Who is (Name/Nickname)?
Chef Ivana Smith, MPH is an exemplary chef, event specialist, & CEO/Founder of Dainty Delights by Ivana LLC, a full-service catering & event planning company in Los Angeles, CA.
What has contributed to your personal growth?
Hardships of every kind have been the greatest contributors to my personal growth. At a period in my life when I was under a great deal of stress, I became very ill physically, and it was my first real wake-up call that life is something to be cherished, and living a life devoid of passion and meaning was a life that I wanted no part of. I made really significant decisions that made me really uncomfortable and disrupted the stability that I worked so hard to create for myself as a young adult, including ending a long-term relationship, dealing with physical illness, and giving up lucrative and reputable employment opportunities to follow my passion of focusing full-time on opening a catering and event planning company, although that had NO guarantees of real success or becoming anything I could rely on financially. These experiences really helped me stretch and grow as a person, removing toxic people and places from my life that challenged my happiness, personal growth, or professional endeavors. For lack of a better expression, it really helped me grow a backbone and a spine, as I’ve shaken off much of my passivity as I’ve learned to assert myself and defend my happiness. I’m grateful for the hardships I’ve endured as I’ve grown as a person because they’ve humbled me and taught me that life is something to be lived with passion and zest, and I don’t have to tolerate anything less than that.
In the next 5 years where do you see yourself going?
In the next 5 years, I envision Dainty Delights by Ivana LLC as a well-established, family-oriented, catering and event planning company in the Los Angeles community, known primarily for outstanding aesthetic presentation, delicious food, & unmatched client satisfaction. As a private chef, I hope to travel across the U.S. and internationally, bringing quality hospitality experiences to various cities and communities, hosting private catered social events, & providing event planning consultation services to hospitality, music, & entertainment professionals.
What are the 3 images that best describe your growth?
What message would you like to provide those people who have hit a road block with their personal growth?
When I felt really down and unsure of what move to make next in life, I would think of the Bible scripture Psalm 30:5 that states that “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” It reminds me that storms don’t last forever and this storm that I’m in will also pass. You naturally feel happier in the morning when you see the sunlight creep in through your window, hear birds chirping, and wake up in a bed that’s warm. That’s all a blessing, and I remind myself of that when I feel stagnant. This experience is preparing you for your ultimate “Glow-Up Season,” because hardships aren’t given to people who are not supposed to do meaningful work during their lifetimes.
How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as a genuine, passionate, and authentic person who brought joy to others through service, love, and laughter in everything I did and every avenue I pursued in life.
What are your current ventures?
Currently, I’m working on building the Dainty Delights by Ivana brand and increasing the notoriety of the Dainty Delights within Los Angeles and online. We have some exciting projects in the works and will be getting our Youtube Channel up soon, featuring new and past content of events we’ve coordinated in the past, cooking demonstrations, and much more! You can follow Dainty Delights by Ivana and our journey to spread love & positivity through quality culinary & event experiences at www.iwantdaintydelights.com, IG: @daintydelightsbyivana, and FB: Dainty Delights by Ivana LLC.
Additional information about Ivana
Fun Facts!
I earned a BA from UC Berkeley & Master’s in Public Health from UCLA prior to opening Dainty Delights by Ivana LLC
My parents are from Panama and taught me strong values of family, education, and great hospitality growing up in their household
I enjoy dancing, reading, listening to R& B & hip-hop music, & spending time laughing with loved ones in my spare time
Prior to becoming a full-time chef & event specialist, I worked for several years in HIV/AIDS research with incarcerated men and transgender women
I’m a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
