Meet Shironda White MBA’18, Founder, CEO, and Original Baker of Cupcake Therapy

In 2022, entrepreneur Shironda White, MBA ’18, reached a major turning point. Her fintech startup, CauseEDU, which had struggled in the early days of COVID-19, was beginning to regain momentum. But Shironda had her sights set on something else. What started as a simple hobby—baking cupcakes for friends during the pandemic—quickly grew into something much bigger. Word spread, demand skyrocketed, and soon, Cupcake Therapy was born. Today, her Boston-based cupcakery is thriving, known for its enormous menu of high-quality, allergen-free treats that cater to a wide range of dietary needs.

Shironda’s entrepreneurial journey is anything but conventional. Before stepping into the baking world, she was the Founder and CEO of CauseEDU, a fintech company focused on higher education finance. She also has a degree from Spelman College and an MBA from Boston University, Questrom School of Business, where she honed the financial and marketing skills that helped turn Cupcake Therapy into a booming business.

Through all the ups and downs, Shironda’s resilience has been key. After losing her father, she called her mother and said, “I need a co-founder.” Her mom, Shirley White, a professor at the time, moved to Boston to help run the business and be closer to family. Now retired, she jokes about “re-retiring” once Cupcake Therapy’s next chapter begins.

That next chapter includes exciting collaborations, like working with a Questrom Online MBA alum, Nancy (Jemima) Daniel, founder of Madhrasi Chai, despite admitting, “I don’t like chai, but I like hers.” Shironda is also looking to bring another Questrom Part-Time MBA alum into the fold. With plans to expand her team, hire six new employees, and invest in a delivery van, she’s preparing for even bigger things ahead.

Shironda credits Questrom and Innovate@BU for providing the foundation that helped her pivot and grow. “Just because a business fails doesn’t mean you stop being an entrepreneur,” she says. That mindset turned a personal setback into a thriving, mission-driven business.

And there’s more in store—stay tuned for an upcoming article about Cupcake Therapy’s biggest news yet!

Shironda White is also on Questrom’s Women in Business Alumni Council.

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