How Miami Track Star Turned a Hobby Into a Thriving Baking Business on Social Media

Who Are You and What Sport Did You Play?

Mallory Harr, a former hurdles athlete at Miami University (Ohio), didn’t have a typical path to success in her sport.

“Growing up, I never felt like I was naturally ‘great’ at anything the way my brothers were,” she recalls. While her brothers excelled as “amazing soccer players,” Mallory spent years trying to find her niche.

“I bounced from sport to sport, trying everything—soccer, lacrosse, softball, gymnastics, cheerleading—you name it, I gave it a shot.”

It wasn’t until 8th grade that she discovered hurdling, the sport that would ultimately define her athletic career. Though she wasn’t an instant standout, her gymnastics background gave her an edge.

She quickly realized that hard work and dedication could transform her potential into skill. “I trained year-round with my coach, running track from spring school season to summer and indoor track. I was constantly running in circles—literally,” she said.

By her junior year, Mallory started attracting attention from smaller Division II schools, but none felt like the right fit. “At that point, I thought maybe college track wasn’t in the cards. Then senior year hit, and I got even faster,” she explained. Her perseverance paid off when she earned a small scholarship to Miami University, her mother’s alma mater.

College, however, brought new challenges. “It took a lot of hard work, and I felt like I had to constantly prove myself. I didn’t have the same build as my teammates—I was smaller and curvier, which isn’t exactly ideal for hurdling,” Mallory said. Determined to succeed, she set a goal: work hard each year to increase her scholarship.

Coming from a family of five kids, scholarships were essential. “I wanted to show I was an asset to the team and help my family financially.”

Her relentless effort paid off. Mallory increased her scholarship nearly every year—except during the COVID-19 pandemic—and achieved notable milestones. “I placed in our conference for the 400m hurdles, became a key member of our 4x400m relay, and took on a leadership role for my team. I proved my worth, not just to the team, but to myself.”

From Athlete to Entrepreneur, Explore Your Post-Athletic Journey

When Mallory Harr graduated from Miami University with a degree in Supply Chain Management and Marketing, she had little idea where life would take her. Her first step was a role as a merchandise planner at Abercrombie & Fitch.

“Sounds cool, right? Well, not so much,” Mallory admitted. The job, which revolved around spreadsheets and crunching numbers, wasn’t the right fit for her. A brief internship at the company, cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, hadn’t given her the full picture of the role. “I quickly realized this wasn’t where my heart - or my strengths - were.”

Searching for a creative outlet, she turned to something she had enjoyed during her track and field days: posting recipes on TikTok. What started as a fun pandemic pastime to share her love of food unexpectedly grew into a following of 45,000. But with her final season as a college athlete and her degree to complete, Mallory put content creation on hold.

After graduation, Mallory found herself back in the kitchen, cooking for friends. She decided to give content creation another try - this time on Instagram. The turning point came with her first brand deal.

“I’ll never forget the moment I landed my first deal: $300. It felt like I had hit the jackpot,” she said. This milestone sparked her entrepreneurial journey.

As Mallory continued posting and experimenting, her confidence and opportunities grew. She began negotiating larger deals and even secured an agent to help manage partnerships. “At the beginning, I was just so excited to make any money doing something I genuinely enjoyed,” she said. “But as the numbers climbed, I was in complete and utter awe. I mean, me? Making this kind of money by baking cookies and filming videos? Unreal.”

The day she surpassed her corporate salary was a pivotal moment. “I sat there staring at my income spreadsheet, half expecting someone to jump out and yell, ‘Just kidding!’” Quitting her job came with its own challenges - leaving behind stability, benefits, and the safety net of a team.

Mallory recalled the fear of hitting “send” on her resignation email, her hands shaking. But deep down, she believed in herself. “I knew I was chasing something I was truly passionate about, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was my shot.”

