For Elicia Noble, success is built on passion, determination, and a willingness to serve others. A dedicated teacher at Viola Nursery School and a recent bachelor’s degree graduate, Noble has successfully combined her love for education with her entrepreneurial spirit through her growing catering business, Elly’s Flavor Finesse.
Noble believes that life is a beautifully orchestrated balancing act driven by an innate desire to serve her community. By day, she shapes the minds of Guyana’s youngest learners as a dedicated nursery school teacher. Noble’s culinary journey began long before she ever officially launched her business. Growing up, she possessed an innate ability to master anything related to food. “I can remember how eager and intrigued I was when I would see older folks cooking,” Noble recalls.
She added, “I would always want to learn, even if it was hidden or from my own observations; I would strive to cook and do the same.” Despite her natural talents, the road to entrepreneurship was filled with personal and systemic hurdles.
While navigating her professional journey, Noble sought out financial support to expand her venture. Following advice to apply for a small-business grant, she completed all her compliance paperwork, only to encounter a discouraging roadblock. Because she was a government worker (a teacher) who had completed her bachelor’s degree, she was denied funding.
The setback, combined with the pressure of a competitive environment and standard “who-knows-who” politics, temporarily dimmed her entrepreneurial drive. “I allowed that to get to me, and I was limiting myself,” Noble shares. Deciding to pivot, she paused the business to focus on completing her studies at the University of Guyana and managing her family.
However, her gift, which she proudly calls “a gift from God,” could not be contained for long. Even during her hiatus, people constantly inquired about her catering, urging her to push herself further. The true turning point arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the country under lockdown and everyone stuck at home, Noble’s community practically forced her hand.
“The thought came to me that, you know, I can really cook, and people were forcing me to put my skills out there and use them,” she says. Driven by this encouragement, Noble officially registered her business, obtained her food handler’s certificate, and launched Elly’s Flavor Finesse on social media.
Initially focusing strictly on catering for functions and events, Noble struggled to maintain a daily menu due to the demands of her teaching career. Recognizing the need for a steady secondary income that fit her lifestyle, she transitioned to a specialized weekend menu. Today, Elly’s Flavor Finesse is a weekend staple, celebrated for local delicacies like white and black pudding, as well as a rotating weekend menu.
Since adopting the weekend model, business has been booming. While Noble acknowledges she hasn’t reached her ultimate destination yet, she is actively working toward big dreams for the future of Elly’s Flavor Finesse.
Reflecting on her own winding path, Noble has powerful advice for aspiring young entrepreneurs. She urges them never to let fear or a lack of capital hold them back.
“If you have a gift or a hidden talent that God has blessed you with, I think you should not limit yourself,” Noble advises. “Don’t sit and think that somebody is going to hand this thing to you. Throw away the mindset that you need massive amounts of money to get started. I used to think I had to wait for big money, but success doesn’t happen overnight. Start with what you have, believe in yourself, and build from there.”
