Jaynelle St. Jean was raised in a family of three women in the Sunset District of San Francisco. She graduated from the top of her class from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism. After living and working in New York and Hawaii, Jaynelle returned to the Bay Area and began her life as an entrepreneur. On Valentine’s Day 2010, Jaynelle staged her mother’s apartment as a country window with pies set out to cool and served her neighbors on ceramic dishes in order to create a sense of community. Soon, neighbors began to recognize her as the “pie lady.” After this experience, Jaynelle knew that her future was in the pie business and she is now the owner of PieTisserie, a catering and retail business.
Jaynelle explains, “I will feel successful when my real life mimics elements of the lifestyle PieTisserie depicts – one in which my own financial needs are met and I share with others; one in which work and life complement one another, such that I have time and vitality to labor over food for family, friends and neighbors; and one in which I contribute to a community where trust is the norm and interdependency is safe. The reason my business thrills me is because it allows me to experience these feelings, while I work on making my desired state a reality.”
