In celebration of International Women’s Day 2020, we sat down with 3 local female entrepreneurs at the forefront of their industries. They tell us the trials of building their careers and reveal the best advice they have received and have to give.
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Anabel Chew, Co-founder Of WeBarre
On her unexpected career switch from being a professional musician to the fitness industry and what it’s like empowering others through barre.
1. Tell us more about yourself — what’s your backstory?
I was once a professionally trained flutist-turned-entrepreneur. I was a musician, I used to perform with a flute in the orchestra. I’m also, I like to think, a candle and bed sheet addict!
2. How did WeBarre start?
I’ve always been very active, since [my] school days. I was running cross country, I was a cheerleader as well! Naturally after I finished school, I always found a way to stay active. So I was in the US for a summer exchange programme for music and then my friend said, why don’t you try a barre class, because they knew I was quite into yoga back then. So I tried a class and it was so challenging, but at the same time I was so addicted. I felt it was effective but challenging, which is what I really like.
So fast forward, I came back to Singapore and found that there weren’t too many options to begin with. And then I started telling everyone I knew about this barre workout. At that point in time, I was a client at this cycling studio and I was telling them about it. Then one day, true enough, they came up to me and said Annabel we’re going to launch a barre programme, would you like to train as an instructor with us? I was so flattered and I was like: you know what I’m just going to do it and see how it goes. That was when I met my business partner. When we finished our training, the studio got sold and the programme got put on hold. So then, a few months later, [my business partner and I] met up and said it would be such a great idea, why don’t we be the ones to launch [barre] in Singapore. Then 6 months later, WeBarre started!
2. You studied music and was a professional musician/ music teacher before starting WeBarre, what was it like making this career switch?
It was not really intentional. Music was something I lived and breathed and that I thought I was going to do all my life — I really loved it. So when the opportunity came, it was quite unexpected. WeBarre is in our 5th year right now. 5 years ago if you asked me, if I would ever pursue a career or have any kind of a career in fitness, I would tell you with 100% conviction: never.
Thankfully for me, because I worked in music, the transition was quite gradual. When we first started WeBarre, I switched to a part-time commitment with music. That way, I could toggle between the two. But then, fortunately, WeBarre took off and then within 6 months we started getting very busy. As I was toggling both music and WeBarre, I was working 16 hours everyday. It was just a bit too intense. So within 6 months, I left my career in music and did WeBarre full time.
Anabel wears Max.Tan Sash Tent Dress from SocietyA, Jewellery from Made Different Co
3. What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your journey thus far?
The decision to study music and pursue music as a full-time career — I think all of us growing up in Singapore with a strong Asian background will know, that that’s not the very popular choice. Also, because I applied to both law and music school — those were both things I wanted to study — but I just felt that I wanted to do music first. I think a lot of people, including friends/family, didn’t quite understand that. And I felt like I was not really supported, kind of left alone. I feel like everyone was kind of betting on me to fail. It was a tough time, in the sense that I felt like I didn’t have anyone. I think it’s also one of the reasons why, to this date, I count my closest friends as people I met from music school.
I think with that sort of expectation and pressure, from a young age when I was around 18 or 19, I had this mentality drilled into me that I cannot fail. Because if I fail, I will prove these people right. I feel like through the years, that’s what kept me going. It’s not that I don’t want to fail, but failure is not even an option [for me], I have to succeed.
4. And what are some of the most rewarding things?
I think being able to always do better and not settling for being comfortable. I think what we’ve done at WeBarre — beyond just being a fitness studio — we genuinely have seen amazing stories, amazing journeys. Women are really supporting each other and creating this safe space with a healthy body mindset for people of all genders, body shapes and sizes to come and work out. I think that’s something we’re very proud of.
5. What’s the best piece of career advice you have received?
I thought really hard about this one! I don’t know if it’s the best answer, but I feel like it has served me so well that it’s not what you know, but who you know. Looking back at my career for the last 12, 15 years — yes what you know is important — you have to be good at what you do. But often, a lot of the big projects, big breakthroughs I’ve had in my career are because of connections, networking and people I know that made things happen for me because we have a relationship.
6. What’s the best piece of life advice you have received?
It’s this thing called don’t pickle things. So pickling is like putting things aside, then you close it up and save it for winter, or when things are getting tough. I think, also a very Asian thing that you got to save money and keep this. I think one of the best pieces of advice I’ve received from my personal life is to just live in the moment. So for example, open that bottle of wine if you want to drink it now. Burn that very nice candle, use that fancy soap — don’t save Aesop for a special date night only! Or not saving this particular trip for a special occasion; if you feel like doing it, do it. Because you never know what the future holds.
7. And what’s your best advice?
You can’t control other people’s actions, but you can decide how you react to them.
