Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Bryant.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tyler. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be in a woman with her own business but needed some time to explore what exactly that would be. Food and community have been a huge part of my identity. All of the women in my family loved entertaining, and by proximity, I acquired this passion. As I matriculated through college, I began to dabble in the kitchen as I watched my roommate cook organic, health conscious meals. Being from a southern family, my lens was almost always geared towards the traditional gaze of soul food, but as I got in the kitchen, I started to give the word a new definition. My love for cooking grew as I desperately longed for an oasis away from the stress of being an economics major. My commitment to health, both mental and physical, deepened as my understanding of caring for my body through consumption grew.
Shortly after graduation, I moved to Washington, DC, to work in IT consulting, and my love for entertaining began to blossom, just as much as my love for amazing restaurants. As I began to build community with friends in this new city, I’d host girls’ nights, birthday celebrations, brunches, etc. to test some of the new recipes out and for any reason to bring people together and share them on social media, just because I was proud. After interest from my followers began to build, I started a blog. I shared restaurant suggestions, party planning tips, and all of my healthy, budget conscious recipes.
This blog transcended into requests for meal prep offerings and ultimately catering bookings for clients all over the country. In just a few months, I had acquired over 50+ subscription based clients in the DC area, and in a year, had expanded my business nationally to Houston and Atlanta, all while maintaining and thriving in my corporate position. I used the invaluable experienced I gained as a consultant, bringing together marketing, communications, project management, and strategy to build the framework for my business, Black Peppa Events & Catering, LLC. Today, my business is now a licensed full-service event planning and catering firm that evolved from a 1-woman show to a dedicated team of staff across the country, including an in-house luxury event planner. I’ve catered and planned events for the Congressional Black Caucus, Howard University, local realtors, athletes, entrepreneurs, and most importantly, friends and family. I’ve been able to share my love of food, art, decor, and health with the world and for that, I’m eternally grateful.
My passion for elegant dining and cuisine was able to birth my second baby, Eat Noire, with the help of an amazing team of Co-Founders. We’re not only highlighting black-owned businesses, but elegance and belonging through the lens of some of the most-awarded black chefs, food brands, and mixologists with our digital platform. Stay tuned for more!
Has it been a smooth road?
Whew, it has not at all been smooth, but it has been so worth it. Since starting my businesses, I know for a fact that God has ordered each and every one of my steps, and I will not fail, not only in this but in anything I put my mind to. I know that in each struggle, there’s triumph, in all pain there’s victory and it’s up to me to harness that in everything I do.
Don’t Limit Yourself:
One of my biggest struggles was… myself. I gave myself a million no’s before anyone out in the world ever gave me one. Black Peppa was on my heart for years, but I didn’t feel qualified or ready to start. I made excuse after excuse on why I wasn’t good enough to charge for my services and why I had other priorities to focus on. My advice here is just start. The market may seem saturated, it may seem “too hard” or you feel under-prepared, but you are the only person holding you back. So buckle up and go for it, sis. You can have it all and you can do it all.
Get Your Coin:
Both in your corporate jobs and side hustles, ensure that you are focused on the bottom line. You are entitled to make a sustainable living and thrive from the fruits of your labor. As my business started to take off, I was struggled with charging my worth. I didn’t want to lose customers by being viewed as “too expensive” so I continued to under-quote to attract and maintain business. Although I wasn’t charging them for it, I was providing all organic ingredients, delivery, and premium set-up… for (essentially) no additional charge. I was losing money for the love of the craft and it was hurting my bottom line. My advice to young women in business is, once you’ve legitimized your business (major key), harnessed/refined your craft (also major key), and built a loyal following, it is important for yourself and the future of your business that you do the research and charge your worth. Those who can afford you will, those who can’t… they’re not your clientele. Be okay with that. In your corporate jobs, ALWAYS negotiate your salaries and ask for your raises. This was something I learned to get very comfortable with as I have navigated my professional career. I have coached my friends, led seminars, and shared countless articles on closing the gender gap. It’s up to those with the platform and wherewithal to ensure women are being compensated equally, but it’s up to ask to ask and always advocate for ourselves. Don’t leave a penny on the table, sis. It’s rightfully yours.
Find a Mentor:
As I was starting out both in my profession and in my business, I often didn’t know where to begin as a young and excited IT consultant AND self-taught chef. So, I started reaching out to those who came before me in any field I had interest in. What I’ve learned is, whatever market you’re in and whatever you’re looking to do, someone has done it! Even if you are starting a new concept, someone has built a business that can offer you some advice. As humans, we forget to stop and ask for help. Half of our struggles as entrepreneurs, and people, may be able to be mitigated if we just reach out to someone doing well, not just in business, but in life. Do not let fear or ego block you from making genuine connections that could be life-changing. I’ve been blessed to acquire mentors in all areas of the culinary, tech, and entrepreneurship. I’ve been able to pick their brains and ultimately, learn from their successes and losses. Mentorship in our community is such an important staple, find your tribe and elevate together.
We’d love to hear more about Black Peppa + Eat Noire.
Tyler Bryant is a native Houstonian and Washington, DC transplant whose heart is set on all things food, love, health… tech. By day, Tyler is full-time IT Strategy and Communications Consultant at one of the largest tech firms in Washington, DC, a yoga teacher and an up and coming podcast host. Tyler’s mission is empowering her community to eat well, live well, and be well.
Tyler started her entrepreneurial career by creating a simple blog featuring her creations and reviews of local restaurants which soon grew into catering and event planning requests for meal prep, receptions, baby showers, and upscale adult birthday celebrations. Tyler founded her business, Black Peppa Events + Catering LLC in 2018 after many years of cooking for family & friends for joy of bringing people together over amazing cuisine while deepening her understanding of the bridge between elegant aesthetic, vibrant cultures, and decadent cuisine. Black Peppa specializes in healthy American flare, featuring elegant Charcuterie boards, vibrant seasonal favorites, and healthy twists on southern favorites.
What sets this black woman-owned business apart is two things, their displays and their ingredients. At Black Peppa, they do not compromise taste for health and vice versa. All dishes are made with fresh local organic produce, and Often, internationally sourced ingredients to ensure the most authentic taste in all their cuisine. Each item from large catering events to individual meal prep offerings are intentionally displayed with fresh florals arrangements to accentuate and compliment the food.
Outside of Black Peppa, Tyler is also the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eat Noire LLC and Co-host of Keeping it Together Pod. Eat Noire is a digital platform building community highlighting elevated black dining experiences, through the lens of black chefs, mixologists, and restaurateurs. This new company is focused on focusing on shedding a new light on black foodies/black owned restaurants. Keeping it Together Pod is a podcast led by two black women creatives from Houston sharing their insights on life, love, creativity, business, and how they navigate it all.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well-positioned for?
Leadership. Women are natural leaders. We’re innovators. We’re disruptors. We are well equipped to devise a plan, execute it, and drive the direction of our vision while leading others to the finish line. Although we are often denied a seat at someone else’s table, we as women, especially Black women, are more than qualified to build our own tables and use that platform to start inviting others to sit with us. The moment we stop waiting for someone to acknowledge that we’ve been oppressed or wronged is the moment we take back our power to not only lead ourselves as women but boldly set the example as leaders for the culture.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/tymitchellbryant
- Email: Loveblackpeppa@gmail.com
- Instagram: @tymitchell_
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/LoveBlackPeppa
- Twitter: @_tyymitchelle
Image Credit:
Photos By M. Dayton, Jordan Woods, Tyrel Robinson
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