In this week’s interview, we have the pleasure of introducing you to Vernessa Chuah, Founder and Director of Mindful Space, First Pregnancy Loss Coach in SouthEast Asia.
Vernessa loves teaching, learning, and sharing! She has been an educator in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore, experiencing the best of both the Eastern and Western worlds. They were practicing positive communication when one of her students asked her why she needs to speak positively when she is constantly being nagged and yelled at by her parents. That conversation stuck with Vernessa. As parents, we tend to parent our children the way we were being parent, and might not practice what we preach. Vernessa wanted to make a difference in parenting and children’s way of learning.
Connect with Vernessa
Let’s start with the timeless 60 seconds ‘elevator pitch’, what’s yours?
Children learn best when they are having fun. It’s brain science! Through fun play, Mindful Space focus on teaching values and soft skills (eg: resilience, empathy, confidence, growth mindset, body awareness, strength, and coordination). We are the first parent and child physical curator in Singapore that promotes holistic activities from babies to teenagers to adults. There’s something exciting every month. Eg: aerial yoga, kayaking, gardening, mindfulness, yoga, baking, amazing race, sensory and water play, camping, and many more. Parents wonder why their children are so happy here. We allow them to have play-based learning in a safe and explorative environment. Let children have fun, and they will self-regulate better, be more confident and make better choices. We are currently the only space in Singapore that offers family aerial and kids aerial as young as two years old to teenage fifteen years old.
At one point or another, it is inevitable that challenges will pop up in business. What’s your approach to overcoming challenges?
We were open only for six months and Covid-19 visited. It was a stressful two years for a bootstrap company. Being a pioneer in the market means being a risk taker to explore, and being courageous to be different. I learned to keep my business lean with freelance manpower, pivoting, and automation. Most importantly, I was not afraid to be vulnerable and seek support. At the same time, filter through the advice and make my own decision; trusting my instinct yet also being flexible to reflect, revise, unlearn and relearn. Understand that my success does not define who I am. I am blessed to have met many great people who believe in the vision of Mindful Space.
Sales and marketing are two very important, but different, functions within a business. What is your number one sales tip?
Work with your heart and others will come naturally. Positive energy will be attracted to your calling 🙂
What is your favourite business tool or system?
Word of mouth for marketing
Agile for CRM
Skedda for room resources
Classcard for attendance and booking
WordPress for website
It is important to celebrate your achievements, particularly during the difficult times. How do you celebrate your achievements?
Share with my team and the community. Mindful Space is here because of the people who believe in us.
Being in business is like an education in itself, what are the three most important lessons you’ve learned in your business?
Lesson 1: It’s okay not to know. It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay if others know more than you (a leader empowers others). It’s more authentic and genuine to know the person who is running the business.
Lesson 2: You will never have enough time and energy to do all the work. Delegate! Find the right people to be your hands and legs, while you be the brain.
Lesson 3: Set boundaries and it’s okay to say NO! When you say NO to things that do not serve you, you are saying YES to things that serve you.
What business-related book or podcast has inspired you the most?
Brene Brown’s Podcast – love the variety of different perspectives she showcases, her authenticity, and her vulnerability.
Big Life Journal, Daniel Siegel, Dr. Laura Markham, Sarah Ockwell Smith – for parenting techniques and tools
Gabor Mate, Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine – on trauma, body and somatics
The purpose of such an interview is to promote your business. Please tell us, who is your dream client?
Parents who want to nurture their children with values and soft skills that last a lifetime, going beyond academics.
Parents who believe and are willing to practice respectful and positive parenting.
Parents who believe in fun play as the best way of learning, allow their children to explore their own journey (and be okay with their mistakes and mess along the way!)
If you are Vernessa’s dream client, please contact her through her website, Mindful Space.
Thank you for taking the time to connect with us Vernessa. We are delighted to showcase you on our site.
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Women Business Owners Asia is a passion project to showcase the women, living in Asia, who have taken the plunge and started their own business.
“There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.” – Unknown
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