Pumla Brooke-Thomae

Please welcome Pumla Brooke-Thomae. A self-published cookbook author carving her path in the South African culinary world.

Q & A with Pumla

Question: What drives you?

Answer: I want to leave a legacy that inspires the underdog to push, make something from nothing. I want my work to speak for itself even when I am no longer here but while I am here I want to do good and bring about change in people’s lives, especially women.

Question: What has been your greatest challenge and how did you overcome it?

Answer: My biggest challenge amongst others was allowing fear to control me – fear of pursuing a culinary dream without capital is very scary. Small affirmations from those around me and slowly building my confidence by selling chakalaka and small cakes helped me say “so what if I didn’t go to culinary school”.

Question: Who and what influences you?

Answer: My mom – every day I realize that I am my mom and how she influenced the type of business woman I am and want to be. My sister Babalwa Brooke is the other side of my brain. Her fearlessness has a huge influence on me.

Question: How has the journey of an entrepreneur been for you?

Answer: It has been the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life by far but the rewards of the ups have made it all worth it. You never stop learning.