MEET SHEVIE LEONG
BOSS BABE OF THE WEEK
SHEVIE LEONG
♡ IG: vieleong ♡
1. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR, BOSS BABE AND INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN?
I'm honoured you see me that way! I was in my final year of law school in the UK when I started feeling stifled by the path laid out in front of me in corporate law - I couldn't see myself sitting in an office from nine to five (and possibly more given the overtime tendencies) every day drafting contracts and counselling clients even though the earning prospects were good. I wanted something more dynamic and creatively-inclined, so I started searching for ways where I could express myself more fully and freely. Coincidentally, that was when I started freelance modelling part time as well, and had the opportunity to work with different teams of photographers, makeup artists, and occasionally wardrobe stylists to come up with compelling concepts for photo shoots and see them through from start to finish, which turned out to be extremely fulfilling given how I had a very hands-on approach with the planning and execution of creative work. I also realised just how much I enjoyed getting to know different people and building up my list of contacts - regardless of the industry, I found that each person had a story to tell and something to teach me. That was my first taste of working on my own terms. At the same time, due to an unforeseen circumstance, I needed to look for additional money to fund myself, and ended up learning how to buy and resell things on eBay for a profit. I started to get really good at it, and it was then that entrepreneurship piqued my interest. I wanted to start my own business, but didn't know how to so I had to learn everything by myself from scratch. That led me to spend my summer attending business and motivational seminars in London (and volunteering for them at one point), and I came out of them not wanting to be bound by glass ceilings and corporate limitations. I wanted to set that bar myself, and never looked back since.
2. TELL US MORE EXACTLY ABOUT ALL THE AMAZING THINGS YOU DO?
I decided to take the leap and started a boutique e-commerce store based in Southeast Asia for my very first business two years after my university graduation. While everyone back home was importing clothes from other Asian countries, I decided to import labels from the US, UK, and Australia and make them accessible here in Malaysia, my home country. The overall reception had been very good, which I'm incredibly thankful for to this very day, but throughout that journey, I started to discover other things I was interested in and wanted to pursue, and that's when I decided to slow it down so I could focus on the other areas, especially since the business could run decently on its own given the clientele I had built up over the years. Simultaneously, I was also running a low-key business helping people from Southeast Asia get beauty products from other countries since I'm a huge believer in having multiple streams of income and not having to rely on just one. I've also done a bit of freelance consultancy work for branding and social media. Basically, a good part of my twenties has been me being a complete sponge, absorbing what knowledge and experience I can get as well as experimenting with different avenues to see what my strengths are and which fit me best as I tend to feel pulled in different directions given the interests I have.Very recently, I decided to dip my toes into gaming as well, which is a completely different industry and ball game from what I'm used to but is an exciting step for me nonetheless as I've been gaming since I was a kid and it's something very close to my heart. I just started my own gaming channel on YouTube (vielociraptor) and am exploring the art of in-game photography, both of which I'm still learning the ropes of and am pursuing very leisurely at the moment as I work on a big project with my partner that's still in its early stages - I can't say too much for now but you can always follow me on social media to see what we're up to!
3. HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO BALANCE YOUR CAREER WITH YOUR SOCIAL/PERSONAL LIFE?
As optimistic as I try to be most of the time and as much as I try to balance everything out, sometimes compromises and sacrifices have to be made especially when it comes to entrepreneurship, which was one of the hardest lessons I had to learn. It can include everything from letting your social life take a backseat for the time being no matter how much you want a nice night out with your friends, to temporarily changing the lifestyle you're accustomed to in order to manage your finances when it's a low month. At the end of the day, you just need to do what needs to be done. I've learnt to be okay with the bare basics, contrary to what you might see on my social media handles sometimes! And I think that's one of the most important things people from our generation can learn, especially since we get bombarded by visuals of luxuries and material things every single day on social media.I'm also very fortunate to have an extremely patient and supportive partner, who happens to be an entrepreneur as well. He understands and can relate to the path I've chosen, and it's fantastic to have someone to bounce ideas around with. He's also pretty much the unsung hero when it comes to my creative content because he's always the one willingly accommodating all my requests when I direct him on how to take the pictures you see on social media. I'm also very lucky to have friends and family who are there for me no matter what, which makes me want to do more for them in return too.
4. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU DAILY?
Time, believe it or not. As much as I believe in abundance, I'm aware of how finite and fragile life can be, and I have a lot of things I want to do and achieve, so time gives me a very real sense of urgency. Plus I'm someone who can't stand being stagnant or complacent, and I need to be constantly moving and growing, so motivation comes quite naturally to me. That and seeing progress and growth in what I do, no matter how small, gives me the momentum to keep continuing on. I think that's why consistency is so important - it keeps you moving, and as you get into the habit and routine of it, it gets easier. It also helps when I'm inspired, which is a lot of the time, as I draw inspiration from pretty much everything and everyone around me. A lot of people - from younger family friends to people from my own circle - have actually told me I inspire them and that they want to do something of their own one day too, which is incredibly heartwarming to hear. These people are part of my motivation as well - I want to make them proud too, to ensure I'm worthy of their praise.
5.WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN WHO ARE ASPIRING TO BE A BOSS BABE JUST LIKE YOU, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO JUGGLE IT ALL?
JNever stop learning. Ever. As the adage goes: if you're not growing, you're dying. I'm a firm believer of that. Get out there, experience, explore, and discover. Take your time to learn about yourself and what you're about. It's not an overnight process. Everyone has their own incubation period, their own timing. This is something I tell myself every day because I struggle with it from time to time too. It's easy to want to compare yourself to others, but everyone's circumstances are so vastly different and there are so many factors at play - we're all dealt a different hand of cards in life, so just focus on playing yours in the best way that only you can. Learn to be adaptable. Your path might change, multiple times in fact. And that's okay. Things change, it's inevitable. Most of the time, things don't go according to plan, and when that happens, you can either stay rigid and stuck, or be willing to adapt to the current situation and find ways to make it work. You might even be surprised at how much better things turn out to be in the end. Keep an open mind, for the world will truly open up to people who choose to really look. And make conscious choices - a lot of people tend to just float and drift through life, and end up looking back one day, wondering where it went. Even the small steps are important, if not more so than the big ones, because they're the ones that will eventually lead you to the ones that matter. Learn to weather the storms that will inevitably come - it won't be an easy path a lot of the time, but the setbacks will only make you stronger, and it's perfectly okay to be scared. It's perfectly okay to ask for help. But don't underestimate yourself - you'll be amazed at the things you're capable of if you really put your mind to it.And above all else, be kind and have a good heart. I've met all sorts of people on this journey so far, and really, there's nothing more important than being a good person, no matter where you are in life. It speaks more than your work ever can.
