We’re looking forward to introducing you to Karen Quinones. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Karen, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I feel like I am being called to push past my fears and think bigger. A year ago, I reluctantly started a home business selling sourdough. Because I’m naturally risk-averse, even small equipment purchases felt overwhelming at first. But as the business grew, I saw that it not only covered my startup costs but also became profitable. That gave me the confidence to keep investing.
Now, I’m at an inflection point: I’ve outgrown my home kitchen, and the next step is moving into a commercial space. That leap feels intimidating, but I’ve realized it’s the only path forward if I want to continue growing. What once felt terrifying now feels like an exciting opportunity to expand and step fully into what I’m capable of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Karen Quinones, and I’m the founder of Wildflour Artisan Sourdough, a small baking business that began in my home kitchen. What started as a simple love for baking bread has grown into a thriving local brand, known for authentic sourdough made with care and quality ingredients.
What makes my story unique is that I didn’t begin as a natural risk-taker. Each step—from purchasing my first pieces of equipment to outgrowing my home kitchen—has required me to push past fear and embrace growth. Now, as I prepare to move into a commercial space, I’m excited about the opportunity to serve more people while staying true to my passion for real bread and community.
My deepest wish is to be my community’s home baker. I want to provide Monrovia with naturally leavened, organic, freshly milled sourdough—bread crafted from grain grown by local regenerative farmers. Beyond just bread, I dream of creating a bakery that welcomes the community in, from neighbors stopping by for a loaf to school classes learning firsthand how real bread is made.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Without a doubt, my parents taught me the most about work. My work ethic is something I inherited directly from them. They instilled in me the importance of integrity, taking responsibility for my actions, and always doing my best to make things right.
By their example, I learned what it means to show up every day with gratitude. Long before I became a business owner, they encouraged me to treat any job as if it were my own. They often reminded me that no job is beneath you—if you ask someone to clean toilets, you should be willing to clean them yourself. They also emphasized the value of simple respect: saying “please” and “thank you.”
So much of who I am today, both personally and professionally, comes from those lessons, whether they were taught in conversations around the dinner table or modeled in the way they lived.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The most defining wound of my life was losing my mom. She was my best friend, and we shared a tremendous love and respect for one another. My mom worked alongside me as I built Wildflour Artisan Sourdough—not just labeling packaging or helping in the bakery, but as my emotional support and biggest cheerleader. I could see the pride in her eyes, and it fueled me to keep going.
When she passed, I felt the largest void I’ve ever known. Baking through my grief was both a comfort and a struggle—sometimes it distracted me, and other times the weight of my loss made it almost impossible to keep working. But I reminded myself that she wouldn’t want me to crumble because of her.
This October will mark one year without her, and while the pain is still there, I’m in a better place. I can now talk about her with more peace than tears. When I feel tired or like I can’t push any further, I still feel her presence encouraging me to keep going. Her love and memory continue to drive me.
One of my deepest motivations now is to open a brick-and-mortar bakery—not just for myself, but for her. It feels like a way to honor her, to complete the dream we started together, and to continue making her proud.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One of the foundational truths in my life is my faith. I am a Christian and believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. That’s not something I often speak about in a business or public setting—not because I’m ashamed, but because I never want to use my faith as a tool for marketing or professional gain.
What matters to me is that my values show up in how I treat people—with kindness, respect, and love. If you get to know me personally and ask, I will gladly share my faith openly. But until then, I hope people simply see me as their community baker who genuinely cares about them and the place we live.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I am a former RN who became a sourdough baker, and right now I’m working 50–60 hours a week making far less than I would if I had stayed in nursing. I do this work because I love it, but also because I’m investing in the future. My dream is to build a team and create a sourdough bakery that becomes a cornerstone for my community.
In 7–10 years, I hope that bakery will not only be thriving, but also something I can pass on to my children—either as a business they can inherit or as an asset they could sell to give them seed money for their own futures. It’s a long game, but one I believe is worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wildflourartisansourdough.com
- Instagram: @wildflour.la
- Yelp: Wildflour Artisan Sourdough
