Autumn Ly writes her own recipe for success in pharmacy and entrepreneurship

By Joan Tupponce

Autumn Ly believes setting goals creates opportunities. That mindset helps explain what makes her both a standout pharmaceutical student and a veteran professional baker.

“Although some opportunities may be presented to an individual, the vast majority of them are created through recognition of niches and having the desire to explore them,” said Ly, a Virginia Commonwealth University Honors College sophomore majoring in pharmaceutical sciences in the School of Pharmacy.

Ly’s natural tendency to be goal driven surfaced when she was just 4 years old, baking with her mom, and it led six years later to the opening of Autumn Kakes, her custom baking business that she still operates today.

As a baker, Ly has always been interested in the scientific aspects of her craft, particularly drawn to the precision and order it requires. Her aptitude for science began to take her in a new direction – and hint at a future career interest – at the age of 13 when she participated in her middle school science fair.

Her project focused on exploring various child-proof medication cap styles to see which was the most effective. After working with a test group of 20 children, ages five to 10, she learned children could open the most common types of child-proof lids within six to 10 seconds of receiving the bottle. As a result, Ly proposed a solution to combine some of the lid designs to increase the difficulty in opening the bottles and prevent children from overdosing.

At VCU, Ly has impressed from the outset. Barbara Exum, Pharm.D., an associate professor of pharmaceutics, saw Ly as a “trailblazer in every sense of the word” when she met her as a freshman.

“She stands out from the crowd because she applies a high level of excellence to every endeavor she touches, whether it is her rigorous scientific studies or her entrepreneurial ventures,” Exum said.

Ly completed the Pharmacy Technician Training Program last summer when she fulfilled her experiential training requirement in VCU Health’s inpatient pharmacy, where she now works part-time. The experience solidified her desire to become a pharmacist, preferably with a pediatric focus.

“I want to become the best pharmacist I can be,” Ly said.

Ly’s dynamic personality coupled with her dedication to the task at hand compels her to succeed. Exum said her drive is “extraordinary.”

“She’s absolutely relentless in her commitment to achieving her goals and moving forward within the program. It was clear from the start she possessed a level of focus that is rare in early-career students,” said Exum, director of the VCU Center for Compounding Practice and Research.

Logan Neel, Ph.D., met Ly during her Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Product Development class and found her to be very focused.

“She knows exactly what she wants and goes after it,” said Neel, assistant professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry in the School of Pharmacy.

Ly, who is minoring in chemistry, general business and pre-pharmacy, continues to juggle her academic pursuits with her entrepreneurial ones. Autumn Kakes aims to help its clients celebrate any occasion, no matter how big or small.

“Life is hard, so why not celebrate all the wins with dessert,” Ly said.

Currently, she does most of her baking in Northern Virginia but hopes to bring her business to Richmond this year.

“My favorite part of the process is adding the decorations. It’s like you are bringing a story, an idea to life,” she said, adding her most unique request was for a wedding cake made of brownies that had minimal frosting and included fresh flowers.

One of her specialties is French macarons, made from a very exacting process that she has finally mastered.

“It took me two years to learn to make them properly,” she said.

As a student and a business owner, Ly has shown herself to be committed and capable. In Exum’s view, Ly’s ability to balance the technical demands of pharmaceutical sciences “with the interpersonal skills of a leader makes her a distinct asset to the profession of pharmacy.”

“She does not simply participate in the curriculum; she commands it, often serving as a guiding force for her peers in the classroom,” Exum said. “Her character is defined by a blend of academic rigor and a genuine, human touch — qualities that are essential for success in the health care field.”