Audrey Kelly on pizza, parenthood & perseverance
Audrey Kelly wears a lot of hats. She's the founder of Audrey Jane’s Pizza Garage in Boulder, a member of the U.S. Pizza Team, and a mother of twins. On this episode of the How You Slice podcast, recorded live from the Pizza Expo, she shares what it’s really like balancing passion and parenthood inside the high-pressure world of pizza.
When COVID hit, Audrey’s shop thrived. With a fast-casual model already focused on delivery and takeout, her business was primed for success. “It was our busiest time ever,” she says. But as demand soared, her personal life changed too, she gave birth to twins. Her original plan to take a short maternity break turned into a complete rethinking of her role in the shop.
Audrey credits her ability to pivot to a solid core team and her business partner, her brother. They split responsibilities between front-of-house creativity and back-end operations, which helps them avoid the common pitfalls of family-run businesses.
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry hasn't been easy, but she’s a vocal advocate for change. She talks about the power of visibility, the impact of bringing her team to Pizza Expo, and the inspiration that comes from connecting with other pizza pros.
She also keeps it real about guilt. Guilt about not being at the shop. Guilt about being away from her kids. But she’s learning that stepping back sometimes is necessary, and that growth doesn’t always mean expansion. “If the kids get sick, who's going to handle it? Maybe we're just not ready to scale yet,” she says.
Audrey also shares a simple but powerful strategy to avoid negative reviews: a follow-up email after every online order, giving customers a direct way to share feedback. It’s made a huge difference in resolving issues before they hit Google or Yelp.
Her story is a blueprint for anyone juggling a dream and a family. From competition floors to the dinner rush, Audrey Kelly is proof that you can chase excellence without losing yourself in the process.
