In recent years, a new generation of Malaysian entrepreneurs has emerged. These individuals not only build thriving businesses or communities but also lead with purpose. These women are using business as a force for good, marrying social need with innovation. Their brands are reshaping industries and challenging the status quo.
1) Mizz Nina
Mizz Nina, a co-founder of Dopstv and certain other Islamic lifestyle businesses, hopes to inspire others towards personal transformation through faith-guided, meaningful living. She endeavors to affect change through media, education, and community building toward leading individuals, especially women, towards self-realization and Islamic values.
Not only that, she’s also a co-founder of QalbyApp, as a result of a shared idea with her friend during her studies. The app serves to improve Muslims lifestyles through various features such as prayer times, a collection of dua, and the direction of Qiblah. Having left the entertainment industry career behind, she devoted herself to da’wah and inspiring others spiritually.
2) Ivor Lim Xian Z
Ivor Lim Xian Z, co-founder of HYGR together with Chew Hoi Meng, is driven to share eco-friendly personal care in the form of clean, affordable, and functional products. They want to create everyday essentials such as lip balm and deodorant that are eco-friendly, gender-free, and chemical-free. During the pandemic, the pair was frustrated when trying to locate clean, waste-free skincare that actually works.
3) Christy Ng
Christy Ng, owner of her own eponymous label, is committed to empowering women through trendy, affordable, and functional clothing. She wants to cater to customizable products appropriate for Asian lifestyles while also supporting local craftsmen. She left a pharmaceutical company to pursue her passion for design and market her unique shoes designs at a Facebook page. From there, the shoes went viral and gained thousands of followers in the first month. Her label is now a household name.
4) Farah Ilyana
Farah Illyana Khairuddin, co-founder of CalaQisya, aims to reframe modest fashion in chic, contemporary designs for Muslim women. She aims to empower women to be confident and fashionable about embracing both religion and fashion. She saw a gap in the modest wear market not synchronized with the fashion and lifestyle of contemporary Muslim women and built CalaQisya to fill that gap.
5) Prestine Davekhaw
MalaysianPAYGAP founder Prestine Davekhaw is on a mission to push salary transparency and fair compensation across industries. She started the platform to provide individuals with real salary figures, which enable them to negotiate better and push for equality in the workplace. Tired of vague and discriminatory pay in creative roles, she embarked on breaking the silence over the pay gap.
Conclusion
These Malaysian entrepreneurs remind us that purpose isn’t a label that is used to showcase a good cause but also how we are actually doing it. It’s a choice. When actions are real, people can see and feel it, making it impactful. They’re not just building brands. They’re building a better Malaysia for a meaningful change. Purpose is lived, not just advertised.
