Owl Have You Know
The Pancake Princess Talks Building Authenticity Online feat. Erika Kwee ’16
Episode notes
Rice Business is known for producing top industry leaders and 2016 full-time MBA graduate, Erika Kwee is no exception. Erika Kwee is the creator, photographer and writer behind The Pancake Princess, where her colorful, mouthwatering “bake-off” blog compares popular baking recipes side-by-side to help readers and aspiring bakers find recipes that are just right for their tastes and skill levels.
Erika spent years building her blog at night while working a tech job by day. As a self-taught baker, Erika has staged under Michelin Pastry Chef of the Year winner, Kelly Nam, at the Michelin-starred Joomak Banjum. In 2019, the blog won Reader's Choice for Best Baking and Sweets from Saveur Magazine and in 2021, Erika was selected as one of Southern Living's Cooks of the Year.
She sits down with host Maya Pomroy ’22, and shares her journey from English major to baker, her favorite bakes, and how Rice Business was a key ingredient for her career in entrepreneurship.
Episode Guide:
00:19 The Birth of The Pancake Princess
01:28 Erica's Early Interest in Baking
02:52 The Evolution of The Pancake Princess Blog
07:18 Erica's Journey to Houston & Rice
09:58 The Impact of her MBA on Erica's Career
12:01 Transition to New York
12:13 Erica's Experience with Michelin Pastry Chef
15:53 The Art of Baking and Blogging
24:42 Erica's Future Goals and Aspirations
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
In an era where everyone shares content, how can you make yours stand out?
15:57: I think starting a blog today would sound very intimidating to me because the environment just seems so saturated. People are starting blogs, Instagram accounts, and TikTok accounts every day, and lots of people are having great success. So I think it's really about thinking about what you're super passionate about, like what is going to keep driving you to, like, do it consistently, really light that fire, because it's easy to write a few posts and then fall off because, like, maybe you're not that excited about the topic. But then, thinking about the unique value or point of view that you're bringing to the table, what sets you apart? Why would someone want to follow you versus any of the other millions of bloggers out there?
An advice on branding
19:43: Branding is thinking about what you stand for, what you're interested in, and what you hope that people will take away from it, and just letting that kind of shine through in everything that you do.
How did Erika's MBA experience influence her approach to blogging?
Show Links:
- Transcript
- Food Blogger Pro
- @joannebchang • Instagram photos and videos
- Smitten Kitchen
- https://cravecupcakes.com/
- Recipe for Success Foundation
Guest Profile: