Sheila Livingston has spent her life building. Building her skills, her career, her family, and now, her own business.
Raised by her grandmother in Jamaica, Sheila stepped into responsibility early. When her grandmother suffered a stroke during Sheila’s teenage years, she left school to help care for her. Despite this unexpected obstacle, Sheila refused to let go of her future.
She worked odd jobs, attended evening classes, and kept moving forward with a simple mantra:
“I have to make it.”
A Determined Path
That determination led Sheila to the University of Technology, where she graduated in 1996. Soon after, she made history as Jamaica’s first certified female executive chef.
Her career would go on to mentor and inspire budding chefs at the Culinary Institute of America and the University of Technology, while shaping kitchens across premier Caribbean hotels.
But alongside her professional accomplishments, Sheila was quietly perfecting something of her own:
a bold, beautifully blended sauce crafted to taste naturally full of flavor. Something that stood out from all the other sauces on the market.
A Recipe Years in the Making
When Sheila moved to Bluffton to help raise and homeschool her granddaughter, her fast-paced culinary career slowed.
Her sauce, however, remained a constant companion.
One day she shared it with the Bluffton Fire Department while delivering burgers to the crew. The reaction was immediate with a resounding, “You have to bottle this.“
Encouragement from family and friends continued to echo the same sentiment, prompting Sheila to take the next step.
She presented her sauce before a professional review board in West Palm Beach, where it underwent rigorous safety and shelf-stability testing.
“They told me I had four chances,” Sheila recalls. “I told them I only needed one.”
The sauce didn’t just pass the test, it stood out. One judge called it the best he had ever tasted.
Building a Business
As Sheila began building her business, she faced a major life transition that disrupted her household finances. Determined to keep moving forward, she connected with a Self Help Client Advocate and shared the challenge of balancing everyday expenses while investing in her dream.
Through that conversation, Sheila was introduced to The Market, a resource she hadn’t realized was available. Shopping there helped reduce her grocery expenses and created the financial breathing room she needed to stay focused on her business.
Sheila also enrolled in the Getting Ahead program, gaining tools, structure, and encouragement to move forward with clarity and confidence.
“Getting Ahead teaches what you can do to lift yourself and others,” she says. “…how you can use your mind to pull yourself out of whatever you are going through.”
A Milestone Moment
Working alongside her Client Advocate, Sydney, Sheila strengthened her website and prepared her product for growth.
Then came a milestone moment.
Her sauce, once shared only in small batches, earned a place on the shelves at Publix Buckwalter, displayed on an endcap for the community to discover.
Today, Sheila can also often be found at the Bluffton Farmers Market, sharing samples and stories with neighbors eager to taste her creation.
A Hidden Gem
Throughout her journey, Sheila has been deeply impressed by Bluffton Self Help.
She calls the organization a “hidden gem,” praising the guidance, encouragement, and compassion she received. Inspired by her experience, Sheila has become a passionate ambassador, sharing with friends, family, and co-workers the resources and opportunities available to neighbors who are ready to move forward.
The Story Continues
From a determined student attending night classes in Jamaica, to a pioneering executive chef, to a Bluffton entrepreneur building her own brand, Sheila’s journey shows what can happen when dreams meet skill, persistence, and the right support.
Today, Sheila’s mantra has evolved from “I have to make it” to “I am making it….one step at a time.”
And while her sauce has already found its way onto local shelves, Sheila knows the journey is far from over.
She’s still building.
Still dreaming.
And still working to bring the bold flavors of Jamaica to tables far beyond Bluffton.
