What do you remember the most from your childhood? Is there any special memory you’d like to share?

Sofea : I grew up in a condo where all my friends would meet up every day at the park/playground and we’d come up with our own games. I’d come home sweaty and full of adrenaline every single day. No phones and no electronic gadgets. When I was 10, my friends and I discovered baking and we set up a DIY stall in the condo and sold cookies and this eventually evolved to us creating our own jewellery. We even went door to door selling our products and doing business was just pure fun to us! We weren’t even that interested in the money we made.

Marisa : I remember lots of big parties growing up especially Christmas gatherings. I come from a Eurasian family so there were always big celebrations every now and then with hundreds of friends and family members.

Growing up, what were those habits that made you the person that you are today?

Sofea : I was always curious to try and know everything I could growing up. I always wanted to experience grown-up things such as doing business. This led me to my goal of wanting to succeed in everything I do and as young as possible. 

Marisa : I’ve always been very involved in co-curricular activities in school. I always ended up taking the lead, most of it involved charity, doing things to enrich and empower others. I come from an all-girls school so I’ve always been sensitive to the plight of women.

What would you like to share about your family, your bond with them, how do you stay together despite the busy lives we live?

Sofea : I’m lucky to be able to be in business with my mom. So even though we’re busy, we’re busy together. I also always make it a thing to check up on my younger brothers every few days and spend time with my family whenever I can. Before this pandemic, we’d always plan a yearly holiday as a family to a place we’ve never been and I can say that helps keep us close and create new memories together. 

Marisa : To me, being in touch with my children every day and trying to incorporate my busy schedule around them is very important. I try to include them in my busy life whenever I can. I work with my daughter so I communicate and see her every day. I love that!

Where do you draw your strengths from? Who or what are the biggest inspirations of your life?

Sofea : My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She’s my superwoman. She’s always been a go-getter and an over-achiever. She’s always made it clear to me how important it is to be self-made and to not depend on anyone else. I always wanted to be like her when I grow up. 

Marisa : My mom inspired me because, for so little that we had growing up, we never felt like we were poor. She always got us what we needed and wanted. Also, my late uncle was always an inspiration to me too. He grew up poor, and from a school teacher, he made his way up to become a dato and the brainchild of Proton. He truly inspired me.

What is your formula of balancing your work and personal lives and being an ace in both?

Sofea : I think that when you’re doing business, you have the freedom to decide when it’s time to work and when it’s time to take some time off for yourself. I believe in working hard and playing harder. 

Marisa : Firstly, to always take care of the home, and give equal attention to my work life and my personal life. I always communicate my dreams and plans with my family. I think that making sure my family is aligned with my goals and dreams is so important. I also always treat the people I work with like family and they’re close to my family as well.

What disparity do you still see on the gender front at the workplace?

Sofea : Honestly, in the insurance business, I don’t see a disparity on gender as people trust you based on your expertise, how knowledgeable, honest, and transparent you are, and not your gender. 

Marisa : I don’t see a disparity. In our business, the harder you work, the further you get regardless of your gender as far as I’m concern. However, there is an exception to some disrespectful male clients who try to take advantage of our young, gullible, and enthusiastic female agents but in succeeding in the business, I don’t see a disparity.

If you would be given the superpower for one day to do something for Women, what would be that?

Sofea : The ability to see into the future so that I can advise women to make the right decisions to build the life they want. 

Marisa : I would like to have the ability to read minds as a superpower so that I can help women better.

What is the happiest moment of your life that you’d like to share?

Sofea : When I decided to quit my 9-5 job to do business at a young age.

Marisa : The birth of my kids. To me, that’s the biggest miracle of the world. To be able to birth a mini-me and to see them copying me growing up and then building their own personalities.

What was the biggest setback in your life and how did you overcome it?

Sofea : Conforming to standards that I should be a professional instead of a businesswoman. I realized that as a businesswoman, the sky is your limit so I shut out those who told me otherwise. 

Marisa : My marriage. I found out later on in the marriage that it was not what I believed it to be. I was constantly suppressed and not allowed to succeed. My personality was not accepted, I was always told that I was too loud and too expressive. It was a mental torture, not being able to be myself for so long. 

Share any initiative/s you have taken to empower other women if any?

Marisa : I joined an NGO for intellectual and professional women who were abused. Those who have lost a piece of themselves from a marriage just like me. These women are well educated but unable to pick themselves up. Like me, they were molded to be someone their husbands wanted them to be. I loved watching and helping each and every one of them regain their confidence. I still do my best to help them earn their own money and empower themselves with the freedom to choose their own paths after that.

Define in your own words - #WorkingWomenWonders

Sofea : Women working towards being the best versions of themselves and being independent. 

Marisa : To me, it’s how women juggle and multitask family and work and still succeed equally in each area.

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