From creating her own fashion platform to being chief executive of Shingda Group of companies, and the mama to four young kids, here’s how Pek Lay Peng does it all
How I’m Making It is a weekly series in which Tatler speaks to influential individuals about their unique journeys and what keeps them going.
Pek Lay Peng is no ordinary entrepreneur that you can spot at parties and luncheons.
Behind her veneer of grace and class is a multi-hyphenate who owns a multi-label fashion platform, holds the title of chief executive officer of Shingda Group of companies and is a mother of four kids. Yet she somehow manages it all with grit and determination, plus a stellar team behind her.
See also: How I’m Making It: Powella Founder Sital Phichitsingh on Juggling Her Own Business and Family
Considering her extensive fashion and business know-how, some may be surprised to learn that Pek studied history in university but started her career in the finance industry. She later joined her family business in the field of infrastructure civil engineering and it was her experience here that taught her more about entrepreneurship.
“The best takeaway from the financial industry was knowing your place in the ecosystem. As businesses grow and expand, the direction is very important. Being viable in an ecosystem can lead to complacency but having an awareness lets you tread with purpose,” she said.
See also: How I’m Making It: How Elemis Co-Founder Noella Gabriel Started Her Wellness Career at 20
In 2014, Pek noticed there was a lack in the fashion industry in that it was extremely difficult to find designer clothes at acceptable price points. Eager to see how she could fill the gap, Pek decided to start SocietyA with her friend, Lily Hamid.
“I also saw an opportunity in having a first-mover advantage in curating talented Asian designer labels. There was an emergence of highly talented and well-trained Asian designers from renowned fashion design schools, but they were still under-represented internationally,” she said.
“I wanted to play a part in supporting them and dispel the misconception that Asian designers are not of international standards.”
It has been seven years since Pek launched the platform and they have since become the only omnichannel platform for Asian labels in the world as well as expanded its offerings to include beauty and home and lifestyle items as well.
In fact, the company is consistently researching different Asian countries and their local brands to see how they can provide a platform for these designers and brands.
It may be easy to be in awe of how this supermum does it all on her own but she is quick to give credit to her team.
“No one is perfect, harness the power of the team. Be open and let people feel safe to share their thoughts. It is easy to be the boss but not easy to be a leader. The latter needs more buy-in. It is important to move the team in a manner that can be scaled and not lose culture when numbers grow,” she said.
However, beyond an amazing team is also a 'never give up' mindset, grit and the determination to succeed. Below, Pek shares how she does it all in her own words.
See also: 4 Amazing Female-Hosted Podcasts and IGTV series to Follow