8. Who, or what inspires you?
People who are passionate about what they do inspire me. Because when you talk to people who are passionate, there’s this light in their eyes, there’s this passion, this drive about what they do. I think people who are passionate don’t settle for being okay, they just want to do things better than they did before. Whether it’s about perfecting their craft, or whether it’s about reaching new heights. They do things out of passion, which I really respect and admire.
9. Congratulations on your pregnancy! What are you looking forward to most about motherhood? Are there any fears?
Thank you! I think my husband and I have a really good relationship. I think we always say to each other that we’re such a good team together. I’m very excited because this is a new journey, a new phase of life and I’m really excited to see how we work together as a team to brave this new chapter in life together.
I wouldn’t call it a fear, but something that’s a little bit annoying, or one of those things that will happen, is the constant pressure of other people’s opinion on you as a mother. There’s that whole stigma on what makes a perfect mother — are you a good mother if you do this or not. I think I should take my own advice: I can’t change how people think, but I can change how I react to it. And just know that whatever decision I make, is a decision for my own choices. And if these voices are around…I mean ideally I’d like to say I can ignore them. But just take it as it comes and know that it’s about the choices that I make.
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Joan Chang, Director & Co-Founder of Lloyd’s Inn Singapore & Bali, Founder Of The Ove Collection
On revamping her family-owned budget hotel, redefining modern luxury and being her own person.
1. Tell us more about yourself — what’s your backstory?
I’m basically someone who didn’t come from a design background — I didn’t study design. But to sum myself up, I’m someone who appreciates good branding, design and architecture. So for the last 5 years, I’ve run Lloyd’s Inn, which is very design and architecture-centric. Recently, we’ve opened up Lloyd’s Inn Bali as well.
2. How did your journey with Lloyd’s Inn start?
Lloyd’s Inn was owned by my family and was previously more of a budget hotel. So I took the opportunity then, I think it was in 2012, to revamp it and lead its rebranding.
Joan wears Peggy Hartanto Archaic Jumpsuit from SocietyA, Jewellery from Made Different Co
3. Tell us more about your latest venture, The Ove Collection! Why did you see the need for Ove and what inspired its beginnings?
Ove is basically a lifestyle brand. Under Ove we have the brands I’ve created: hospitality, which is Llyod’s Inn, wellness which is our Canopy Spa in Bali (but we have been looking at expansion, potentially in other areas or in Singapore). Also recently, homes, which are in residential real estate.
I created this brand because there is a need for change and creating new definitions, particularly the definition of luxury. That was why we introduced this. For instance, luxury for another generation might be about plume, extravagance or the hoo-hah. But in this generation we can still have luxury, but keep it minimalist.
4. What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your journey thus far?
I think the biggest challenge for me is working and managing people. I think working with different personality types and understanding that everybody has their point of view; always listening, always adapting to different people. Sometimes, when our team is growing, I also need to evaluate myself and see if I’m leading the team in the right direction — whether I’m being a good boss and a good role model for my team.
5. And what are some of the most rewarding things?
Particularly for my industry, I think it’s rewarding when we see a vision being executed and actually crystallised in actual form. So this could take many years — for example our project, from inception to when the building is up, could take a few years. But when we eventually see this, the design and taking into account every single detail, I think that is probably the most fulfilling [thing]. And when people give us feedback and appreciate our brand, that’s also doubly fulfilling.
7. What’s the best piece of career advice you have received?
For career advice, just short and simple: never let the opinions of others drown out your inner voice. This is actually a quote from Steve Jobs, he is someone — an entrepreneur — I really respect.
8. What’s the best piece of life advice you have received?
Following my head and not my heart, for everything!
9. And what’s your best advice?
Always focusing on personal growth, whether in life or career. Personally, I enjoy the pursuit of knowledge and I’m always growing everyday. For me, I make it a point to learn something new everyday. Whether or not it’s something new I can learn from someone else — something I can learn about my friends — or reading up, increasing my knowledge in politics, in news…or just an interesting fact. Maybe a scientific fact I never knew.
10. As someone who works in travel, hotelier & hospitality, what are some of your favourite travel destinations? How do you like to travel?
My favourite travel destinations are the ones that are rich in culture, history and stories. Because as I mentioned, I like to grow in knowledge. So my favourite destinations are Cuba and probably India. I find them very rich, very diverse.
My travel style…honestly many people can’t travel with me! I’m the kind who likes waking up very early and likes to explore many things. I need a planned itinerary in advance of where I’m travelling [to], it’s very precise. At the same time, I like to incorporate experiences in my travels. Like for example, glamping as an experience. Or, I like to visit local villages and actually talk to them and hear their stories.
11. Who, or what inspires you?
Actually, I would say there are many other entrepreneurs who are inspiring in their own way, so I wouldn’t single out anyone. But I think for everybody, there’s always something that they are good at, that I can take away from. I respect, for example, let’s say Drea — I respect her because she’s good in this particular craft. Then there could be other people in other industries [whom] I respect, because they’re good at something else. Everybody has strengths that we can all learn from.
