Barrister to Barista Series // Denise Lum of Maxi Coffee Bar on opportunities during Covid, joy in entrepreneurship and building your tribe

Happy New Year Everyone! I am so excited to kick off 2022 with a new podcast series called ‘Barrister to Barista’ where we hear stories of featured Singapore lawyers who have ventured out into the coffee scene and pursued a coffee business. Denise Lum is a former corporate lawyer at Shearman & Sterling LLP and is now a proud co-founder of Maxi Coffee Bar here in Singapore. Denise graduated from University College London in 2011 with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and soon after, she passed the New York Bar in 2012. Being a young successful female entrepreneur in the F&B space, she is certainly an inspiration! “Be very sure of your WHY because that is the one thing that will keep you anchored and that you have to come back to regardless of whatever uncertainties and circumstances and whatever it is that life throws at you”. Denise always felt like she wanted to wear a different hat and together with her business partner, Joy, they have created an organic community with tremendous support. Denise shared with us that they had to get creative during these uncertain times and ended up building an online delivery platform that caters both their drinks and full café menu. Despite her significant career change, Denise managed to strike the balance to lead as a boss of her business. What impressed me the most was her sharing that we should hold onto that authenticity while staying humble and wanting to grow and learn! Check out Maxi Coffee Bar on Instagram @maxi.coffeebar and visit their coffee shop at 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787.