Meet Nasema Jasat | Owner of Sweet Treatz

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

Hi Nasema, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Growing up, I have been very ambitious. I knew I was determined to succeed, and there was more to life than just becoming a wife and a mother. I always envisioned myself working a corporate job but however, I never got the opportunity do so. Two years ago, I followed my heart and took the greatest risk of my life. At that moment, I knew it was either of two things; I made one of the best decisions I possibly could have, or the most catastrophic one ever. As the saying goes, “take the risk or lose the chance.” Risk taking has definitely played a huge role in my life as well as in my career. And without taking those risks, I definitely would not have been here today as the CEO of Sweet Treatz, something which completely changed my life and showed me a glimpse of my true potential. When I started, I was afraid that I would not attract and gain as many customers as I was hoping to, in order to make my business successful. Taking that initiative was indeed very scary, but you would only know what is on the other side when you take the chance. That was when I learnt the true importance of risk taking. Becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable has encouraged me to extents which I never thought I would have. Just a few days ago I was discussing with a friend of the high-risks that comes along with entrepreneurship, but also the satisfying lifestyle it leads to. When you take chances and step out of your comfort zone, you can live a life that is full of passion. Achieving your goals is not something that can be done as easily as it is said, and requires you to take risks at some point in order to attain them. But if you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Sweet Treatz is a home-based bakery located in St.George, Grenada. It is currently the only halal bakery on the island. We specialise in custom cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, cheesecake cupcakes, donuts, cinnamon rolls, brownies, and lots more…..Every ingredient used in each of our product is halal. Growing up on an island where it was challenging to find halal baked goods often times, led me to my passion for baking, which eventually turned into my profession. And I honestly really love what I do. Becoming the sole halal bakery on the island is what sets me apart from the others, something I perceived the moment I established my small business. I am proud for being able to create and provide halal baked goods to the Muslims and other individuals on the island. Another thing that sets me apart is my creativity. All of my creativity is poured into everything I create. I am also immensely proud of all the risks I have taken throughout my journey as an entrepreneur.

Getting to where I am today was never an easy road. When I started, I often used to compare myself to other bakers and bakeries who were already very successful. But then it always brought me back to the thought that once upon a time, they were also where I was at that moment. But through hard work and determination, they eventually became successful and I can do just the same. Throughout my journey I failed quite a few times as things do not always go as planned, but those failures taught me to believe in myself and never give up. Being consistent also eventually made the journey a bit less challenging for me. I knew that if I kept doing better each day, I will eventually get to where I want to be. After all, dreams do come true. Entrepreneurship welcomed a life for me that is filled with immense passion and outpouring rewards.

Establishing a business is very hard. But it is what taught me that success does not come without failure. You only fail when you stop trying. Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. The key to success is to focus on the goals, and not the obstacles. And success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you truly love what you are doing, you will be successful. Another great lesson I learned along the way is that a healthy environment is very important and is one of the greatest factor in helping you achieve your goals. I had to come to terms with the fact that it also meant cutting ties with certain individuals who never shared my best intentions. Surrounding yourself with like minded people and people who truly want to see you succeed helps in boosting your motivation towards success.

I want the world to know that Sweet Treatz was an accidental business. I believe that circumstances like this, is Allah’s (God’s) way of showing us what is rightly meant for us. You just need to follow your heart and your passion/s with his guidance. Many times we get caught up with the idea of what we are “supposed” to do, rather than what we “want” to do either because we are scared or we never had the opportunity. But don’t wait on opportunities, create it. And be willing to take every chance, because you never know how perfect something can turn out to be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ouu….I love this!!! I would definitely want to make the most out of visiting nature and the diversity in the food. We would definitely go hiking to visit the Welcome Stone at Sauteurs for the breathtaking view. We would also visit the waterfalls and rivers. Going to the beach and kayaking is also a fun activity we will surely do. We can also go to the forts and have mini picnics. I would take them for breakfast at the Silversands Hotel and lunch at Umbrellas. I would also take them to Wall Street to try the hot yummy doubles. A vegan meal from Joachim is definitely a mandatory one, especially the curry mango. That is finger licking. Dinner at the Punjabi restaurant for their delicious Indian cuisine is something I would really love for them to try. And to end the trip, we can go to One Love restaurant to try my favourite, hazelnut gelato.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be where I am today without the power of Allah. Firstly, I would like to thank him, as I am truly grateful for all of his blessings he has showered upon me and the courage he has given to me to face every struggle that I encountered throughout my journey. Secondly, a huge thank you to my family, my parents, my aunties and uncles who believed in me, and most importantly, my siblings; Nazir Jasat and Naadia Jasat, for always being there with me at every step. Without you guys, Sweet Treatz would not have been in existence today. Thank you so much for always being a listening ear, staying up late nights preparing occasional menus, attending every event with me and providing me with the best possible ideas and advise. I owe it to you both. Thank you to Owen Herry for believing in me in becoming a CEO when I never believed in myself. Your vision has become reality today. I am thankful to my baking pal, a sister I gained on this journey, Samesha Dominique, for her continuous advise and support in helping my business grow. Thank you to all of my friends for your advise along the journey. A huge thank you to all of my customers, new and existing, for your support. A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who recommends and support me, and promotes my business with others. Thank you!

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