Skip to main content
Communication, Art + Technology › Communication › Writing
SFU Student

Picture of Jeremy Wong at Mancakes Bakery
You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to help and be helped in business by friends that you made in university!"

Life after graduation can be daunting. As we scurry off to find employment we’re left in a transitional gap where everything feels uncertain. It’s a continuous process where it sometimes feels like a test of your stamina to keep pushing out resumes and cover letters. However, our experiences along the way can be valuable, and what seems like something fun and irrelevant can be used to build your career. This is certainly true for Jeremy Wong and his experiences at SFU, where he was an business student, Car Club and Canadianized Asian Club (CAC) member, and even took on a stint in SFU Cheerleading. Now, he’s the President of ManCakes Bakery, which is receiving media buzz from the likes of CNN and Global News.

As I entered ManCakes Bakery I was instantly welcomed with smiles (fitting when you’re surrounded by cupcakes). Jeremy made his way around the counter to greet us and we took a few minutes to talk about his business. Phone in hand, handling multiple things at once, it was clear he was in his element. After our talk, he was off to another event! However, I managed to get a few secrets out of him. Read on to hear how ManCakes began and how the business has taken off.

How did ManCakes begin?

“ManCakes was born when Geoff and I were sitting with a group of friends one day just eating cupcakes a female friend of ours had bought to share. While eating them, we wondered why cupcakes were so tremendously popular yet the options on the market all seemed to be the same - pink, frilly, loaded with way too much icing and topped with plastic sprinkles. As men, we would almost never go into a cupcake store to buy cupcakes but admittedly didn't mind the treat. Even girls admitted that you almost always have to wipe 3/4 of the icing off… before actually being able to eat it!

Geoff and I set out to design cupcakes that were different. We are revolutionizing not only the cupcake industry, but also the dessert industry, by introducing flavours that you never thought were possible. As we developed the idea further and further… we enlisted the help of our friend Tyler, a trained pastry chef to see if our crazy ideas were even possible. From here, ManCakes was born.” 

How did the owners of ManCakes meet?

“Tyler and I met WAY back in the day when we used to do gymnastics together. We actually trained under the same coach although Tyler was a little older than me. We were both on the National Team at one point and then kept in touch through the years. We reconnected later when I recruited Tyler to become part of an All Star cheerleading team that would eventually come 4th place at the World Championships. This is where Geoff and Tyler would meet for the first time. The rest was history.”

What kinds of people do you get to meet / work with?

“We work with some very successful mentors who help fuel and coach us to keep doing what we do… [We’ve also] built a team of employees who understand and love what ManCakes is all about. We have fun, work hard and make sure all of our customers have a memorable experience when they visit us in shop. The last aspect is the connections and partnerships we make with other companies. We've worked with fashion brands like the custom suit makers Indochino to supplying cupcakes for the BC Lions players. We've even created cupcakes for movie premiers and screenings and we're currently in a partnership with the Hunger Games Mockingjay movie. Have you ever had a cupcake that's lit on fire?”

Were you involved in any organizations that contributed to your current success?

“I was a part of the SFU Car Club, CAC and SFU Cheerleading. It's important to get involved with clubs because it helps you connect with people with the same interests. Not only does this add to your university experience because you will literally just have more fun, but if you're not a social person, it will help you open up. This will be particularly helpful once you graduate because in business, it’s all about who and how you connect with others. For those of you that are already socialites…keep it up. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to help and be helped in business by friends that you made in university!"

While ManCakes Bakery has knocked down a few accomplishments since its opening in late 2013 and is continuing to grow, Jeremy's story demonstrates that at the end of the day you just have to go for it! 

SFU Student
Evelyn Chen is a Master’s candidate who took a bit of a detour and landed in writing. In between writing and satisfying her creative juices at photo shoots (as a makeup artist while dabbling in styling and art direction), she can be found scouting cafes drinking ridiculous amounts of coffee. 
visibility  44
Feb 3, 2015

You Might Like These... Prospective, Professional Development, Career Exploration

Co-op students jumping in the air
The Co-op Connection Helps Retention

In this blog post, Heather shares with us why co-op is an important experience for all students, whether it be to further career aspirations or to gain future employment opportunities. 

author, courtney, smiling
A Second Term in Government: More of the Same?

Having completed my first work term for Health Canada as a Communications Officer Intern, I was eager to try something new, and the government was not where I believed that was going to happen. That is until I was offered a position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...

Hands holding a volunteer badge
Sana Siddiqui: Volunteerism Opens up Endless Possibilities | Part Two

She has been involved with SFU LEAD, Peer Programs and the SFU Muslim Students’ Association, just to name a few. Now, Sana Siddiqui, a Criminology student, reflects back and shares with us the invaluable academic, personal and professional skills and opportunities volunteering opened for her, read on to find out what she has to say about getting involved on campus and in the community.

You Might Like These... Professional Development

Two line cooks preparing food
The Value of “Meaningless” Part-Time Work

Not a lot of people have the luxury of being able to go through post-secondary education without holding down a job. I was one of those poor souls, slaving away at seemingly menial, shamelessly servile jobs to pay the proverbial bills, sacrificing my weekends, evenings, and summers for The Man.

team of people working together on a project from a birds eye view
5 Reasons To Accept a Co-op Work Term Extension

Communication Co-op student Kit Crowe gives you 5 good reasons why you should accept that co-op work term extension. 

A photo of a interviewer and interviewee
“Do You Have Any Questions?”

Interviews are a two-way street. They allow employers to find out more about their candidates, and candidates to find out more about the employer. Find out what kind of questions you can ask to maximize your interview.