The first time I went viral, I wasn’t trying to be a content creator. My name is Chann, and today, I am a content creator with over 400K followers across platforms. I share my life with my husband, Monny, who is a private chef, along with my MBA journey and luxury lifestyle content. I also work in a role managing social media strategy and content that promotes emerging technologies and engages the Google developer community.

The Start of Our New Business

A few years ago, I became an influencer completely by accident. I was just in our kitchen, cutting a cucumber badly, imitating a celebrity who was going viral at the time for doing the same. Random, right? The video was meant to be a quick, lighthearted joke, but what captured everyone’s attention wasn’t my knife skills, it was Monny cooking in the background. Five million views later, I had no idea that silly moment would spark a world of opportunity, and I definitely didn’t expect it would inspire me to pursue my MBA at Duke.

That one video unlocked something we hadn’t anticipated: a real curiosity from viewers who weren’t just laughing at a trending moment but genuinely wanted to know more about the food on our stove, the person making it, and the story behind our kitchen. From there, everything changed.

Thousands of people go viral every day, but with the rise of TikTok and the fleeting nature of viral fame, I knew I didn’t want to be a one-hit wonder. I picked up my camera and never put it down. I started documenting our nightly dinners, with Monny crafting vibrant, multi-course meals from scratch, and me sharing our relationship and the joy of dining together. I posted three videos a day for a year after that moment and started seeing steady, organic growth month over month.

It wasn’t just our audience that was growing. National brands like Walmart and Spotify started reaching out to collaborate, helping to solidify our brand and build audience trust. In this business, once you land partnerships with notable brands, you become more desirable to others. But more importantly, we were building something bigger, a brand rooted in storytelling, culture, and culinary creativity.

Seeing Our Hard Work Pay Off

As our audience grew, so did the opportunities. I was working a 5-to-9 after my 9-to-5 every day, staying consistent on social media because I knew that consistency is how you get known on the internet. That hard work has paid off. Our digital presence opened doors for brand collaborations with companies like Walmart, Adobe, and Amazon. We even had the opportunity to serve as Creator Fellows for Kamala Harris’ campaign, joining her on several stops around the country.

Through sponsored content and campaign partnerships, we have been able to scale our production, expand our reach, and reinvest in our growing hospitality business. Now, as an MBA candidate at Duke, I have been fortunate to bring those experiences into the classroom, turning viral moments and creative instincts into real-world lessons on strategic planning, revenue modeling, and sustainable growth.

Taking a New Leap

Monny has since transitioned into private chef work, curating luxury dining experiences for families and small groups. As demand grew, we decided to take a leap of faith, renting a venue to host our first in-person event. We prayed people would show up, and it sold out. Since then, we have hosted monthly dinners in partnership with local venues, creating themed events like Friendsgiving, Valentine’s Day date nights, and a culinary experience hosted inside an art gallery.

After testing the Charlotte market and receiving incredible feedback, especially at the Duke Startup Showcase, hosted by Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship, we knew it was time to take the next step: getting our own space. We secured a multifunctional venue at Camp North End, one of the most vibrant communities in Charlotte. After celebrating the grand opening in June 2025, the space will be a hub for community events, intimate dinners, cooking classes, and creative gatherings. Our vision is to create a welcoming third space centered around food, art, music, and connection.

When I joined Fuqua, I knew I wanted to grow the business Monny and I unintentionally launched with that first video. Now, we have a much bigger mission in mind. And this is just the beginning.