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Nabillah Jalal, Founder of NJ Studio, Duta Bahasa (Malay Language Ambassador)
On her journey in pursuing music at the Royal College of Music, serving the community and her belief in passing it forward.
1. Tell us more about yourself — what’s your backstory?
I am a music educator and pianist. I started learning the piano when I was 4, I was forced into it. So I was going through the motions…I did my normal schooling life and my piano privately. Then right after my grade 8, I realised I actually can do this (piano)? So that’s when I decided to pursue my diploma [in piano performance], alongside my A Levels. That was when I changed my piano teachers and she was like, hey Nabillah you should apply for music colleges. Of course I was very skeptical about it, because no one has ever told me I was good enough for music colleges. I just decided to give it a go, because during A Levels I wasn’t sure what I was going to do next. Then after A Levels, I took a gap year and did all the auditions for the music schools and I got in [to the Royal College of Music in London]. It was quite a surprise, because they usually don’t take people who don’t have A Level music.
I teach piano now and also try to give back to the community. So as part of NJ studio, we take in a couple of students and equip them with music theory lessons for free. We equip them till the grade 5 level. Because we realised that these kids, who are mostly underprivileged, cannot afford to buy a piano or any musical instruments. But what we can do is equip them with the reading and understanding music part.
2. How did NJ Studio start?
When I came back to Singapore, I was just doing freelance stuff like the normal tuition teacher. So the kids either come to my house, or I go over to theirs. I was speaking to one of my best friends and I said, I really want to open a centre. Because I realised that I was maxing out of my time already, I wanted a place where I can sit and people come to me…and in the long run expand. So he said okay, let’s look into that. And now he’s my business partner!
Nabillah wears Peggy Hartanto Extinction Dress from SocietyA, Jewellery from Made Different Co
3. You’re also an active advocate for youth, culture & community. How did this journey (in serving the community) begin?
I benefited from the community a lot, in terms of scholarships and sponsorships. I think that because I’ve been given that chance, I should be passing forward whatever I’ve been given. Other than that, my siblings also do quite a bit of community work (more towards the design side), so I guess it rubbed off. I felt that, I’ve been given the gift and I should be passing it on to other people.
4. What was it like being accepted into and studying (Nabillah was the first Malay Singaporean to be accepted) at the Royal College of Music in London?
My initial response was of course, overjoyed. But that feeling of happiness immediately changed to fear, very soon after. Because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to afford the education there and I understood that most of my batch mates went to music academies for high school. In fact, one of my batch mates was the BBC Young Musician Of The Year! So that’s really scary, because I compared myself to them. I said hey look, I just did whatever every normal Singaporean kid did. Of course the financial bit was another bulk [part] of the fear. But as I mentioned, I benefited a lot from the community. Then when I was there I made some stupid decisions and decided to practice 12 to 13 hours in a day, then I injured myself…silly things like that. So I had to relearn about myself as well.
5. What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your journey thus far?
I think definitely finances and understanding that maybe, I don’t want to do music performance in the long run. Understanding that my career is able to evolve — that no matter what chance I have been given, I don’t have to see it as a one-track thing. I can explore other things. So for example, I’ve been given the chance to study abroad to do music, but I don’t necessarily have to pursue [that]. I could be doing community work, but also put music in it.
6. And what are some of the most rewarding things?
Meeting a lot of people, being able to perform at a lot of places. [Meeting] people from different cultures, from different walks of life…it has allowed me to explore new places as well. And also in terms of teaching, seeing someone who was not able to pass get a distinction. That’s all very fulfilling. Other than that, learning from my students is very important. We all learn from everyone that we meet. And sometimes these kids see things in a more simplistic way and it has reminded me that sometimes we overthink too much!
7. What’s the best piece of career advice you have received?
Do whatever that’s within your means, leave no room for regrets.
8. What’s the best piece of life advice you have received?
Whatever blessings you’ve been given, whatever gifts you’ve been given, you have the responsibility to pass it on to someone else
9. And what’s your best advice?
For others, I strongly believe in giving back and paying it forward. And advice for myself, don’t be afraid of failure. I am very, very afraid of failure!
10. How do you manage all your commitments and stay motivated?
I don’t (laughs)! I think having a good support system is helpful because I tend to overwork and bite off more than I can chew. These people are the ones who will go hey, I think you are overworking and you need to take a step back. As I said, I’m not able to juggle it well, I just keep on pushing myself because as I mentioned, leave no room for regrets.
11. Who, or what inspires you to keep going?
My brother. We share a lot of similarities. He does design and he works with communities, he always looks like he has it together! So despite the challenges he’s facing right now, he still looks like he has it altogether. To me, if he is able to do it then so can I.
12. So what’s your favourite way to unwind?
Watching Korean dramas, going for a facial!
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Celebrating Women with the UOB Lady’s Card and UOB Lady’s Savings Account
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“Here’s to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.”
Take care,
Melisa
