Cake Pops and Confidence: Leslie Grotjohn 's Story

A Sweet Start

When Leslie Grotjohn signed up for a bake sale to support her stepdaughter’s competitive cheer team, she didn’t know she was about to change the course of her life. She wasn’t a baker. She wasn’t a businessperson. She was a stay-at-home mom with a creative spark and a desire for something that was just hers.

The cake pops she made for that fundraiser sold like crazy, and, three months later, Leslie launched One Sweet Bite, a custom cake pop business that now supplies fourteen locations across Billings, Montana.

Learning as She Goes

Leslie’s journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t paved with fancy certifications or a business degree. She learned by doing, Googling licensing requirements, learning how to market herself on social media, and asking other small business owners for advice. Her first markets were a whirlwind of preparation, hustle, and sweet success. That scrappiness is part of what’s made her business thrive.

A Community That Shows Up

The support from the Billings community has been unwavering. From her very first market, people have connected her with new opportunities, tried her treats, and shared her name. Her family has sampled every new flavor and helped with everything from brainstorming ideas to filming promotional videos. Friends from her mom group, many of whom are now business owners themselves, have offered guidance and camaraderie.

Profit, Progress, and a Whole Lot of Heart

 Leslie’s journey with One Sweet Bite has moved from passion project to profitable venture — though, like many entrepreneurs, she admits the financial side isn’t her favorite. “At the beginning of your business, you're just spending and spending,” she explains. “Now, I definitely am profitable… I don't know how much yet, but I’m working on it.”

However, these challenges haven’t stopped her growth. What’s clear is her determination to keep improving. Even the numbers part, which doesn’t come naturally, is something she’s willing to face head-on.

“I think it’ll all work out,” Leslie says, and you get the sense that it will — not because she’s leaving it to chance, but because she’s learning, adapting, and showing up day after day. Leslie never imagined herself as a baker or a business owner. But cake pops opened a door to independence, community, and a new kind of confidence, the kind that comes from doing something you love and watching it take off.

If you are interested in hearing more of Leslie’s story, you can watch the full video below!

Connect with Leslie via email at: lesliec1992@hotmail.com or on her Facebook Page.

Professional photos were taken by Halee Jo Photography. Follow her on Instagram @haleejolineberry.

Interview by Anya Wells, RMWBC Marketing Assistant and Storytelling Extraordinaire

Story brought to you by the Rocky Mountain Women's Business Center.