Aren’t we all really busy – like all the time? When have you lately taken a moment for yourself out of your busy day?

We at #impact Podcast sure could do better taking some time out here and there to focus on downtime. To provide a long-term solution and prevention towards mental & physical illnesses associated with stress, burnout, unhappiness, loneliness – The Busy Woman Project is building on self-awareness and being well mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially. We sat down The Busy Woman Project co-founders Bernardette Yzelman &  Jaslyn Koh to find out how we could all live, feel and be better. 

 

The Busy Women Project

Asia’s Community for Busy Women: Making meaningful and mindful connections at their events. Photo Credit: The Busy Woman Project

If I ever publish an autobiography, this would be its tagline:

Bernardette Yzelman (“B”): Your life, your way.

Jaslyn Koh (“J”): Empowered by Strength.

You are based in Asia, what do you love about the social impact community there?

B: It’s amazing how many organizations and grassroots movements have sprung up for the various causes people believe in. More importantly, this goes to show that more and more people are not only standing up for things they believe in, but also recognizing that money is a tool, and not the be all end all.

J: An applicable meme quote here would be “faith in humanity restored” (laughs) A continued growth in self-awareness and recognizing the potential an individual has to make a difference can encourage & empower more people to drive positive change.

Tell us more about your vision for The Busy Woman Project and why you started this platform?

B & J: The vision is for busy women living in Asia and the people around them to be resilient and to lead more fulfilled lives through health – as a means towards greater diversity, well-being and global economic growth.

Women all around the world at different stages in our lives are constantly wearing multiple hats. That instinct to nurture also means that many of us end up taking care of others more than we care for ourselves. But as the saying goes, you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first!

The Busy Woman Project was created with a goal to be a relatable, lifestyle brand that can help connect, inspire & empower individuals in the community and beyond. To provide a long-term solution and prevention towards mental & physical illnesses associated with stress, burnout, unhappiness, loneliness – by building on self-awareness and being well mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially.

[Note from the editor: Click here for more information about The Busy Woman Project Team. Click here for more information about what they stand for.

Was there a certain moment when you decided, that you wanted to build something from scratch?


B: Dad started his own business when I was really young, so growing up that was what I was familiar with. The possibilities are endless when you are in charge of your own business, the limits you set, are your own. That freedom and flexibility is scary at times, but more importantly, liberating! Being able to pursue your purpose, on your own terms – you really can’t beat that!

J: Not a certain moment per se, but I’ve never feared or limited myself from doing something on my own – I’ve always been seeking growth and love experiences. I started my first little import/export business when I was 15 and enjoyed the freedom of learning and strategizing – from simple things like collaborating with others who identified with the brand on a logo design, to speaking with the vendors in China and arranging for shipment & delivery to the end consumer. Fast forward to present times – we are still constantly learning, trialling and having to regroup on strategies to pivot when necessary!

Who inspires you personally?

B: I don’t think I tell them this enough – but it would be my parents. At 2/3 years of age, both of them caught the poliovirus. For those of us who don’t know what that does, it invades the person’s nervous system and spinal cord, resulting in various severity levels of paralysis. Both of them require various mobility aids to help them get around, but that has never stopped them from getting jobs, starting businesses. Dad used to wheelchair race and even took part in the Paralympics! For a long time growing up, I don’t think I appreciated just how much of a struggle it is for them to go about their daily lives, because that was my normal. You want to talk about grit? I think they exemplify that through and through.

So to anyone out there who says that they can’t do this or that, believe me, you can. You really can, says The Busy Woman Project co-founder Bernardette Yzelman Share on X

J: No one person, but I’m inspired almost daily, whether it is through reading or from the simplest of conversations with the many people I interact with. I learn best through each individual’s experiences and especially enjoy simple, open conversations with people – frequently inspired by others’ strength, drive & ambitions.

Do you measure your impact?

B: Seeing our subscription numbers grow, and the number of cities that we are expanding in is a quantitative measure for us. Qualitatively, it is the conversations, direct messages and emails we receive that affirm us that we are on the right track, and knowing that more women and men want to spread the message too!

What do you wish you would have known before starting out?

J: Picking up more skillsets when we had the chance! But it’s never too late. We had to spend a lot of time learning, making mistakes and learning more to get to where we are now – and of course, the learning doesn’t stop!

Nevertheless, to everyone who’s reading this – all those things you want to learn, skills you want to pick up? Do it! You never know when they may come in handy.

What is the craziest thing you did so far to market your organisation?

B & J: We wouldn’t call it crazy, but prior to this, we were pretty private people – none or private social media accounts as an example. However, we learnt early on that who we are personally, is a pretty big representation of The Busy Woman Project and have had to put ourselves out there more. Still more to be done!

Anyone who reckons we need to think of something crazy to get the message viral and spread the brand to more women in Asia? Send us your suggestions – we’d definitely consider them!

How will you sustain your organisation?

B & J: We’ve bootstrapped the organization thus far, and strongly believe in collaborations with like-minded individuals and businesses to do all that we do.

Shameless plug here – we are now looking towards sponsorships and/or partnerships with purpose-driven brands that are aligned with our focus on women empowerment and wellbeing – so if you, yes you, think we are a good fit with your company, drop us an email at ladies@thebusywomanproject.com

We are open to collaborations in a way that is beneficial to the community, and that enables us to keep growing sustainably.

What gives you the worst sleepless nights right now?

B: Right now, it is how we can continue our growth exponentially – to expand The Busy Woman Project brand throughout Asia – with our limited resources and in a sustainable manner.

We’ve had awesome ladies reach out to us from different countries including Tokyo, the Philippines, USA, etc, asking us to bring The Busy Woman Project brand there. But with the lean team that we have, it is figuring out the ‘balance’ between what makes sense from a sustainable business model perspective,  and what we can do to keep growing and spreading the message!

What was the most memorable moment working on The Busy Woman Project?

J: There have been so many! Perhaps, the first time when we really saw strangers connecting at our event that progressed to real friendships and ultimately, receiving notes thanking us for making a difference in their lives – that was probably our first “A-ha!” moment, that we were truly building a brand & community that connects individuals. It was a pat on the back for the team, and a real driving force when we encounter hurdles along our journey – a reminder of why we do what we do.

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring change-makers, what would that be?

B & J: Pick your battles – you’re gonna be faced with opportunities and setbacks alike, but to stay the course for the long term, you’re gonna have to prioritize what is most important and learn what to let go.

What could everyone do RIGHT NOW to make the world a better place?

B & J: Ask someone how they are and actually bother to listen. You never know what someone is really going through even if they seem to be all smiles!

Where can we follow you?

Join the community & read content pieces at: thebusywomanproject.com

If you enjoyed this read you will LOVE hearing from Alicia Lui from Women in Sports Empowered. Read more here.