Gen Z Speaks: At 23, I'm running my family's cake business with my husband. We're learning to find the sweet spot between love and work
Our journey has been one of honouring tradition while boldly introducing new ideas, all while navigating the challenges of running a business as a young married couple.We were complete opposites. Kai Yang is a charismatic extrovert who used to party every week. I’m an introvert who’s always preferred to stay home.
The six-month programme allowed him to meet and network with a lot of business veterans and experts. Upon returning to Singapore, he had many opportunities to work in big, established companies. However, when Kai Yang and I took over, we immediately saw that the brand needed a stronger voice to thrive in the rapidly evolving market. So we decided that he would go back to his forte: Connecting with people.
We also resolved to set time aside every week to have date nights where shop talk is off the table — but we admit that we do still struggle with it sometimes .The author and her husband use their different skill sets to divide and conquer: She ensures that every cake that leaves our kitchen is a work of art, while he handles everything outside the kitchen.
As my parents begin to transition out of the business, they are elated by our progress and that I’ve found my footing in taking over what they started.