Mother, Lawyer, Ice Cream Maker

Is it possible to have your ice-cream and eat it? Wong Peck Lin says yes, and demonstrates just how.

By Lianne Ong

Wong Peck Lin spent the first years of her career as a lawyer, then as a management consultant. Now she has the best job of all, putting both skill sets to use in the homemade ice cream business that she and husband David own — Udders Ice-Cream . In addition, she works part-time for a non-profit organisation, putting her legal skills to use. She is also a mother of two children, Kai, 7, and Fern 2.5 years, as well as an avid soccer player. How does she juggle it all? She tells NanzInc.

How did you arrive at this point in your career – part business owner, part social worker?

My husband David and I had always wanted to start a business. It took us several years to find the right business idea. When we started planning for Udders Ice Cream, Fern, my second child, was just born. I would literally be expressing milk during our planning meetings, while David would be experimenting with milk of the bovine variety at the same time to create ice cream flavours! It was surreal at times.
Shortly after our first cafe opened, I stopped working as a management consultant, and opted to work part-time in a non-profit organisation. We chose this because I wanted to have a safety net in case our business failed. I also wanted part-time hours so that I could take care of the kids, as well as help David in the business. Now that we have three outlets, I am really glad I chose part-time work, it really helps with the other responsibilities I have.

Is it difficult when your husband is your business partner and colleague?

We have worked together for many years, whether it was running church projects or other businesses, so our working relationship has reached an equilibrium of sorts. For Udders Ice Cream, I focus on the strategic level management decisions, and act as a sounding board for David. I also do the company secretarial work. Because David focuses on research and development and operational matters, we have managed to avoid bickering about small matters. David felt that it was healthier to have this separation of roles, so it was a conscious decision on our part to divide our duties in this manner.

What do you do in the non-profit organisation?

I put my legal and business skills to use in a different context, administering legal programmes to help the poor. In many ways, this job has enabled me to look at a social bottom-line, after focusing on business bottom-lines for so many years, and also now with our business. I really wanted to try a job where the sole purpose of the job is to help as many people as possible!
 

With such varied roles, how do you juggle your different responsibilities?

It is quite difficult. But I’m lucky to be in two jobs that provide some flexibility. With Kai and Fern both in school now, I am able to adjust my working hours so that I work when they are in school, and I’m with them when they come home. When one of them is sick, I can tell David that I won’t be able to focus on the business for a while. In terms of taking care of the kids, it is much better than being in a full time office job as I get to spend more time with them. This matters a lot, as David works long hours. In many ways, I do feel like I have it all — I get to run a business, help the poor and needy in society, and take care of my kids. You get a different kind of satisfaction from each of these jobs. But there are sacrifices. For one, I wish I had more “soul time” — time to just be by myself and be in touch with myself!
 

Describe your typical day.

I spend my mornings at the office, when the kids are at school. In the afternoons, I either spend it at home, coaching Kai with his schoolwork or driving him to and from badminton, and playing with Fern. If I have a meeting for Udders, then my mom and helper step in to lend a hand.
 

How do you and your husband set aside exclusive couple time?

This is very difficult indeed! Work, if not the kids, often crowd out everything else. We did try to implement some rules about couple time and date night — but trying to keep to them is a challenge! For now, we spend at least a half hour together every night after David gets home from work.

Udders Ice-Cream is located at
West Mall, #02-10
17 Lorong Kilat #01-08
155 Thomson Road (near Novena MRT)

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