35-year-old Lan Ho, founder and CEO of Fat Miilk, was once a pharmacist at Walgreens. Before leaving, she earned a stable $120,000 USD annually.
Born in Oakland, California, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Ho grew up in a Vietnamese immigrant family. Her parents encouraged her to pursue pharmacy for stability.
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Lan Ho at Fat Miilk in Chicago. Photo: Lan Ho |
Lan Ho at Fat Miilk in Chicago. Photo: Lan Ho
"My father thought it was the best job for his daughter. I respected him a lot, so I wanted to make him proud," Ho said.
After graduating from Lindenwood University, Ho earned a master's degree in finance from Harvard University and a doctorate in pharmacy from St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Despite the investment, Ho found little joy in her pharmacy career.
"What am I doing behind the counter at Walgreens? I feel hidden from the world," Ho recalled thinking when she decided to change careers.
"I think it was the culmination of waking up every day feeling extremely bored and unfulfilled. It was like a calling in my heart that I couldn't continue being a pharmacist anymore," Ho shared.
During her studies, she explored various business ventures, including blogging and a fashion company, but none truly succeeded. Eventually, she realized her consistent love for coffee throughout her student years.
"I love the creativity and limitless possibilities of coffee," Ho stated.
She began experimenting with coffee in 2018 during her first year as a pharmacist. A year later, she founded Fat Miilk.
During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, a two-month unpaid leave gave Ho the opportunity to focus on Fat Miilk. "In those two months, I launched Fat Miilk, and when Walgreens asked me to come back, I declined," she said.
Leaving Walgreens, she took a remote, part-time job at a healthcare company for flexibility. Ho built Fat Miilk using savings, family loans, and credit cards.
Fat Miilk imports Robusta coffee beans from farmers in Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam. Vietnam is the world's largest Robusta producer, known for its high caffeine content and bold flavor.
The company primarily sells coffee beans online, along with accessories like phin filters and coffee cups, promoting the origin and Vietnamese coffee culture.
March 2022 marked a turning point. A casting director from Gordon Ramsay's "Next Level Chef" contacted Ho.
Weeks later, she flew from Illinois to Los Angeles to film the show. Reaching the finals, she pitched Fat Miilk to Gordon Ramsay on television.
"I made it to the very end. I pitched to Gordon Ramsay, and I knew it would get national attention... That’s when I really started to build the company," Ho explained.
The show boosted her credibility and confidence, transitioning Fat Miilk from online sales to a physical store.
In February 2024, she opened the first Fat Miilk cafe in Chicago, selling pre-packaged products and brewed coffee. A second location in Naperville, Illinois, is planned for 2026, with a third, out-of-state location in development.
According to documents reviewed by CNBC, Fat Miilk now generates over $500,000 USD in annual revenue.
For Ho, one of the biggest lessons has been asserting herself and prioritizing self-care.
"That’s what allowed me to forge a new path for my story, to get me to where I am today," Ho reflected. "If I just listened to other people, I’d probably still be waiting."
Hong Hanh (According to CNBC)
