In an exclusive interaction with SCIKEY, Shera speaks about her inspiration to start Caring Moms Malaysia, her experience serving in the military,  challenges faced during pandemic & much more  

1. Please tell us about yourself

I am a mother to a 12-year-old. I was a decorated officer in the Malaysian army. I am now retired from the army after serving for 22 years to run CARING MOMS full time. The idea of CARING MOMS sprang up when I needed a day-care service to care for my then-10-year-old son.

2. What is it like serving in the military? What were the challenges and how has it made you the person you are today?

I joined the military to fulfill my mother’s wish. Back in the 90s, women enlisting in the military was not very popular. But I wanted to make my mother’s dream come true and when the opportunity presented itself, I had her full support. She stood by me right from the day I attended the selection interview till the day I retired. 

Upon starting the group, my co-founder Umesh Narasimhaiah and I saw that the membership only began to grow. It was then that we realized we had touched a pain point. Women yearned for economic and financial independence and this Facebook group quickly became a platform for them to provide their services and receive remuneration from it. We then began our mission to empower women economically and in 2018, I officially retired from the Malaysian Armed Forces to fully serve the underserved, marginalized and displaced women in society.

3. What inspired you to start Caring Moms Malaysia?

As I enjoyed my command on every level, I realized that I had a little boy to care for at home who was now going to school. I realized he was not given the proper care at his after-school daycare. It was also not easy for me to leave my job due to its nature. 

It was then that I started to reach out to stay-at-home moms by creating a Facebook group, hoping to find a suitable ‘halfway home’ for my son. I always tell people, CARING MOMS was started by a 7-year-old boy who needed a good daycare. Then of course all the empowering success stories. CARING MOMS has seen hundreds, maybe thousands of women who have now successfully achieved financial independence.

Their success is the fuel that keeps us.

4. How has the journey been since the pandemic? How did you manage? Were there any challenges, and how you overcome them?

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many breadwinners to lose their jobs, face salary cuts as well as lose opportunities. But we kept motivating them to stay positive. After all, that is what entrepreneurship is all about — seeing a problem, turning it into an opportunity, and never giving up. 

Since the pandemic, CM has seen an increase of 25% in the membership subscription. It is also the first to introduce E-BAZAARs in Malaysia, which has also been soaring. 

The first thing we do is direct you to our support team. If you are selling food, you need to have the food handling course certification and typhoid injection certification. We can help provide those courses and after you’re certified, you are registered as a seller. 

The actual value of the course is around RM300 but we conduct it at RM50. We teach members the necessary skills to sell effectively on Caring Moms. Constant motivation is provided through FFSN and we educate them on how to market their products and establish good customer rapport.

5. As a motivational speaker, what would you say is the most difficult part of being one?

Touching the right sentiment that hits close to heart and capturing the hearts and minds of the audience

6. Who are your heroes?

My biggest inspiration is of course my mother. I see what a selfless and kind person she is. I think if we can all be like her, the world would be a beautiful place to live in.

7. What is your message to empower women around the world?

Malaysian women are highly capable. I know this because I see how strong they are. There should be no barriers preventing them from moving forward. Most of the time, barriers and obstacles are only in the mind. All women should not feel limited in the things they can do. They can develop confidence and unlock their maximum potential given the right environment and leaders. Once they know that, then a world full of limitless possibilities awaits them.

About SCIKEY:

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