Finding Strength in Dyslexia: My Journey as an Entrepreneur

My first day at Hewlett Packard February 1990.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and every year, I pause to reflect on the role dyslexia has played in shaping who I am—not only as a person, but as a founder, leader, and storyteller.

It wasn’t until college, after struggling and failing the same math class more than once, that I was finally tested at San Jose State University and diagnosed with dyslexia. By then, I had already learned to work harder than most of my peers just to keep up. Math assignments took longer and exams were stressful. But when I finally had a name for what I was experiencing, I realized something important: my brain wasn’t broken—it was simply wired differently.

That different wiring has been a gift. Dyslexia has taught me to see the world in unique ways, to approach problems creatively, and to find solutions outside the box. It’s also given me grit, perseverance, and empathy—qualities that have fueled my journey in both high tech and entrepreneurship.

When I accidentally created the heart-shaped brownie recipe, it was the result of a “mistake.” As a thank you to someone who helped me land a job at Hewlett Packard, I baked a classmate some brownies and he liked them so much that it sparked an idea. I named the company after my childhood doll “Luv,” and the Luv’s Brownies logo comes from my handwriting when I was just three years old—back when I didn’t yet know how to spell “love.” Like many people with dyslexia, I learned early on that mistakes aren’t failures—they’re opportunities.

That mindset helped me build Luv’s Brownies®, a digital-first bakery that’s been serving the Bay Area since 1996. What began with a simple recipe has grown into a Cuban Café, dessert truck, and brand that’s partnered with Bay FC, the San Jose Earthquakes, the 49ers, and beyond.

My journey also inspired me to establish the Andrea R. Lacy Scholarship Foundation, which provides financial support to students so they can pursue higher education despite the obstacles they may face. I know firsthand how isolating and discouraging it can feel to struggle in school without the right resources or understanding. That’s why this scholarship matters so much—it’s not just about funding education, but about showing students that their challenges don’t define them, and that with support, they can turn those challenges into strengths.

To this day, I still navigate the challenges of dyslexia. But I no longer see it as a limitation. Instead, I see it as a source of strength—a reminder that resilience and creativity often come from the very things that make us different.

As we honor Dyslexia Awareness Month, I encourage anyone struggling with their own learning differences to remember: your challenges can become your superpowers. The world needs the way you see things.

Here’s to embracing differences, turning setbacks into opportunities, and finding strength in what makes us unique.

Andrea Lacy
Founder, Luv’s Brownies®

A Christmas gift from my parents, this doll became my childhood companion. I named her Luv, and years later she inspired the name Luv’s Brownies®. Even the logo comes from my handwriting as a little girl, when I spelled ‘love’ as ‘luv”.