Ashima is the force behind Northeast Calgary’s first upscale bakeshop & café. Deriving talent through world-class pastry chefs from France and New York City, she spent her 2022 New Year in the big apple at Atelier Sucré. Bringing back extensive knowledge and skill from both Chef Simon Hefrey and Chef Roger Sitrin, her goals lie amongst spending the rest of her 20’s advancing her expertise through her passion of traveling.

Ashima’s journey began on her 16th birthday at a local Starbucks where she grew up. Her first job formed a hidden passion for what has now become a successful business. Throughout high school and beyond, her passion as a barista continued to flourish until school became a priority again. 

After graduating from college and juggling a work-life balance, closing this chapter was the only way to open another full of opportunity. She made her first Instagram post of her side gig in 2021 and the rest became history.

Within 6-months of launching Made By AKB, Ashima reached her 500 order mark of growth; a small win for a small town brown girl in Calgary’s South-Asian community. Shortly after, she became a university drop out and months later, she was featured on Calgary’s top social media platforms, featured on Calgary’s Ethical Entrepreneur magazine and had her first pop-up at Inglewood Night Market.

The following 6-months were overpowered with growth and with the support of her parents, she was on her way making floor plans of her new brick-and-mortar bakeshop and café.

Ashima opened the doors of her first location in Fall 2022 with the support of her family, friends and a powerhouse of a community. The daughter of two entrepreneurs paved a path for South-Asian youth to be inspired to do what she lives by; what makes you happy.

“In my 23 years of life, there’s a few words that have kept me going through both my most joyful and darkest times; pursue your happiness. You’ve got one life, one chance to do what the universe has paved for you because life is short. Life is too short to not take that chance or move that mountain. Make the most of your time here, you owe that to yourself.”