Founderology Forum

Bun Mee: From One Bite to Best in the World

Denise Tran’s journey from attorney to award-winning restaurateur is a masterclass in vision and resilience. On Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, she shares how a single bite of a Vietnamese sandwich inspired her to create Bun Mee—without any restaurant experience.

April 1, 2025

Every once in a while, you meet a Founder who reminds you why you started in the first place. The passion. The purpose. The powerful vision that you just can't let go of no matter what.

That's exactly what happened when I sat down with Denise Tran, founder of Bun Mee, on this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough. And I'm telling you right now — this is another conversation you want to take notes as you listen.

Denise's story is what I call a "power of one" moment — one decision, one trip, one bite of a Vietnamese sandwich that changed everything. She went from being an attorney (yes, a legit practicing probate attorney) to creating an award-winning Vietnamese fast-casual brand — all without a single day of restaurant experience.

Sounds impossible? Not to Denise.

What she did have was a clear vision, fierce passion, and a fearless mindset — and in this episode, she walks us through exactly how she trusted her instincts and built something extraordinary from the ground up.

Here's a taste of what you'll hear:

• Why Denise walked away from a successful law career to pursue her vision of being the "Shake Shack" of Vietnamese sandwiches.
• The "day one" moment when she knewBun Mee was going to work.
• How she strategically grew into one of the top airport restaurants in the world (thank you to Bloomberg for the recognition!)
• Her secret to scaling without selling out.
• And yes — the one thing every Founder should stop waiting for: __________.

Denise's journey is about heart, hustle, and holding the line when the world says, "that'll never work." And let me tell you — Denise's wisdom is gold. She shares how Founders can leverage their intuition, the power of clarity in leadership, and why saying noto the wrong opportunities is just as important as saying yesto the right ones.

If you're a Founder who's in growth mode, at a crossroads, or just looking for a serious dose of inspiration — this is your episode.

At the end of the day Denise show, it's not about being the most experienced person in the room — it's about being the most committed to your vision.

Treat yourself and grab your earbuds, hit play on Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, and let this be your reminder: you've got what it takes. And just maybe, like Denise, your big breakthrough is already on the way.

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