Cover Maryellis Bunn
Maryellis Bunn
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The founder and CEO of the famous dessert-themed attraction is en route to becoming the greatest experience creator in the globe—here’s how she does it
At the age of 31, Maryellis Bunn has already got us wrapped around her finger. If her name sounds familiar, you might have heard of her brand, Museum of Ice Cream, which has quickly taken over social media since its first pop-up in Manhattan, New York, in 2016.
Known as the millennial Walt Disney, Bunn and her partner Manish Vora, came up with the concept under the premise that “ice cream is a universal symbol of joy, a personal pleasure and a transportive vehicle for anyone’s imagination”.
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Its first pop-up was a definite success, considering how tickets were sold out before it even opened, and thousands of people were seen waiting overnight to be first to enter. The launch saw the museum’s quick expansion to five other locations, with its latest openings being in Singapore in 2021, and Shanghai in 2022.
That said, starting a brand-new concept is no easy feat. Beyond stunning art displays and ice cream bars, Bunn has had her fair share of obstacles.
Looking back, the co-founder shared that one of the many obstacles she had faced was during the pandemic. “When many companies were pivoting to a digital strategy, I failed to create a vision and get the team behind a new endeavour, and what I learnt from that is that we need to be continually malleable and able to pivot as individuals, and as a brand,” she explains. Yet, she never lets her shortcomings stop her. In fact, she takes each obstacle as “an opportunity to learn and grow”.
Below, the entrepreneur shares with us more about how she manages to keep herself motivated, her greatest accomplishments and how she chases her dreams.
What is a typical morning like for you?
Maryellis Bunn (MB): I wake up between 5 and 6 am. I go for a morning workout and then I start most of my meetings from 8 to 9 am.
What do you usually have for breakfast?
MB: My breakfast consists of two options, either a smoothie or eggs with a side of avocado and some sort of vegetables. I have a massive sweet tooth so I normally tend to have a smoothie.
What time do you usually have lunch, and what do you usually have for lunch?
MB: On weekdays I eat lunch while I work and am normally up eating early. I’m a purist so when it comes to my eating style, I like to eat one food group at a time. Often for lunch, I’ll have something like a sweet potato, and then an avocado. I also really love dips like hummus and muhammara.
Free time, overrated, or underrated? And why?
MB: Totally underrated. I believe you learn most about people by what they do in their spare time. Specifically now, in the onset of so much technology and social media, we have an opportunity to really cease our own lives as we emphasise and take advantage of the time we have for ourselves.
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
MB: My first job was at six. I was selling painted rocks on the street. I learned from an early age I was destined to be an entrepreneur and learned that if things were designed well, they are far easier to sell, and like anything else, building an experience around the product makes for a far more enjoyable transaction.
How do you chase your dreams?
MB: The difference between a dream and a goal is that a goal has a deadline, and a goal has clear steps. For me, it’s taking my dreams and making them tangible, so putting them into small and short-term goals.
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Risks. How should you take them and why or why not?
MB: I believe we should take risks every day. We are far more capable humans than we think we are. I always ask myself, "What did you do today that surprised you?" Oftentimes, surprises are accompanied by taking risks.
How do you unplug?
MB: I turn my phone off. I’m just kidding! This last year I got into mountaineering and found that being in nature for extended periods of time, out of reception, is the best way to gather my thoughts and allows me to have a lot of quality time to myself to think strategically. Some of my many mentors and people that I admire do thinking trips, and I find myself doing the same when I’m up on the mountains. It allows me to give myself time and space with no specific agenda but to be with my own thoughts and I find those to be extremely productive.
How do you manage stress?
MB: I wish I had the great answer to that, but I am susceptible to high levels of stress. I can work under zero pressure, and I can accelerate also during high pressure times. As many of us are living in a society riddled with anxiety and trying to be preventative in how I structure my day, making sure that I have enough rest and being easy on myself when those moments of stress and anxiety do trickle in, and understand that it is temporary and that I am the only one that has the power to make those changes.
How do you stay motivated?
MB: I am my own biggest critic. Every day, I realise that there’s something better that I could’ve done. So, each day I wake up and try to exceed the expectations that I have set the day prior. As the world evolves, I promised myself that I would always remain curious—I believe that my curiousity is greatly attached to my motivation. As long as I’m curious, I’ll continue to be motivated to create a better world for myself, and others.
How do you prioritize tasks?
MB: I believe that focusing on the few pieces that have the most impact, and being able to, with great discernment, say no will have domino effects in the future. I try to focus on the big picture and eliminate small tasks. I am always looking for the biggest fish to fry.
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Do you have moments of doubt, and how do you overcome them?
MB: Of course I doubt myself, and the only way for me to overcome my doubts is to try. Often, getting over that single hurdle of trying is enough. Unlocking fears is also something that I’m constantly, constantly working on.
What would you consider your greatest accomplishment today?
MB: Today when we were walking through the museum, this little girl ran to me and gave me a hug and was telling me how much fun she was having and I think that it’s not the macro, but it’s the micro-moments in life that continue to bring the most joy. I think these small joys are all connected to my accomplishments and being able to create memories for individuals, particularly the millions of strangers that have walked through our doors, very special.
Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
