Business Innovators Radio - Interview with Victoria Bracha, Founder & Professional Chocolatier

Episode Date: June 11, 2025

Elevating chocolates with unparalleled expertise, ensuring exquisite flavors, flawless textures, and irresistible appeal that captivates every palate.Learn More: https://victoriab360.com/Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-victoria-bracha-founder-professional-chocolatier

Welcome to influential entrepreneurs, bringing you interviews with elite business leaders and experts, sharing tips and strategies for elevating your business to the next level. Here's your host, Mike Saunders. Hello and welcome to this episode of Influential Entrepreneurs. This is Mike Saunders, the authority positioning coach. Today we have with us Victoria Brasha, who's a founder and professional chocolatier. Victoria, welcome to the program. Hi, Mike. Thank you for having me. You're welcome. I'm excited to talk to someone who is a professional chocolatier. I know that that sounds very exciting and I know that so many people just love,

love chocolate. So I want to hear all about your journey and what it took to become a professional chocolatier. So get us started and take us back in the beginning of your journey. Where did it all begin? It all began actually way back in the early 80s when I was in Shanghai, China. At that time, I was a young woman with a big dream to come to the United States to study. But I had no connection, financial support or really, really nothing and didn't know anybody. But I had a belief that education, hard work could change my life. You know, you must have had a big, big belief and a step of faith there because if you had no financial support and no safety net and coming to a new country, really probably had some language barriers as well, that took a lot of faith. During that time, what were some of those major obstacles that you faced?

It actually took me several years just to learn the English and prepare for the TOEFLs so that I can get accepted. I chose University of Utah. And that time, because there somebody was willing to sponsor me, somebody I actually did not know, since I didn't have any relative or friends in the United States at all. But finally, I was able to get accepted by University of Utah. But when I tried to apply for the visa, I got rejected with the U.S. consulate. And that moment, it was devastating because I felt like everything I worked so hard has been taken away just in an instant. Yeah. Yeah, but yet you still had that belief.

You still had that drive and that goal. what were some of the things that help you turn that around? Actually, I should thank my mother because she basically cried. I was like really depressed, right? I didn't know what to do because so many years I've been, you know, kind of focused on coming to the United States. But she quietly stepped in and did something remarkable. So she took me to a long, long bus ride to central post office

Because at that time, when you can only make international call with the central post office, it's not my phone anywhere, especially. Nothing like today, huh? We just pick up the phone and make a call. Yeah, nothing like that. And I made a 20-minute international call to my sponsor in the U.S. And that 20 minutes cost nearly two months of our whole family, my mom and my dad's income. But that call really changed everything because, you know, my sponsor got impressed, I guess, was English and what I was talking about and my dream, everything. And he just, he and his family basically decided to make a second effort.

And he contacted the U.S. consulate. And I was granted a second interview. And that time, I got approved. So you had the belief to come to the United States. you got rejected, you got some encouragement from your mother and then your sponsor, and you got that second interview and got approved. I would think that that gave you a whole lot of confidence, and that's just really, really amazing in that story. What was it like coming to the United States with so little? Yes, I arrived in 1986, but only just with $60 in my pocket. As I mentioned before,

I really didn't know anybody. So no family, friends, support. And aside from working in the campus, I also have to work in a restaurant off the book, really. I wasn't legally supposed to be employed outside of campus. But I need that kind of financial in order to continue with my study. I even took a 35% interest law. And finally, I graduated with the best. bachelor degree. But throughout that journey, I never questioned because I believe that that effort,

hard work, and education is my only way to success. You know, these days, I think you would agree that there's so many people that are younger going through college and boy, if they just get an extra homework assignment, they get all mad. Or if they have to take out a student loan, they get all mad. And here's you persevering through learning English. and working two jobs and a 35% interest rate loan. That is just a testament to your hard work. How did your career evolve after you graduated from college? Well, I took some financial-related jobs,

and then I decided it's about time. I should get married, raise a family. So I first focused on raising a family. Then I built a fashion business, And it's really grown up because I didn't have much of experience and no capital at all at that time. But I did that for 15 years and I was able to build it into a multi-international company from design, manufacturing, wholesaling, and retail. That was a successful business. But that business experience also taught me that creativity, grant, and,

the hardworking really pays off. And later I transitioned to financial and business consulting work, working with professionals in finance, real estate, and coaching. Wow. That's quite vast with financial services and finance and real estate and all of that. And then obviously, that's very different than chocolate. So what led you to the idea for chocolates? Yeah, as I was working with the professionals in finance, real estate, and coaching and some other field, right, basically service-based business, I see them all struggling with the same challenge. How do we stand out, build a trust in a crowded market, especially their benefits and service are really intangible and it takes time to materialize. but they are asking clients for basically upfront commitment of time and the money really to make the changes for them. So that's a very much challenge that all the service business professionals face.

