Sandra Koh (SK): I joined the company after I graduated from university. I joined the company as I felt that my mother needed help to rejuvenate the business and to pivot the business to reach out to a younger audience. Yes, the whole family is involved! After I joined the business for a few years, I realised how much work it takes and I roped in my brother, Ken, who left his bank job to join in the family business.

SK: It is great to have a boss who understands how you operate as well as your personality. We know each other’s expectations, so it makes it easier and there’s less guesswork, unlike working with non-family members. We draw on each other’s strengths to the company’s benefits.

SK: My mother initially had a lot of reservations in terms of letting go of control of the company to myself and my brother. That initially created a lot of struggles on our part and eventually, we proved ourselves and she is starting to let go of the control.

SK: Definitely! Especially now that I am also a mother of two, I find it a struggle to balance managing a company and running a family well. On my part, with two young children, I undergo a lot of mum guilt when I sometimes have to prioritise work over my kids.

As a child, my mum was often busy with work, and sometimes I wished that she was more present. As an adult and a mum now, I realised that it wasn’t by choice, but by the circumstances then that made her sacrifice some of her time with her children to support our family, support the company as well as the families of the employees that she hired. It is a lot of stress and burden for a person to handle. I have it easier now that I have my brother and my mum to help share the burden.

“She was a young entrepreneur who gained success through raw hard work, tenacity, and luck.” – Sandra Koh

SK: We have definitely had our fair share of disagreements and quarrels, like any family or colleagues. I’m usually the one who gives in and apologises as I do not like conflict. Our love language is very different. Mine is through words and touch and my mum’s love language is through acts of service.

Over time, as we worked together, we got to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I’ve learnt to also manage my expectations of my mother. She gave me the gift of higher education, which she never had. On my part, by managing my own expectations, I became more understanding and we argue a lot less now.

SK: I’ve learnt that my mother is an extremely hardworking person. She works non-stop and she also learns non-stop. This is something that I really respect and hope that I can live up to in the future. She is both a capable businesswoman and a loving wife at home.

I’m not saying that all women need to be submissive. But I find that in many marriages, the women become too strong and treat their husbands with disdain. My mother can just switch from being an alpha woman at work to becoming a kind wife at home, which I really respect and am impressed with.

SK: At one of the annual Dinner and Dance events we had, I gave an appreciation speech to my mother — as an employee and as a daughter. I seldom wear my heart on my sleeve and it was just my way of showing my appreciation for my mum.

SK: The road is going to be tough and lonely at times. But with grit, resilience, and family support,
you will get there in time.

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