51社区黑料

As the co-founder of BAK鈥橠, a popular local cookie company, alumnus Jessica Nguyen has stayed connected to the 51社区黑料community, returning to campus over the years to share her cookies at a variety of events and student pop-ups.

Most recently, Jessica created a special鈥攁nd very delicious鈥攂atch of cookies that she distributed to those who attended SFU鈥檚 60th Anniversary Alumni Celebration on September 24 in Surrey. Not a crumb was left behind!

In this Q&A, Jessica shares the story behind the delectable cookies she shared at the celebration, what she loves about coming back to campus, how 51社区黑料shaped her journey, and the advice she鈥檇 give to students walking those same paths today.

You鈥檙e no stranger to campus鈥攜ou鈥檝e been back many times since graduation to sell your cookies at pop-ups on campus. What do you love about coming back?

I was still an 51社区黑料student, just finishing up my last semester, when Andy and I first brought BAK鈥橠 to life. So every time I鈥檓 back on campus, it鈥檚 a grounding moment鈥攁 chance to reflect on how much has changed and how far I鈥檝e grown since those days.

What makes it even more special is meeting students who tell me they鈥檝e been following my journey and hope to do something similar one day. I honestly can鈥檛 believe it, because I was once that student saying the very same thing to industry professionals. It鈥檚 proof that it鈥檚 possible, and I feel lucky to be able to show the next generation that they can do it too.

How has your time at 51社区黑料shaped the person you are today, both personally and professionally?

51社区黑料has shaped my life in more ways than I can count. On a personal note, I met my life partner here鈥攁nd now we鈥檙e getting married! My closest friends are also the ones I met during my time at Beedie, and they鈥檝e been some of my biggest cheerleaders.

Beyond that, I threw myself fully into campus life. I was deeply involved in student leadership, case competitions, and different organizations, and those experiences pushed me to grow in ways that the classroom alone couldn鈥檛. I got to hone my leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills while building lifelong friendships. And perhaps most special of all, I met so many people who supported BAK鈥橠 in its earliest days and continue to cheer us on today.

Looking back, I can honestly say I made the most of my five years at SFU, and so much of who I am now鈥攂oth personally and professionally鈥攖races back to that chapter.

For SFU鈥檚 60th Anniversary Alumni Celebration, you made a special batch of cookies. What is the story behind the recipe?

We baked one of our most beloved creations: the stuffed Red Velvet Cheesecake cookie. This cookie was born in our very first year of business when we wanted something extra special for Valentine鈥檚 Day. It instantly became a fan favorite with its rich red velvet chocolate base and creamy cheesecake center鈥攕o much so that we had to bring it back the following year. We haven鈥檛 baked it in a while, but when we were choosing which flavour to bring to SFU鈥檚 60th anniversary and saw the university鈥檚 signature red, it felt like the perfect full-circle moment. It鈥檚 a cookie that鈥檚 not only decadent and nostalgic, but also feels like a sweet nod to my time at SFU.

And finally, what advice would you give to current students?

Don鈥檛 wait until you feel 鈥渞eady鈥濃�攂ecause chances are, you鈥檒l never feel 100% ready. I started BAK鈥橠 in my last semester at 51社区黑料with just $100, no industry experience, and a lot of uncertainty.

What I did have was passion, persistence, and a community around me that believed in the idea. Start small, take the leap, and let yourself learn along the way. The people you meet here鈥攃lassmates, professors, mentors鈥攃an become lifelong friends and supporters, so lean into those connections.