A journey from amateur baker to Culinary Olympics gold medallist

Kristin played a vital role in the Swedish team's recent win, designing the desserts that helped them to win the gold at the prestigious culinary competition. Her journey from a 10-year-old girl watching bakery videos on YouTube to culinary champ is a testament to the propulsive power of drive and education.

Reflecting on her victory, Kristin says,

It was amazing! It was such a relief because we actually competed in the World Cup in 2022 and came in fourth place. That was really hard, and I can definitely say it feels much better to win than to lose! It was a big relief, and doing it with a team was awesome.

Education that caters to success

Kristin credits much of her success to her year at Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (CAAS). "As a young girl in the industry, trying to achieve your goals can be quite intimidating. However, taking that first step, going to Switzerland and studying at CAAS really pushed me in the right direction. After that, I thought, 'While I'm on this roll, I can just keep on going!'".

Freelanceing at the time, with an exciting new venture just around the corner, Kristin first heard about the Culinary Arts Academy’s Higher Diploma whilst still at high school in Sweden. After exploring another option closer to home, she settled on the venerable Swiss school, drawn to the prospect of studying abroad and learning "the international ways of pastry". She explains, "I wanted to explore more of what there is abroad and learn more about chocolate, especially. That's what helped me to make up my mind."

Over two terms and a six-month internship at the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel, Kristin honed her pastry and bakery skills while delving into French lessons and an international business course. She found the academy's instruction style conducive to growth and creativity, praising the teachers as "very, very talented and very good at sharing their knowledge."

With an average class size of around 15 students, Kristin felt she was in an environment that facilitated individual attention and support. This personalized approach, combined with the opportunities to challenge herself in a "fun and exciting way," allowed her to flourish academically and creatively.

Beyond academics, CAAS fosters networking opportunities for students, which Kristin describes as "a big priority for the school."

Normally, in the restaurant industry, there aren't a lot of opportunities for digital networking, but the CAAS encourages you to get on LinkedIn or other apps and get out into the world. It's definitely scary, but it's important to take chances and not be afraid; that helps a lot.

The post-grad pastry path

After completing the program, Kristin swiftly landed a job at the hotel where she had completed her internship, and from there, her career "just kicked off". Reflecting on the opening of this pivotal door, she recalls, "Without the school, it would have been tough to force yourself out and achieve your dreams, but CAAS helped a lot with that."

Kristin's journey exemplifies the remarkable career opportunities afforded to students at the Culinary Arts Academy. In her words: "I'm really happy that I went down the path I did. It opened up many doors, and I would probably not be where I am today without the school. So I'm just very grateful for that."

Republished from culinaryeducationexperts.com

Photo credit: IKA/Culinary Olympics 2024