Chit Chat with Aunty Mary
Real stories, real feels, and raw reflections from someone who’s been there. Come chit chat with Aunty Mary—you’re not late, you’re right on time
Chit Chat with Aunty Mary
Episode 5 - How Closing My Coffee Shop Taught Me About Purpose with Denise Lum
From corporate lawyer to café founder, Denise’s journey isn’t your typical career pivot. In this conversation, we explore the deeper reasons behind her choices: why she walked away from a stable job, how she built a restaurant business from scratch, and what it really means to lead with purpose.
We talk about:
• Redefining success beyond scale and validation
• Learning through experimentation instead of a business plan
• Holding emotional boundaries while leading with heart
• Navigating uncertainty, failure, and identity loss
• Choosing values, flow, and people over profit
Denise’s story is a powerful reminder that building something meaningful doesn’t always mean making it bigger. Sometimes, it just means making it your own.