Meet Raquel Silva | Entrepreneur | Sweet Joy Bites

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raquel Silva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raquel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was born in Brazil, and these “truffles” are part of my culture (in Brazil, they are called Brigadeiros but let’s be honest, that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it?). In Brazil, truffles are present in all of life’s celebrations. I moved here at the age of two, and since then, Texas has been my home. I am not 100% Brazilian nor American. I am a hybrid of both cultures.

My vision for Sweet Joy Bites was to create a gourmet product that would honor my roots but use flavors and trends the American palate would be excited to try. In essence, I wanted to create a hybrid, just like me. I blended the traditional process of making Brazilian truffles and infused them with American desserts I love, like Cheesecake and Crème Brulee! I focused on flavors that paired well, like orange and pistachio or guava and brie, to develop exciting and trendy flavor profiles for each truffle. We took extraordinary care in the ingredient selection and recipe development process, which is why it took over a year to create and perfect my recipes! I wanted my truffles to bring happiness to all of life’s moments. Think about it: we all enjoy eating, but dessert is always the ultimate destination if we are honest! All the other courses are just pitstops on the way to the finish line, dessert!

I knew what I wanted to do, but I had to set myself up for success to get there, and I knew the result had to go beyond just chocolate. To achieve that, I made sure to surround myself with seasoned mentors in the industry, and I grasped any opportunity that came my way. Here we are today, and we are only getting started!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?                               I have a true passion for our product. Its artisanal aesthetic and flavor profile makes it stand out among your typical truffles, but I want to use our platform for a purpose that goes far beyond just chocolate. As a company, we are only beginning. Cancer is a cause that hits close to home, too close. Katia, my business partner, and I lost both of our mothers to cancer. Our goal this year is to find a cause close to our hearts that we can partner with and start contributing. There are so many great organizations trying to make a difference, and we want to be a part of that,  spreading joy and sweetness during a time is when needed most.

I am excited about the future; we have poured ourselves into this dream from the very beginning and have come so far. It has not been easy, and I don’t expect it will never be. Still, I could not be more grateful to be surrounded by so many incredibly talented and seasoned individuals. They have taught me that success is ever easy and have given me the knowledge to overcome the inevitable obstacles that are sure to come. But those obstacles will be a little less daunting because they have set me up for success by continuously reminding me to:
•Believe in the product,  don’t sell yourself short
•Never compromise on ingredients or quality, ever
•Nothing is more powerful in business than the human connection
•Networking is everything
As long as I keep reminding myself of how I got here, Sweet Joy Bites will thrive.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I have a true passion for our product. Its artisanal aesthetic and flavor profile makes it stand out among your typical truffles, but I want to use our platform for a purpose that goes far beyond just chocolate. As a company, we are only beginning. Cancer is a cause that hits close to home, too close. Katia, my business partner, and I lost both of our mothers to cancer. Our goal this year is to find a cause close to our hearts that we can partner with and start contributing. There are so many great organizations trying to make a difference, and we want to be a part of that,  spreading joy and sweetness during a time that it’s needed most.

I am excited about the future; we have poured ourselves into this dream from the very beginning and have come so far. It has not been easy, and I don’t expect it will never be. Still, I could not be more grateful to be surrounded by so many incredibly talented and seasoned individuals. They have taught me that success is never easy and have given me the knowledge to overcome the inevitable obstacles that are sure to come. But those obstacles will be a little less daunting because they have set me up for success by continuously reminding me to:
•Believe in the product,  don’t sell yourself short
•Never compromise on ingredients or quality, ever
•Nothing is more powerful in business than the human connection
•Networking is everything
As long as I keep reminding myself of how I got here, Sweet Joy Bites will thrive.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Fort Worth would be a must. I would show them around the rustic side of Texas and have some Riskys BBQ for lunch, their all-you-can-eat Beef BBQ ribs are to die for! We would leave downtown Dallas for the next day. Stroll around Klyde Warren Park and try some of the amazing food truck cuisines. After some relaxing, I would take them to visit the JFK Museum and walk around downtown and end the night with some dinner at Mercat Bistro. The next day once we recover from all the touring, I would take them to legacy west to do some shopping and grab some coffee, probably end the night at Legacy Hall and enjoy some live music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could not have gotten to where I am today or where I am going without so many who have supported me. First and foremost, Cesar Silva, my husband, my partner in business, life, goals, and dreams, whose love and partnership have been essential to my success. My business partner and friend Katia Silva , my right hand and the brains od the operation, without her I would be lost. My biggest cheerleader and sister, Juliana Jelezoglo, continuously shares her industry knowledge and expertise. My sweet friend Vanessa Martins for pushing me and believing in me every step of the way, for encouraging me to dream big and work hard, not to mention being an exceptional photographer. My mentor, the epiphany of selfless mentorship Joan Axelrod, the master of all things related to business, for instilling in me a wealth of knowledge that has without a doubt opened doors and opportunities I would have never had without her guidance.

Website: www.sweetjoybites.com

Instagram: instagram.com/sweetjoybites

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweetjoybites

Twitter: twitter.com/sweetjoybites

Facebook: facebook.com/sweetjoybites

Image Credits
Vanessa Martins Bianca Harbison