Velvet-voiced, formidable, and every bit as delightful as the desserts she churns out every day, Juliette Petit is a masterclass in the living the entrepreneurial dream.
From humble beginnings in Laventille, where her family owned a furniture store, Petit is now the founder of Le Jardin, one of Trinidad’s most long-standing, most revered patisseries.
Earlier this year, she opened the country’s first independent culinary training school, The Academy of Baking & Pastry Arts, catering to home cooks and budding chefs looking to beef up on their skills.
And that’s not all.
In one of her first business ventures, she funded the now defunct but no less iconic Moon Over Bourbon Street that spurred oh-so-many memorable nights back in the day.
It’s hard to believe that one woman can do so much, but born and bred in a family of business-owners, hard work is second nature to Petit.
When we interviewed her for our debut episode of Forward Forty TV, we were struck by her quiet charm, humility, and generosity.
Here are SIX things she said that stuck with us.
On Success
A lot people go into things and think I’m going to be successful, but I don’t think that’s how it works. You can imagine a million things, but your customer defines your success. What you think is success, is not what they think is successful. You are relevant only in so far as others make you relevant
On Freedom
My parents came from nothing. There was nothing to lose. And that is freedom
On Business
You come from a family of business, it’s very different from people who work a 9-5. Your thinking is different. The way that you move forward is not the same. You make your way. It’s a different mentality. And I grew up in a house where everyone made their way
On Your Tribe
You have to have people who are committed to doing work well. I tell people I can teach anybody to do anything once they’re willing to learn. It’s very easy to teach people how to do things the right way
On New Ventures
Sooner or later, I hate to break it to you, you’re gonna die, so how do you fill in the space between here and there? It’s yours. Seize your space.
On Failure
I can think the world of it. But if no one is interested in embracing what I have created, then it can’t be a success. But, does that make me not successful? I’m not sure
About Us
Forward Forty is a hub for women with a discerning palette, who believe that success and beauty can be had at any age. Forward Forty provides daily doses of life + style inspiration to women with a hunger for success, style, travel, beauty, food, design, wellness and healthy living. As its creative founder, I wanted to design a space to share all of these loves, to invite friends to share theirs as well and to be the breeding ground for ideas & excitement - - for an inspired lifestyle.
We are Forward Forty, and this is just the beginning.
