Tra-C J. Pierce
Tra-C J. Pierce is an accomplished author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur based in Mesquite, Texas. Her journey into plant-based entrepreneurship began when she accepted a 30-day vegan challenge, which sparked her fascination with how food can taste exceptional without animal products. A passionate baker, Tra-C experimented with vegan cookie recipes, quickly developing 18 unique creations that delighted her family and friends. This culinary creativity, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit, inspired her to take a leap of faith and launch Sweet Vegan Cookie Company, a 5-star Google-reviewed brand known for producing cookies that surprise and delight both vegan and non-vegan customers alike. Alongside her husband Kenneth, she rises at 4 a.m. to bake and fulfill orders, while also running a local cookie shop and delivering up to 100 miles, with shipments reaching customers worldwide.
A graduate of the University of North Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management, Tra-C has honed her skills in business development, team leadership, and public speaking. She is also the founder of Boss Up Smoothie & Cookie Bar and Boss Lady Nutrition, expanding her impact across the health and wellness industries. Tra-C’s innovative approach to plant-based desserts has led to long-term collaborations, including a nearly two-year partnership with the Veterans Administration, with opportunities to provide cookies to all 186 VA locations globally. Her work blends creativity, strategic vision, and ethical business practices, demonstrating that entrepreneurial success can be achieved while staying true to personal values.
Guided by faith in her personal life and integrity in her professional endeavors, Tra-C is committed to inspiring others through her work and leadership. Through motivational speaking and thought leadership, she encourages resilience, self-belief, and innovation. By combining her passion for vegan food, dedication to quality, and entrepreneurial insight, Tra-C J. Pierce continues to empower individuals and communities, proving that bold ideas paired with hard work can create meaningful, lasting impact.
• Baking Certification
• University of North Texas at Dallas - BA, Business Administration and Management, General
• 5-Star Google Review (300+ reviews)
• Elite Insurance Coach
• Veterans Administration Relationship
• Active in Local Church Food Ministry
What do you attribute your success to?
I'm aggressive. I have a lot of tenacity. I just believe in me. I really do believe in me. I already feel that I'm successful because 300 5-star reviews says that I am success. I don't believe that you have to be a multi-million dollar, producing, all over the world product owner to merit success. I think that if you can influence a few people over and over and over and over again, that right there is success. It's not success on a very high level, but it still is success. Most people think that, well, if I'm not known all over the world, and if I don't have a million followers - where did we get that from? If you have 10 faithful people that love your product, maybe that's the success that you can handle, because everybody can't handle being known all over the world. People just don't have that type of character. So maybe you have to be faithful and true to the success that has been measured to you and not be envious of somebody else's success, because maybe they have the capacity, and maybe you don't.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received came from Mark Cuban, believe it or not. I met a person that had a direct connection to him, and he gave me Mark's email address. Mark asked for my nutritional facts, was very impressed, and said, you know, can I give you some advice? He said, you need to create a niche. He said, because it's not enough to just create a delicious vegan cookie. You gotta have an edge. So, try to bring some uniqueness to your product. To be honest with you, I was not even seeking a deal from him. I just wanted to bake his family some cookies. I just wanted him to be aware that there's someone less than 20 miles away from you that has developed this brand, and I wanted you to be aware that I exist. That's all I wanted. And so, that was his advice to me. Create a niche for these cookies, and I feel like we have, because we can market them - we can dual market them. We can market them traditionally, and we can market them vegan, because to the non-vegan surprise, the cookie is vegan.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Believe. If you can muster up enough belief, and if you can be determined to never, ever give up, you'll ride the wave of success. I already feel that I'm successful because 300 5-star reviews says that I am success. I don't believe that you have to be a multi-million dollar, producing, all over the world product owner to merit success. I think that if you can influence a few people over and over and over and over again, that right there is success. It's not success on a very high level, but it still is success. Most people think that, well, if I'm not known all over the world, and if I don't have a million followers - where did we get that from? If you have 10 faithful people that love your product, maybe that's the success that you can handle, because everybody can't handle being known all over the world. People just don't have that type of character. So maybe you have to be faithful and true to the success that has been measured to you and not be envious of somebody else's success, because maybe they have the capacity, and maybe you don't.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in our field is probably going to be funding, because we have an opportunity that has been given to us by the Veterans Administration to possibly supply cookies to 186 locations throughout the world. But because we lack funding in order to handle such volume, it kind of makes us limited on how much supply we can put into the marketplace. I have a long-term standing relationship with the Veterans Administration. It's actually permanent, and I have been approached with possibly providing cookies to all of the VAs. But of course, it would take quite a bit of funding in order to hire a co-packer, turn over the recipes to the co-packer, and have them to be the distributor.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my personal life, I am guided by faith, which provides me with strength, direction, and a sense of purpose. In my professional life, integrity is paramount I believe in doing what’s right, even when no one is watching, and building relationships and businesses on trust, honesty, and ethical principles.