside chat at the Women of the Year Awards. What caught my attention wasn't just her creative work. It was her presence. She was quirky, confident, vulnerable, and completely herself.
The more she spoke, the more I found myself thinking, there's a story here.
That instinct turned out to be right.
Rochelle Williams Rochelle Williams cookies Rochelle Williams Rochelle Williams Rochelle Williams with her mom and sister Rochelle Williams cake
What made you look at a dessert and think, "I could turn that into art?"
I would say two things.
The first was Food Network. I watched a lot of TV as a kid, and Food Network was one of my favourite channels because I loved seeing what people could create with food and baking. The artistry of it all was fascinating to me. It really opened my eyes to what was possible with that medium.
The second was my traditional art background. I started drawing when I was four or five with my sister and just kept at it. I took art classes throughout high school and continued to draw in college.
Seeing what was possible on Food Network and knowing what I could already do as an artist made me realize something important: if I have the thought, I can make it.
It doesn't matter what the medium is. Paper, pen, clay, food. If I can imagine it, I can usually figure out how to create it.
So if I could do it in traditional mediums, food felt like a no-brainer.
When you're creating something new, what excites you most: the idea, the making, or seeing someone's reaction?
What excites me most is the idea.
As a creative, my mind can go in so many different directions, especially when I have a client who gives me a bit more creative freedom. I love picking through all my thoughts and figuring out which concept is the strongest out of all the weird, quirky, and unexpected ideas that come to mind.
Honestly, sometimes the making is the most frustrating part. That's where things can go wrong. Structures don't work, humidity becomes a problem, or some other unexpected factor shows up and changes the plan.
And while seeing someone's reaction is rewarding, I don't always get to experience it. Sometimes the person picking up the cake isn't the one receiving it, so I never actually see that moment.
The idea stage is where I feel the most excited because that's where anything is possible. I try not to limit what I think can be done.
The making process introduces reality.
The idea process is where I can go completely balls to the wall.
What's something you've learned about yourself while building your business?
That's a hard one.
My first thought was that I'm really hard on myself, but honestly, I knew that before I started a business. Whether it was sports, school, or work, I've always had really high expectations for myself and really high standards. That didn't change when I became a business owner.
What I have learned is how likeable I am.
Growing up, I always had a hard time making friends. Even when I did make friends, I never felt like they would stick around for very long. I felt like I was this weird, quirky person that people could tolerate for a period of time.
Through my business, I realized that all the things I thought made me unlikeable are actually the things that attract people to me.
My sense of style. The ideas I come up with. The way I speak honestly and openly.
I've learned that I'm someone people enjoy being around and enjoy learning from.
Yeah. I've learned that I'm actually really good with people when they give me a chance.
Who keeps you grounded when things get busy, and what do they remind you of?
Hands down, my sister.
She's the person I talk to most and the first person I go to when I'm having problems or working through something difficult.
What she reminds me of is that just because I make a mistake, or something goes wrong, it doesn't mean I'm a failure.
I have really high expectations of myself, and I take it hard when things don't go according to plan, especially when I feel like I should have seen it coming or could have prevented it.
My sister reminds me that I'm still just a person. I'm allowed to make mistakes. I'm allowed to feel sad, frustrated, or disappointed when things go wrong.
That doesn't make me a failure. It makes me human.
She also reminds me that the most successful people weren't successful on their first, second, third, or even tenth try. It takes time. It takes perseverance.
And whenever I start doubting myself, she's there to remind me that I can do it, even when I think I can't.
I heard you speak recently at the Women of the Year event, and one of the things I appreciated most was how real you were. What's something you've become more comfortable owning about yourself over time?
Definitely my sense of style and fashion.
I think college was the first time I decided to dye my hair. I chose a dark purple colour that, in most lighting, looked like my natural dark brown. It was only when the light hit it just right that you could really see the purple.
That small change made me feel a lot more like myself.
