Today marks the official launch of From The Frying Pan, but the truth is, this blog has been simmering for years. It has lived as an idea, much like many of my past projects—the team-building workshops I once envisioned, the social network for artists that never launched, and even Food for T.W.A.T.s, the cookbook recipes I wrote that took over a decade to see the light. Some ideas take time to mature, and, ready or not, this one’s moment is today.
The Origin: A Chef Turned Business Leader
My journey to this point has been anything but conventional. I started in the corporate world, transitioned into the high-pressure environment of Michelin-starred kitchens, and then found my way back to business, running my own companies and mentoring teams. Along the way, I realized that some of the most valuable lessons I had learned didn’t come from textbooks, boardrooms or business schools, but from the heat and discipline of the kitchen.
In a professional kitchen, failure is immediate and unforgiving. If your mise en place isn’t perfect, your service will suffer. If you don’t communicate clearly, chaos ensues. If you can’t adapt to the pressure, you won’t last. These are the same principles that apply in business, whether leading a team, launching a product, or navigating a crisis.
When I first returned to corporate life, I thought about creating team-building workshops where executives could step into a professional kitchen and experience first-hand the intense lessons of leadership, communication, and resilience that chefs absorb daily. Though that idea never materialized, the core of it—translating kitchen wisdom into business strategy—stayed with me.
The Spark Behind the Name
The idea for doing this through a blog, along with the name for it, came to me during a weekend break, here in Vietnam. I was reflecting on a business challenge we were facing at Shutta, when the phrase “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” popped into my head.
It perfectly captured not just the struggle of navigating business challenges, but also the transitions in my own career. In a flash, From The Frying Pan – Lessons from the Kitchen to Build Resilience in Business was born. I bought the domain that day, but it took another four or five years before I finally acted on it.
Stories as a Way of Making Sense of the World
I’ve always been a storyteller. Whether mentoring team members, explaining business concepts to colleagues, or chatting with friends, I naturally use analogies, drawn from experiences both in and outside the kitchen, to make sense of complex ideas. One mentee, after a year of weekly discussions, once told me, “You always have a story or a parallel for every situation.”
I have been told several times since then that I should share my experiences, my insights, and the lessons I’ve gathered from my curious family background and global upbringing, my (professional) pivots, and the adventures along the way. After hearing it enough times, I guess I started to believe it.
This blog is my way of putting those stories out into the world—not as lectures, but as reflections. They are insights into how I perceive the world, the kind of leader I aspire to be, and how I believe we can all play a small role in making things better, one step at a time.
The Balance Between Solitude to Connection
Despite being an introvert who thrives on solitary hobbies—reading, writing, painting, gardening, and even cooking (which I prefer to do behind the scenes rather than as a social activity)—I am also fortunate enough to count a very diverse network of people as my friends, in many places around the world. From The Frying Pan is my way of bridging the gap between my introverted and extroverted sides, but also the physical distance that exists between me and many of my loved ones.
Launching this platform is a personal milestone for me. I am stepping into the light, sharing my hard-won vantage point, and, hopefully, inspiring you to take bold steps in your own journey. A way of sharing my perspective while inviting others into the conversation.
An Open Invitation: Join the Conversation
Whether you’re here for practical business insights, leadership reflections, or simply to enjoy the stories, I hope you find something valuable within these pages. But, I would love for this blog to not be just about my voice. I want it to be a space where others can contribute their own stories and insights. I want it to be a community of shared experiences and insights. If my words resonate with you, or if you have your own stories to tell, I would love to welcome you to write a guest post, share an experience, engage in a discussion, or simply just reach out. Because at the end of the day, the best meals—and the best ideas—are the ones we share together around the table.
So here it is, finally served. I hope you enjoy it, engage with it, and maybe even see a bit of your own journey reflected in these stories. Welcome to From The Frying Pan.