An architect has made the bold decision to quit her career and start her own business in Sheffield.
Emilia Ashton-Foreman, 26, studied architecture for five years at Sheffield Hallam University before securing a role as an urban designer.
However, in 2022, she was made redundant and let go by her employer, leaving her feeling “lost”.
Emilia said: “I didn’t want to go back, the experience of being let go really put me off. I didn’t have the best of experiences in the industry and had bad employers.”
Having always had a passion for making açaí bowls on the side, Emilia decided in 2022 to turn her hobby into a business and leave her career behind.
Açaí bowls are healthy smoothie bowl, which started trending in 2017 after in places such as Australia and America. Since then, their popularity has grown and has become a staple in the health and fitness landscape.
Emilia said: “When I lost my job, I wasn’t myself. I was isolated and I went through a mental shift. But then I just thought, let’s do it.”
She admitted it was a “big decision” but knew it was the right one. She said: “As a student, I feel as though I never got the support. I was always on my own, and I never reached out to anyone. But after starting my business, I’ve learnt the confidence to reach out to people.
Emilia’s business, MyAçaí, took off after she began sharing videos online, showcasing how the bowls are made and offering behind-the-scenes glimpses into her journey.
She said: “The engagement went through the roof when I started to include myself in the videos. I’m not just building ‘MyAçaí’, I’m building myself alongside my brand.”
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In addition to her açaí business, Emilia has also launched a yoga business to help fund her work and is constantly building her presence on TikTok and Instagram.
MyAçaí is currently operating from The Deli in Greystones, with plans to eventually open her own locations nationwide, where she can expand her menu and introduce fitness classes.
She added: “I’m really proud of myself for running these businesses, and I am really capable of what I want to achieve. I’ve learnt you have to push yourself, and the harder you work, the more it pays off.”
Emilia hopes to continue expanding her brand even further.