I started Hegen with a clear purpose—to help and support breastfeeding mothers around the world, regardless of race, language or religion. Hegen was created based on my own personal pain points with breastfeeding for a decade to my 4 children. I deeply understand the challenge of women juggling the demands of work and modern lifestyles with an intense feeding routine and it inspired me to develop a support system to allow women to continue upon the priceless experience of breastfeeding, for as long as they wish to do so.

Be kind to yourself—Given that today’s world can be full of criticism and harsh words, I believe it is important for every woman to speak kindly to herself. Being kind to yourself and celebrating YOU promotes happiness and confidence.

I break the bias by pursuing my dreams and doing what I want to do as a woman entrepreneur. I took courage to leap into the unknown and march into the dark with a glimmer of an idea to start Hegen which I strongly believed in. Women entrepreneurs have often been rated as less competent when it comes to decision making because we tend to be more empathetic. For me, I always turn a perceived female weakness into strength. I believe that it is not about proving one’s worth as a female in the business world, but more about using our unique traits (such as empathy) to lead and grow the business.

As a mother building a motherhood brand, I break the bias of juggling work and family. Women entrepreneurs often face the challenge of wearing multiple hats and juggling time between family and work. For me, I choose to see that these additional roles allow me to demonstrate a level of tenacity and confidence when it comes to my ability to lead in all facets of life. Between work and family, there will always be an opportunity cost in whichever way you choose. The best way to cope is to set your priorities. For me, when multiple things come at the same time, I remind myself that family duties take precedence. I then prioritise and plan ahead so as to better juggle each role.

One of my biggest pet peeves in the gender debate is motherhood being viewed as a bump in a woman’s career. I believe that it is not about everything being equal, but instead it is to push for equal opportunities and grading. For example, women should be empowered and enabled to pursue their personal dreams and goals even after they marry or have children. To break the bias, I firmly believe we should applaud women at the workplace for taking the leap of juggling children, family and work. We should not penalise them in their career development. Working mums should not be short-changed in opportunity and stereotyped by expectations of being a main caregiver. This also means there should be a co-sharing of responsibilities of raising children and there should be equal contribution to a child’s love.

Dancing to club music! I love to dance like nobody’s watching, just close my eyes and be me.

Overflowing positivity and always seeing the good in people.

My children are growing up in a society focused heavily on social media. One value that I want my children to learn is not to compare themselves to the beauty standards set by the media, people and culture. We constantly measure ourselves against other people and feel judged for our physical appearance. As a parent, I want to lead by example and guide my children not to be critical of body image, including their own, and reject negative stereotypes of unrealistic body standards. By fostering a body-positive lifestyle at home, I hope to show them that they are not defined by how they look, but by their values and how they act.

Text: Lauren Tan/The Peak

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