A collage featuring the Founding Members of The Women's Lounge. | Source: By Submission.
"If one woman flourishes, she paves the way for all others to flourish."
– Ruchi Bhave, Founder & Coach of Aum Limited, on the question about the most valuable lesson learned from her heritage.
–The Women's Lounge: The community's venue, the vision, the embodiment. It's truly remarkable to consider that there isn't a space quite like this; where as a shared working space, we uphold the utmost respect for each other's boundaries while also fostering collective support for our professional and personal growth (🤫 shh! quietly during Solitude Hours). As an event space, we have the privilege of curating transformative events such as Business Blitz and International Women's Day 2024, enabling us to embrace a genuine sense of connection, inclusivity, and above all, forging a network of support.
One of the reasons The Women's Lounge is truly remarkable is because it fills a void that no other space does. Take our events, for example. Business Blitz takes away the pressure of "small talk" and the awkwardness of exiting conversations of networking. International Women's Day, boy, we go all out! It's a day filled with thought-provoking and meaningful conversations, workshops, activities, pop-up vendors and canapés that celebrate the achievements and contributions of our members. It truly is a testament to our commitment to creating an empowering environment.
But it's not just about the physical space; it's about the stories of these empowered women.
Recall your "why"—the main reason you embarked on your journey—whenever circumstances seem insurmountable. Resist giving in to the demand of quick outcomes and trust the process."
Arian Hassani, Founder of Beacon Global Academy on the question about giving advice to someone starting their entrepreneurial journey.
Today, I want to take this moment to express our deep appreciation for our Founding Members, who took a chance on us by being the very first members to utilise the space for their work and provided invaluable feedback to help us improve. We are immensely grateful to these remarkable and inspiring individuals. In true Women Of Hong Kong fashion, with an unapologetically authentic approach, let's hear what they have to say about embracing their journey as empowered women–
What strategies do you find most effective for networking and building meaningful connections?
"Definitely the best strategy for networking and building relationships is to be a good listener. Making the other person feel like they are the most important person in the room is crucial. Giving them your full attention, and asking thought provoking questions allows you to understand their perspective, respond thoughtfully and build a genuine connection. Putting yourself in the other person's shoes and seeking to understand their thoughts, feelings and experiences will all aid in building strong trusting relationships."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am supportive."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"Women of Hong Kong is a safe and supportive space where I can work, learn and network."
Tracy Tsang
For individuals seeking personal growth and development, what is the most important piece of advice you would give?
"Follow your curiosity and intuition rather than what everybody is promoting. Keep your mind open - you'll notice a shift in your perspective, and the books, courses, and mentors you need will find you naturally."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am intuitive."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"It’s a community of wonderful women that support and empower other women in business and in life."
Managing Director
What aspect of your business brings you the most joy?
"This is an easy one! I help place my network of business support professionals across the region into roles that are tailored to their passions, career goals (both financial and aspirational), as well as their personal needs (whether they prefer hybrid working, part-time, or contract-based opportunities). From a relationship perspective, it is also gratifying to fulfil my clients' hiring needs, especially when it comes to challenging positions. Continuously building trust and reputation for my business is something I genuinely enjoy."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am determined."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you
"Camaraderie and motivation."
What advice would you offer to someone pursuing their passion?
"Don't let anyone be louder than your inner voice when it comes to your passion! You have to give it a try to follow your passion, see where it's going to bring you, and find people who support you no matter how crazy your idea is. Be prepared that people might not like it, judge you, talk behind your back, or not buy into it at the beginning. Just accept that these are normal reactions from society and don't get distracted by them. Just continue and focus on your passion. There will be people who will be very interested in sharing your passion and supporting you."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am sunshine."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"Support, safe place, like-minded people, inspiration, power and self love."
What is the best advice you have received about managing stress and avoiding burnout?
"Having faced social work burnout myself, I know deeply the pain that comes from wanting to do it all and be there for everyone, from going above and beyond in your work and also the exhaustion of trying to. You have to learn to balance work and your personal life and I believe the practices that helped me was asking for help and delegating, learning to say "no" or "not at this time", prioritizing rest (sleep/play), and having an outlet (a person to vent to, therapy, a hobby, journaling). Suppressing feelings and frustrations won't do yourself any favors. Lastly, burnout is your sign that something needs to change. So whether that is implementing better practice to manage the work or maybe it's time to rethink your career. Maybe it's a sign to bet on yourself and start that business!"
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am cultivating an intentional life of slowness, ease, and peace."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"A place of community and to be surrounded by like-minded women."
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from a business failure or setback?
"Failures are just feedback, never a reason to cause self doubt or demotivation. One important lesson I've learned is knowing when to keep fighting despite the setback/failure, and when to walk away."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am resilient."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"Women of Hong Kong is a safe and supportive community and space where women can thrive and grow together."
From your experience with continuous learning and self-improvement, what lesson do you find to be the most worthwhile?
"If you are not GREEN and GROWING, you a RIPE and ROTTEN! No matter how much you think you know, there is always opportunity to know and learn more. It's humbling and exciting at the same time."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am enough... just being authentically me as often as I can!"
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"A safe space to connect and embrace the entrepreneurial journey (and all that goes with that)."
From your heritage, what is the most valuable lesson you have learnt?
"In my culture there is a saying 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' which means 'the world is one family'. I strongly believe in this because all of us have an impact on others around us. I operate from this space that the whole world is my family - so the question of me and you do not arise. When I look out for someone else, I am actually looking out for me. To bring this to our context, If one-woman flourishes, she paves the way for all others to flourish. So where is the competition? Let us all flourish together."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am the Universe."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"This space is where I connect with my sisters."