It's hard to explain if you've never felt like you're hiding, masking, or trying to conform to what society says you should look like or how you should act. For me, that was one of the first times I did something that felt different from everyone else.
From there, I started experimenting more with colour in my hair, getting piercings, and choosing more fun wardrobe pieces.
When I used to go to networking events, I tried to look more corporate and professional. Now I wear whatever I want.
One of my favourite examples is a headband with two white pom-poms on it. I call them my polar bear ears. I wore them to an event with purple lipstick, and I know there are people who would say that's unprofessional or that nobody will take you seriously if you look like that.
I decided that I can look however I want in whatever room I'm in because that's just me.
Just because I wear purple lipstick doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. It doesn't mean I'm incompetent. It doesn't mean I shouldn't be taken seriously.
That's simply how I choose to show up in the world.
There isn't a certain way you have to look to be accepted as a professional.
I really embrace my quirks and how I like to show them outwardly.
What's bringing you the most joy right now?
Not gonna lie, there isn't really much bringing me joy lately.
I'm currently in a season of burnout. I've realized I don't have enough white space in my calendar, and I haven't been making enough time for the things that actually bring me joy. I've been focusing too much on trying to make money instead of having fun.
I didn't choose to be self-employed so I could spend all my time doing things I don't enjoy. Lately, I've been letting what I think other people expect from me influence my decisions instead of listening to my gut and doing what feels right.
So this question is actually a hard one.
That said, the pockets of relief I've found have come from spending time with my friends, family, and partner. The people who let me show up however I need to show up.
Whether I'm happy, sad, tired, overwhelmed, or figuring things out, they don't expect me to be anything other than myself.
That's incredibly comforting.
And food. Food will always bring me joy.
I recently went to La Lola with my sister and ordered their salmon torta. It's honestly one of my favourite dishes. We shared one to start and I took another home.
The next day I ate it in my car and was literally doing a happy dance while I ate it.
There's just something about really good food that makes me happy.
So right now: family, friends, my partner, and delicious food.
Bonus Question: You won the Rising Star Award last year. What did that recognition mean to you?
Honestly, it was validation that I can be myself and still be successful.
There aren't a lot of young, Black, quirky women in business doing what I'm doing, and I hope my work shows people that you don't have to fit into a specific mould to succeed.
My definition of success has changed a lot over the years.
At one point, success was mostly about money and growth. But as I've built my business, I've realized success looks very different to me. It looks like being active in my community and supporting the people who helped me get where I am.
I got to where I am because of community support, grants, organizations, and people who believed in me. Being able to give back to those same communities lights a fire in me.
Success also looks like creating space for people who don't always feel represented or included. Whether that's through my Black Excellence cookies or accommodating dietary restrictions, I want people to feel seen. I know what it feels like to be left out, and I hate that feeling.
For a long time, I didn't think I was successful because I wasn't hitting the financial benchmarks I thought I was supposed to be hitting. Looking back, I realize a lot of those expectations came from assumptions about what success is supposed to look like.
Receiving the Rising Star Award made me stop and think, maybe I'm not failing. Maybe I'm actually doing something right.
It reminded me that success comes in different forms.
More than anything, I hope it shows people that it's okay to break the mould, question the template you've been handed, and build something that feels true to who you are while helping others along the way.
Rochelle Williams doesn't just share her creativity with us. She shares the hard parts too.
The self-doubt. The burnout. The process of becoming more comfortable in her own skin.
One minute she's talking about going "balls to the wall" with creative ideas. The next she's talking honestly about questioning whether she's successful enough or whether people even like her.
That's what makes this interview special.
There's a lot of strength in that kind of honesty.
If you're looking for flavour-packed patties, scrumptious cookies, or custom cakes, visit The Dessert Artist at https://thedessertartist.ca.
Six questions.
Countless curiosities.
Thanks for being part of the conversation.
Until next week, Christine
