Chef Lisa Brooks talking animatedly, sharing her story

About Chef Lisa

Culinary Entrepreneur. Educator. Leader.

Chef Lisa Brooks is a culinary entrepreneur, educator, and founder dedicated to elevating the personal chef industry and empowering women to build thriving culinary businesses.

After building a successful multiple six-figure personal chef business, she created two platforms — Personal Chef Academy and The Chefenista Collective — to help other women chefs do the same. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Ebony, Southern Living, the Tamron Hall Show, and Food Network.

The Beginning

From Corporate Career to Culinary Calling

For 18 years, Lisa Brooks built a successful career in corporate America. On the outside, everything looked right — the title, the trajectory, the stability. But on the inside, something was missing.

Lisa had always been the person her friends and family turned to for food. Holiday gatherings. Dinner parties. Celebrations. Cooking wasn't just a hobby — it was her gift, her language of love, her way of bringing people together.

The more she cooked, the more she realized: this was the work she was meant to do. Not spreadsheets. Not conference rooms. Hospitality.

So she made the bold decision to walk away from her corporate career and follow her passion. She enrolled in culinary school, studied the craft of professional cooking, and set out to build something of her own.

Chef Lisa Brooks in her Heart and Soul chef coat

Building the Business

Heart & Soul Personal Chef Service

With culinary training, a vision, and an unshakable work ethic, Lisa launched Heart & Soul Personal Chef Service — and built it into a multiple six-figure business.

She assembled a team of talented women chefs. She developed systems for pricing, client management, and service delivery. She created a model that was not only profitable but also sustainable and fulfilling.

Along the way, she earned features in Forbes, Ebony, Southern Living, appeared on the Tamron Hall Show, and competed as a finalist on Food Network's Chopped.

But as her reputation grew, Lisa started hearing the same question over and over again: "How did you do it?"

The Turning Point

Recognizing a Bigger Need

As Lisa connected with other personal chefs, she saw a pattern. Talented, passionate cooks who had the skills to create incredible food — but no idea how to build a business around it.

They struggled with pricing. They didn't have mentors. They felt isolated. They were undercharging, overworking, and burning out.

Lisa knew she could help — because she had already solved these problems for herself.

So she decided to build the solution.

Where She Is Today

Creating Platforms for Change

Lisa created Personal Chef Academy — a suite of training programs and coaching designed to help chefs turn their passion for cooking into sustainable, profitable businesses.

She also founded The Chefenista Collective — a professional community for women chefs to collaborate, learn, and grow together.

Through these platforms, Lisa has helped hundreds of women chefs build businesses, raise their prices, find community, and step into leadership in the culinary world.

Core Values

What I Believe About the Personal Chef Industry

Talented cooks deserve profitable businesses — not just a passion and a prayer.

Hospitality is a powerful form of service, and the people who provide it deserve to be well-compensated and well-supported.

Women chefs should lead the industry — and they need the tools, training, and community to do it.

Collaboration is stronger than competition. When we build together, we all rise.

Ready to Build Your Culinary Business?

Whether you're looking for community, coaching, or practical tools — there's a place for you.

Join the Chefenista Collective Explore PCA Offerings