Meet The Women Who Raise the Bar: Prerna

At eight years old, while most children were playing with toys, Prerna was already baking Oreo cakes in her Kolkata kitchen. By sixteen, she was running her first cake business, baking all night and delivering orders before school. Her family expected her to take the traditional commerce and MBA route, but she chose the kitchen instead. Today, she stands as a pastry chef, entrepreneur and mentor in the making, and proudly serves as MONIN India’s Brand Ambassador for the Culinary category, proving that passion can rewrite the rules.

Your Journey Begins

How did you first step into the world of bartending or hospitality?

I started when I was 8 years old, making Oreo cakes out of my home kitchen. At 16, I launched my first business, selling cakes through word of mouth to friends and family. Instead of studying for my 12th board exams, I was baking through the nights, handling everything from production to marketing to deliveries.

After scoring well in my exams, my family wanted me to study commerce and do an MBA, but I knew the kitchen was my happy place. So, I defied the traditional route and joined culinary school at the India School of Hospitality, now Ecole Ducasse. From the very first day, I fell in love with the world of hospitality and never looked back.

During COVID, I found myself back home and restarted my business as Cakeland 2.0, baking all night and attending online classes by day. In just 4 months, I served nearly 1,000 customers. When college resumed, I paused again, this time taking on the role of President of the Culinary Society, where I led a team of 25 to 30 people and grew not just in the kitchen, but as a leader.

Challenges and Turning Points

What has been the hardest part of your path in this industry, something that nearly made you give up? What helped you push through when the odds felt stacked against you?

I have faced many challenges, and I am still learning every day. During my first industry internship, I experienced the harsh realities of hospitality including verbal abuse, physical exhaustion and the constant grind. It shook me, but it also taught me what the real world looked like.

Later, I dreamt of studying in Paris, but when I realized it would cost 40 lakhs, that dream crumbled. I left with a 3-year degree and almost gave up, preparing for CAT exams at home like my family wanted. But midnight baking kept pulling me back. Eventually, I secretly applied for jobs and landed trials at JW Marriott Kolkata, where mentors like Chef Bhaskar and Chef Shreanshi reignited my passion. That was the turning point that kept me going.

Milestones That Matter

What’s a moment or achievement in your career that you’re especially proud of? How do you define success today? Has that definition changed over time?

One Sunday, I saw a post calling for entries to the Junior Pastry India Championship, a dream I had since college. In 40 days, I trained in a new city, Bangalore, with a new mentor and team. That dedication paid off when we won the competition in New Delhi and went on to represent India at the world stage in Italy.
For me, that was a milestone, carrying the Indian flag and realizing I belonged to this life.
Earlier, success meant winning competitions or achievements. Today, success is about resilience, the small daily choices not to give up, even when things get tough.

Shifting the Narrative

In your eyes, how has the role of women behind the kitchen changed in recent years? What does inclusion in hospitality really mean to you, beyond words or token gestures? What’s one industry practice or mindset you believe needs to change now, not tomorrow?

Women in professional kitchens are no longer just fighting for a spot, they are claiming it with skill, creativity and confidence. We are not just plating desserts in the background, we are leading teams and being respected for our craft, not our gender.

When I started, I constantly felt the need to prove myself. Today, I see more women entering kitchens fearlessly, supported by mentors and community. The narrative has shifted from “Can she do it?” to “Watch her do it better.”

On Women Raise the Bar

"Real opportunity would have meant accessible education, supportive mentors, and a seat at the table without needing to fight for it."

What does the Women Raise the Bar movement really mean to you personally? How do we ensure that this movement doesn’t stop at conversation but leads to real opportunities for women?

For someone like me, real opportunity would have meant accessible education, supportive mentors, and a seat at the table without needing to fight for it.

I was lucky to have mentors who believed in me, and through my brand Sitara, I want to create mentorship programs that support girls early and nurture their fire. My goal is to build opportunities that are not tied to privilege but are open to anyone with passion and potential.

Quick Pour

Favourite food to make: A good old brookie, a cookie and brownie layered dessert topped with ganache. It is nostalgic and still brings me joy every time I bake it.

One ingredient or trend you’re currently obsessed with: Chocolate, experimenting with textures and unexpected pairings like miso caramel with dark chocolate or rose and thandai bonbons with a crunch of mukhwas.

"I chose passion over permission."

What does “raising the bar” truly mean to you, in one sentence?

 Lucky are a few who don’t give up on their passion no matter what. From midnight ovens to global stages, I chose passion over permission. Raising the bar means failing, rebuilding, baking through the breakdowns, and still showing up for it without an apology.

Conclusion

Prerna’s journey is proof that resilience can turn midnight ovens into global stages. From a teenager baking in secret to carrying the Indian flag at an international pastry championship, she has never stopped choosing passion over convention.

She now dreams of lifting the next generation of women chefs, ensuring that opportunity is not limited by privilege. Her story reflects the heart of Women Raise the Bar, showing up, pushing through, and proving that passion has the power to change everything.

You can also explore her latest culinary creations by downloading her booklet here: moninflavors.in