Dawn Chan
Founder
What advice would you offer to someone pursuing their passion?
"If you are looking to build a career by pursuing your passion, there could be a lot of pressure to “make it work” and achieve proper income from it. Do not be discouraged if you do not see others, whether a potential client, a friend or an investor, share the same level of excitement and understanding as you do on the subject. Believe in yourself and your ability to connect to them with your passion. Understand that it is you who ultimately has the drive and knowledge to build and deliver a solution or product based on your vision. It may take time for others to come around but your passion is a precious, internal fuel for you to leverage and sustain you through challenging times!"
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am grateful."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"A community of positive energy and a source of encouragement."
Arian Hassani
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting their entrepreneurial journey, what would it be?
"Starting your own business is both thrilling and intimidating. On good days you are on top of the world. On bad days, of which there are many, you want to crawl into a hole and stay there. Everyone around you calls it an entrepreneurial journey, but they actually want you to deliver as if it were a weekend getaway. It is very difficult not to give up. One piece of advice that I would give is “don’t”! Just don’t! Don’t give up. Being an entrepreneur requires an inhuman amount of patience, grit and persistence. Your daily existence will revolve around testing, learning and adapting on a constant basis. Recall your "why"—the main reason you embarked on your journey—whenever circumstances seem insurmountable. Resist giving in to the demand of quick outcomes and trust the process."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am resilient.
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"Women of Hong Kong is a safe and supportive community and space where women can thrive and grow together."
What gives you the most sense of joy when it comes to your business?
"I love the creative process that goes into crafting products. Physical and digital. I love the research process, the ideation, when you have to go back to who you truly are to create something meaningful. The moment when you realise that you've just had an AH AH moment. The learning and testing, even the mistakes. The joy of having a product that finally works. It's like giving birth. But above all, what brings me the most joy is knowing that our product helped solve a problem and has brought value to someone else's life."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am more than enough."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"Women of Hong Kong is the accountability partner I've always needed."
Founder
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned about the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement?
"The world is constantly evolving, and staying stagnant can lead to falling behind. Continuous learning not only helps in developing an adaptive mindset but also paves a way towards growth and fulfilment. Such kind of personal improvement sets you apart in every forte of life, keeps you curious and creative, and open to newer ideas. It also keeps you young and joyful I feel, learning new things (art, new avenues of your career, something absolutely new to you) challenges you and can become a solid source of happiness."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am empowered."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"Women of Hong Kong is not just a networking group, it's a vibrant community and a source of inspiration."
From experiencing an obstacle or setback in your business, what lesson has been the most valuable to you?
"In this dynamic world, trends come and go, economies rise and fall, and things change overnight. Time is truly of the essence. If you fall, learn quickly and don't repeat the mistake. Be objective and look at different perspectives; the gaps are where you can grow and better yourself. Challenges are growth opportunities in disguise; it is up to you to decide what to do with them. Will you turn a blind eye or choose to rise? While being your critic, don't forget to be your biggest cheerleader. You deserve a humble pat on your back for your wins. I would also add, 'Rome was not built in a day.' If you believe in yourself and your vision, persevere. Even if nobody has ever done it, most can't comprehend it, and some won't have the same resilience and patience as you, don't let that dim your light."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am everything I need to be!"
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"Community of empowered women."
Liz Bradford
How do you maintain a positive mindset when faced with challenging situations?
"By remembering that no growth comes from being in your comfort zone. By making sure I have periodic rests when I can come back into my comfort zone and consolidate the gains from being challenged in my stretch zone. By looking back and noting that situations which once seemed challenging are now things I take in my stride. Challenge = growth + resilience + being a badass. Also, chocolate."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am resilient."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"I don't even need a sentence - one word: empowerment!"
Senior, Digital Product Creation & Strategy
What key takeaway would you give to someone committing to their passion?
"It's okay to fall out of love with your passion from time to time."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am capable."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"To me, Women of Hong Kong means connection."
Bojana Péquignot
Looking back, what is the most important advice you would give to your younger self?
"The most important advice I would give myself is to know when to seek help and surround myself with the right people. This applies to many areas in life, but when it comes to being an entrepreneur, it is invaluable advice. I am extremely happy to be a part of the Women of Hong Kong community, where support is given and offered so selflessly."
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am strong."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
"It means unconditional support, a safe haven for sharing, learning, struggling and striving together!"
Founder and Director
Same question, what is the most important advice you would give to your younger self?
"To my younger self... There is another way to live. You will find a way to be in the world that gives you freedom and joy. You do have the strength and softness to be a good person who does good things. Hang on!"
One-word "I am" Affirmation:
"I am determined."
In one short sentence, describe what Women of Hong Kong means to you.
To our Founding Members, thank you once again for your trust, support and willingness to take a chance on The Women's Lounge. Let's keep pushing forward, committed to our growth and continue being WIFI PASSWORD*. 😉
(*Lounge members inside joke)
If you're curious know what the lounge members inside joke is about, book yourself in at–
If you're new here and would like to experience the uniqueness and inclusiveness of our community,
come join us at our Events,
or, better yet, Join The Community!
On behalf of the Women of Hong Kong team,
With love and in support,
Faith Baguisa
Community & Relationship Manager
Women of Hong Kong
Co-Creator
The Women's Lounge