This narrative, recounted in Clara Davis’s own words and adapted from an in-depth conversation, offers an intimate portrait of her personal and professional evolution. Davis, aged thirty-eight, is the founder of Unravel, the cofounder of Taste Collective in Shanghai, and one of the driving forces behind Roots in Bali. Her reflections—refined for clarity and focus—trace a journey that begins with convention and culminates in creative autonomy and mindful balance.
Born to two lawyers, Davis grew up in an environment where success was defined by discipline, education, and predictability. The trajectory set before her seemed almost preordained: law school, followed by the dependable prestige of a corporate legal career. She followed this path dutifully, earning a bachelor’s degree in international relations from George Washington University. Upon graduation, she accepted a paralegal position at a highly regarded law firm in Washington, D.C. The precision and intensity of the work suited her intellectual curiosity, yet beneath the surface, she felt a subtle but persistent dissonance. It often seemed as though she were performing a role—imitating the future lawyer she was expected to become—rather than inhabiting an identity that was truly her own.
By 2010, curiosity—and perhaps a quiet longing for reinvention—propelled Davis to abandon her comfortable position and chart a drastically different course. She resigned and relocated to Chengdu, China, to teach English, intending for it to be a brief, one-year interlude before returning to law school. That seemingly temporary detour, however, expanded into an immersive decade-long chapter of her life. During that time, Davis pursued a dual master’s degree in global media and communications at the London School of Economics and Fudan University, experiences that broadened her perspective and deepened her understanding of cultural exchange and storytelling. Eventually, she made Shanghai her home, captivated by its dynamic energy and inexhaustible possibilities.
In Shanghai, Davis transformed her growing passion for communication into tangible enterprises. She founded Unravel, a storytelling platform created to bring authentic personal narratives before live audiences, and later co-founded Taste Collective, a creative agency that collaborated with international food and beverage brands, blending cultural fluency with marketing innovation. These ventures reflected her evolving belief that storytelling—whether through words, food, or design—was at the core of meaningful human connection.
Then the pandemic of 2020 arrived, abruptly halting the world of communal experiences and hospitality. Like countless entrepreneurs, Davis faced a reckoning. With in-person events suspended and experiential marketing frozen, she found herself questioning not only the sustainability of her business but the broader purpose that guided her career. The pause created by global uncertainty forced a deeper reflection on what stability, creativity, and community truly meant to her.
In early 2021, a visit to see her then-boyfriend—now husband and business partner—in Bali became an unexpected turning point. What began as a short stay evolved into a complete relocation and the start of a new phase in both her life and entrepreneurial journey. Transitioning from cosmopolitan Shanghai to the lush landscapes of Bali was both exhilarating and humbling. In this unfamiliar setting, stripped of the professional identity she had built so firmly in China, Davis was compelled to reexamine herself. She asked fundamental questions: Who am I in this new place? What value can I offer to this community?
Those reflections led to the birth of Roots in 2022, a neighborhood kitchen located in one of Bali’s most vibrant culinary districts. The concept behind Roots was grounded not merely in gastronomy, but in ethics and connection. Together with her partner, Davis built a business centered on sustainability—sourcing ingredients locally, minimizing waste, and fostering community engagement through neighborhood events and initiatives that gave back to the island. Her role as cofounder and operating partner was multifaceted, encompassing brand development, culinary curation, and the cultivation of an inviting guest experience. In many ways, Roots allowed Davis to merge the diverse skills acquired across continents—storytelling, cross-cultural understanding, and hospitality—into a single expression of purpose.
Complementing this venture, Davis contributed to the creation of The Hub, a coworking and co-living space designed for digital nomads and remote professionals seeking creative synergy in Bali. The project reflects her continued passion for connecting people, now framed within a slower, more mindful rhythm of life.
Reflecting on her years in Shanghai, Davis describes the city as electrifying—a place of relentless motion and boundless ambition. The fast-paced environment was an ideal training ground for entrepreneurial experimentation, attracting individuals who were not only curious but daringly adaptable. China’s immediacy fostered determination; policies changed swiftly, and one had to respond with equal speed and resilience.
Bali, by contrast, offered an entirely different tempo and character. The shift from the concrete sprawl of an urban powerhouse to the lush stillness of a tropical island was profound. Yet the island brims with entrepreneurial vigor in its own right. The food and beverage industry, in particular, is flourishing, driven by creativity and collaboration despite the island’s remoteness. Davis’s daily life remains filled with purpose and activity, but her schedule now accommodates reflection, balance, and human connection. As she puts it, Bali has softened her edges—a transformation inspired by an environment that values ritual, natural rhythm, and presence over relentless acceleration.
This new chapter, however, has not been without its personal and operational challenges. Working closely with her husband has blurred the usual boundaries between partnership and profession. Their differing cultural backgrounds and personalities sometimes create friction but also generate a complementary strength. They share common goals yet approach obstacles from contrasting angles—a dynamic that, although occasionally demanding, enhances both their collaboration and their individual growth.
Running a restaurant on a rapidly developing island also presents tangible hurdles. Issues of infrastructure, regulation, and waste management underscore the tensions between preservation and progress. While much about Bali’s transformation is cause for optimism, Davis remains mindful of the ethical responsibility entrepreneurs bear in shaping sustainable growth. Establishing a business rooted in integrity requires vigilance, empathy, and patience—qualities that are often tested in regions where reform unfolds at an uneven pace compared to China’s top-down efficiency.
The creation of Roots demanded not only financial investment but a deep emotional and physical commitment. In hospitality, success depends as much on perseverance and empathy as it does on strategy and innovation. Income can fluctuate, and uncertainty is inevitable, yet for Davis, the rewards—creative freedom, ownership, and connection to a broader community—far outweigh the volatility.
Looking back, Davis recognizes that her path has been defined by reinvention. Each pivot demanded courage, openness to vulnerability, and a willingness to surrender control. Building a life outside her comfort zone—across multiple countries and industries—has fortified her sense of adaptability and self-awareness. Today, Bali represents the convergence of all she has learned: a place where ambition coexists with introspection, where she can build with integrity and clarity, and where growth feels both sustainable and authentic.
If China was the unanticipated adventure that crafted her professional identity, Bali became the equally surprising twist that expanded it. The island has challenged her assumptions, deepened her sense of purpose, and offered a space for her to integrate the many versions of herself—law student, storyteller, entrepreneur, partner, and global citizen—into one coherent whole.
Her journey stands as a reminder that transformation does not always come through acceleration. Sometimes, it is the conscious act of slowing down—of allowing life’s rhythms to unfold naturally—that leads to the truest form of progress.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/american-moved-to-bali-opened-restaurant-with-husband-southeast-asia-2025-10
