Cynthia Stroud (Tooley) is the award-winning cake maker, best known for her role on BBC’s The Sweetmakers. A first-generation immigrant, Cynthia moved from Nigeria to the UK to pursue an MBA from the University of Buckingham. Her love for baking started when she went on maternity leave in 2009. Since then, Cynthia has created an empire as the Founder of Pretty Gorgeous Cake Company.
From humble beginnings, selling £15 loaf cakes, Cynthia has become an industry leader working with some of the most elite clients. She has been the Official Supplier to the BRIT Awards since 2011, the Official Cake Maker for the Queen Charlotte Debutante Ball for 3 consecutive years and the London Clothes Show. Her phenomenal work has led her to be named in the Top 10 British Wedding Cake Designers by Brides Magazine. In 2020, Cynthia also won the Pivot for Purpose Award at the Lloyds National Business Awards.
Founder of Jedidiah UK, a food-support charity that delivers food parcels to over 7000 families across the UK, Cynthia is keen on giving as much as possible. She offers her mentorship to students at Oxford Brookes University and University of Hertfordshire in addition to coaching businesses across India, Canada and the UK. A TV sensation, appearing as a Judge on ITV’s Great Chocolate Showdown, and on Channel 4’s Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas and as an Expert Contributor on BBC 2’s The Sweetmakers, Cynthia is also often invited on BBC Breakfast, BBC’s One Show, BBC4 Saturday Live and several other radio programs.
In 2017, Cynthia authored “Pretty Gorgeous Cakes” as a way to show people how easy it can be to create an exquisite cake. She is also the author of “Cute Hobby to Serious Business”, published in 2024. Cynthia was recognised as a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire in 2017 and was appointed MBE in King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours List in 2023. A seasoned keynote speaker, Cynthia is now available to speak at a wide range of events about entrepreneurship, taking charge of one’s future and shattering the limits of expectations. If you are looking for a speaker on a mission to tell people why following your passions is important, Cynthia Stroud is the right choice. Hire her today!
How to hire Cynthia Tooley
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Cynthia Tooley for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Cynthia Stroud's official speaker topics are listed below:
- Expanding the Possible
- Entrepreneurism
- Boldness in Faith
- Taking Charge of Your Future
- Shattering the Limits of Expectations
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Cynthia’s presentation to our boys was perfectly pitched. She understands perfectly how to communicate clearly and with humour to young people. Her message of being hard-working, hungry, engaged networkers resonated with the boys, but not as deeply as her insistence on the need for everyone to help in their communities. The boys left the presentation buzzing and weeks later are still discussing her message." - David, Head of Careers, Harrow School
"Thank you so much for coming to speak to us all last night, you are inspiring!" - The Women’s Institute Buckinghamshire
"I just wanted to say a heartfelt Thank you for hosting a FANTASTIC awards night. You are truly fabulous. What an inspiration. I have just been looking at the official phots of the evening. I do hope we get to work together again! - Organiser, Flare Awards
"A million thank yous- Thank you so much for coming to be our Sprint guest speaker yesterday. We really appreciate you taking the time out of your week. The participants absolutely loved you. They fed back that they thought you were inspiring and loved the honesty you bought." - University of Hertfordshire
"I wanted to drop you a note of thanks for your lecture on Friday. Your time and contribution were greatly appreciated. Thanks to your support, we put together an interesting and stimulating day for our guests. Once again, many thanks for your support and help in making the Royal Charter University Festival a very happy occasion for many people." - Alumni Relations Manager, University of Buckingham,/p>
- 2024 – Author of “Cute Hobby to Serious Business”
- 2024 – Invited to speak on a Mental Health Webinar for the National Business Awards
- 2023 – Appointed MBE
- 2022 – International Women’s Day One Vision ID Winner
- 2020 – Founder, Jedidiah
- 2020 – Winner of the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards’ Pivot for Purpose Award
- 2020 – Founder & Director of Operations, Pretty Gorgeous Jams
- 2019 – Resident Judge on ITV’s Great Chocolate Showdown
- 2018 – Winner of the Best Cake Maker category at the British Wedding Awards
- 2017 – Medallist of the Order of the British Empire
- 2017 – Debuted on BBC2’s The Sweetmakers
- 2017 – Author of “Pretty Gorgeous Cakes”
- 2009 – Founder, Pretty Gorgeous Cake Company