Six months later, Mallory is thriving. She’s doubled her corporate salary and, more importantly, found a career that fulfills her. “Looking back, my time as a college athlete taught me the discipline, grit, and time management skills I desperately needed to navigate this journey,” she reflected.

While the road hasn’t always been easy, Mallory is proud of the life she’s building at 25 - one centered around food, creativity, and sharing joy with others. “Honestly, that feels pretty amazing.”

Growing Your Business

What started as a small passion project for Mallory Harr has transformed into a thriving full-time career. From her first brand deal to becoming a savvy entrepreneur, Mallory’s approach to content creation and business has evolved significantly.

“In the beginning, I was thrilled with any opportunity that came my way. But over time, I’ve become smarter about the business side of things - learning how to negotiate, manage partnerships, and understand my value in the space,” Mallory shared.

Her editing style has also undergone a transformation. “I’m constantly learning new techniques, experimenting with content, and staying ahead of trends to keep things fresh and engaging for my audience.” The biggest shift, however, came when she left her corporate job to fully commit to her business.

“I went from posting occasionally to now posting six to seven times a week, actively engaging with my community and growing my brand,” she explained.

Through this journey, Mallory has discovered the power of consistency and leveraging what works. She closely analyzes what resonates with her audience and replicates those successes, whether it’s a specific editing technique or a fan-favorite recipe.

Her brown butter banana bread is a perfect example. “It’s become a staple that drives traffic to my site and generates revenue. It’s amazing to think something as simple as banana bread could pay me, but that’s how the digital world works,” Mallory said.

Her time in Abercrombie’s marketing department also played a crucial role in her growth. “As a project manager, I saw every touchpoint of their marketing process, and it equipped me with a business mindset that’s helped me build my brand from the ground up,” she noted.

“That experience shaped my approach to creating strategies that are scalable and sustainable for my business,” Mallory added.

Revenue, Challenges, and Milestones

Mallory Harr’s journey into entrepreneurship didn’t involve massive startup costs or financial risks, a fortunate circumstance she fully acknowledges.

“I’m incredibly fortunate that starting my business didn’t come with significant financial burdens or huge startup costs. Since I work from home, my overhead is minimal, with most of my expenses going toward ingredients and basic equipment,” Mallory shared.

She keeps things simple. “I film everything on my iPhone, using a simple tripod and a light I bought from Amazon. While I did invest in some equipment and props along the way, the costs were manageable.”

Additionally, Mallory keeps her operations lean. “I also don’t have the pressure of managing a large team—it's mostly just me. Well, me plus a couple of key people. I have an agent who handles brand deals, a website developer who created my entire site, and a virtual assistant who manages my SEO and Google search optimization. Outsourcing those technical tasks was essential for me since I’m not super tech-savvy, but they’ve paid for themselves with the revenue my blog generates.”

The pivotal moment in her career came when she decided to leave her corporate job. “The real turning point for my business was when I quit my corporate job,” she explained.

“I had been saving every dollar I made from social media while still working full-time, just to ensure I had a buffer in case things didn’t work out. Having that financial safety net gave me the confidence to take the leap.”

Once she realized the earning potential of her passion, it became clear that it was time to fully commit. “Once I realized I was making more through social media than at my full-time job, I knew it was time to go all in. Why spend 40 hours a week in a job that didn’t fulfill me when I could use that time to grow my business?”

Her efforts quickly paid off. “After quitting, the growth was almost immediate - my first big milestone was making over $20,000 in a single month, and then the next month, I hit $30,000. It’s been such an exciting journey to see everything continue to grow, and I feel so grateful to be able to make a living doing what I love.”

Sports Skills Taken Into Business

Mallory Harr credits her time as a Division I track athlete with shaping the skills that have been vital to her entrepreneurial journey.

“The lessons I learned from my track career have been instrumental in starting my own business. Grit, determination, discipline, and time management are skills I developed as an athlete, and they’ve seamlessly transferred into my entrepreneurial journey,” Mallory explained.