Yeah, that would be true. Yeah. Then I start to ask myself, how can we create a stronger and more immediate emotional connection? And that's where my idea of VB fine chocolates come in. Yeah, I think that they've often said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, you know, feed him some good food. And I would say that the way to anyone's heart is through chocolate. I mean, I don't know that anyone out there really does not like chocolate. So what drew you to chocolate initially because you said that you asked yourself how to create a stronger emotional connection?

You could have chosen any kind of food or drink, but you chose chocolate. What drew you to that? Yeah, I always loved food artistry, you know, being in the fashion background. It's like fashion and fine dining. And we eat a lot of Michelin-style kind of restaurants well, too. and I cook also fine food as well too, and it's all very pretty and artistic. So that drew me to more of the food aspect as a kind of a gift idea. And then the chocolate is just universal because, you know, when people think of chocolate,

it brings joy, evoke, emotion, and it connects people across cultures. And, but I don't want to just make another chocolate because there are so many chocolates out there, right? So I want to make the chocolate that can be elevated into a full sensory experience, a moment that people remember and talk about. So that's why I want to do that VB fine chocolates in that aspect. Yes. And because chocolate can give you that sensory experience and be memorable, there's a lot of chocolates out there. What makes your chocolate different from other chocolate brands? Yeah.

So one thing is I want to make a multi-sensory, meaning that I also want the visual aspect of it and the taste and touch and feel. And so instead of just say, oh, it tastes good, right? It can have all these aspects. And our chocolate is handcrafted in small batches and use the finest Belgian chocolate and the fresh natural ingredients like fruit puree, espresso, and it's all in homemade. And each collection is designed around a specific flavor seam, create with bread. bold color, silky texture, the artistic look that makes people remember. But also, even when the chocolate, you know, people consume chocolate, how do you still have people remember the experience and remember the brand and you, right?

And that's when I did to set us apart as a customization because each box is reusable. And it's eco-friendly, it's keepsake box, can be personalized with companies. logo, message, and QR code. So that makes it repurposable remembered. And then the QR code can also keep your brand live by monthly giveaway updates and promotions. It's elegant, but it's also ongoing engaging too, because as we know, the email marketing has a really very low open rate and most goes into JANFA.

But what if you have the QR code that people can just actively monthly scan your code because it's a nice, pretty box and you can put different things after the chocolate is gone. And it's travel friendly, but the QR code can give the, you know, the updates, promotion. And also people always like freeways. And if you have the monthly giveaway, it's a lot, a very big draw for people to want to keep. the box around, thus remember you and your brand. That is really, really neat. I love that it's not just tasty chocolate. You're now getting into promotional and business giveaways.

Super innovative. Talk a little bit about how your clients are using the chocolate for business. So there are many ways they can use the chocolate for. One is to generate referrals, sending a beautiful box chocolate as a thank you gift. When people get a review, it shows the appreciation. Or, you know, online reviews are really important, like at Google or Yelp. It can really boost your chance of getting the feedback and making people feel valued. And also when people looking to a business, they usually, like I would usually go to Google.

and see if that's a business I want to use because usually I want to like a few check around and get a few people, a few businesses so that I can compare and finally decide which one. So having a great online reviews or getting the test mornings, that's very important to stand out. Also, as a welcome new client gift with personalized chocolate makes, makes people feel special and it's powerful that first impression that you can create. Also celebrating milestones with monthly promotions, there are just so many ways that we can use the, you know, branded chocolate for.

Yeah. And let's go a little bit deeper on the branded chocolate. What are some of the ways that you're able to provide branding for that business owner? So with the branding, first of all, it's that box. You know, you can brand the box top and inside as well, too. And also I can create different colors, themes for the business. And also, if they have certain flavor profile they like, for instance, there was a Mupitas city. They have an event, and they want apricot flavors.

Because used to be UPEDA city was apica groves. So they want to have that around the scene for their city celebration. So there are a lot of ways I can customize to make them unique and special and be memorable. I love it. That is awesome. So we've talked a lot about your steps to success. What does success mean to you now after you've come through all of these struggles? Yeah, for me, success is not just about sales. It's about connection, impact. You see, it's seeing a client growing their business because their chocolate gift opens open doors to new referrals, to build trust, and to hear somebody say, they remember me because of your chocolate. That's all what make it all worthwhile.

Yes. And then let's wrap up with this, though. thinking back to your journey and all of the struggles and ways that you had to persevere through. If you had to sum it all up, what would you say your journey has taught you? It taught me that, you know, from a rejected visa to become a chocolatier and business owner. My story is more about it is more about, is about more than just overcoming the challenge. It's about turning obstacle into opportunities, creating something beautiful, meaningful, and memorable along the way because sometimes a piece of chocolate can say more than words ever could. That is so amazing. I just love your story, love what you've done.

And if someone is interested in learning more about your chocolates and how they can use it in their business, what's the best way that they can reach out and connect with you, Victoria? So my website is VBFineChocolates.com and with email sales at VBFineChocolates.com. Very good. Well, thank you so much for coming on today. It's been a real pleasure talking with you. Thank you. You've been listening to Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saunders. To learn more about the resources mentioned on today's show or listen to past episodes, visit www. www.influentialentrepreneursradio.com.