Her resilience on the track serves as a metaphor for her work ethic. “In track, if I hit a hurdle, I had the determination to get back up and try again, which mirrors how I approach my business. If a recipe flops, I don’t let it discourage me - I get back in the kitchen and try again, determined to improve.”

Balancing academics and athletics also prepared her for the demands of being her own boss. “Balancing a double major and competing in Division I track taught me time management, which has been invaluable in structuring my workdays as a business owner. It’s easy to slack off when you’re your own boss, but my discipline keeps me on track.”

However, the entrepreneurial world comes with unique challenges, especially the unpredictability of income. “One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is the uncertainty that comes with this type of work. Unlike a traditional job, where you can count on a steady paycheck, there’s no guarantee when the next brand deal will come through.”

Mallory found a way to address this uncertainty. “To mitigate this uncertainty, I built and monetized my website as an additional income stream. While I can’t control the ups and downs of social media or brand partnerships, having my website gives me a sense of security and allows me to carve out my own path for long-term success.”

What Keeps You Going

Mallory Harr attributes much of her success to keeping her workflow straightforward and effective.

“The tools I use for my business are simple yet effective, relying mainly on my iPhone 14 Pro and MacBook Air,” Mallory shared. Her content creation process is powered by the user-friendly InShot app. “I edit all of my content using the InShot app, which I love for its ease of use and affordability.”

Despite not using high-end software, this setup has been a cornerstone of her success. “This setup allows me to record, edit, and post on multiple platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest,” she said. Additionally, Mallory uses tools like Popular Pays and Aspire to secure brand partnerships and drive traffic to her website.

Another vital aspect of her business is understanding what resonates with her audience. “Tracking performance metrics is crucial to me, as I regularly analyze audience growth, engagement, and monetization across my social media and website to understand what works and make informed decisions.”

Staying organized is a top priority, thanks to a collaborative approach with her boyfriend. “To stay organized and on top of things, I rely on Notion, a tool I use in collaboration with my highly organized boyfriend. It helps us stay productive and maintain structure in both business and personal life.”

Mallory also emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and surrounding herself with a supportive community. “I prioritize learning and improvement by engaging with a circle of creators for mutual support, knowledge sharing, and constant growth. Openness and transparency within this community, along with resources like YouTube videos and crash courses, help me stay updated on how to grow and monetize my social media platforms.”

Advice for Aspiring Athletes-Turned-Entrepreneurs

Mallory Harr offers heartfelt and empowering guidance to those looking to transition from athletics to entrepreneurship.

“My biggest advice is to never doubt yourself. Confidence is key in every situation, and you should always believe that you’re worthy of living the life you desire. If you’ve already reached a high level of success as an athlete, whether in college or professionally, that same drive and determination should carry over into other aspects of your life. Don’t limit yourself to just one area of success. Remember that you’re in the top one percent, and that mindset should apply to everything you do.”

She encourages athletes to aim high and break free from conventional expectations. “It’s important not to put yourself in a box or accept mediocrity because you deserve more than just a basic, mundane life in corporate America.”

At the same time, Mallory is realistic about the challenges of forging a creative career. “Another piece of advice is to understand that pursuing a creative career, like content creation, is not as easy as it seems from the outside. Many people think I’m just posting ‘silly videos’ online, but the truth is, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.”

She candidly shares the demands of her work: “Running my own business often means putting in 50-60 hours a week, constantly engaging with my community, creating content, and managing brand deals. Work-life balance is challenging, especially when you’re passionate about what you do, but it’s important to find moments to turn off and be present, especially when spending quality time with loved ones.”

Looking ahead, Mallory is eager to grow her business and pursue new ventures. “This business model is replicable for anyone, and as I grow my team, I’m excited to continue expanding and even work toward launching a physical product, like my own cookbook, in the near future.”

How Can People Follow Your Journey?

See the links below! In Mallory’s own words: “Please feel free to reach out - I love connecting with fellow athletes.”