Wai Foong Ng, Founder of Suit & Pie talks to TQC about making the most of her weekends, using change as a motivator, and her tweenage girl band.

1. Tell us about you- what motivates you?

I have been thinking about this a lot recently, oddly enough. And I realised that as I get older, what really matters to me is the idea that I can make a difference. It doesn’t have to be big and it doesn’t have to impact millions or even hundred of people, it just has to have helped one person. I have something planned for Suit & Pie along those lines so definitely watch this space.!

Mmm not super exciting I’m afraid. Weekdays I usually try and get to the gym a couple of mornings per week (I have just signed up to ClassPass which means I am all over HIIT classes like 1Rebel and Project Fit – performance during class is variable!) and will usually end up doing a brekkie interview for Suit & Pie or catching up with friends for early breakfast. Then I’m in work for 9 and there until 7ish on a good day. My day job is the very exciting world of deals so there are lots of tight deadlines and the odd late night.

Weekends are Mr F time so we try and do something in London – check out some new restaurants, pop-ups or exhibitions. We love a good street food market! We also catch up with friends and family and take the odd (motor)bike ride out of town (yes, we wear ALL the biking gear – it’s heavy).

3. Who is your role model and why?

I don’t think I have a single role model to be honest. There are qualities that I admire in lots of people and I think you end up trying to emulate those and build them into yourself.

The biggest ones for me are:
– my mum for her incredible resilience
– my friend Elisha for her creativity (this woman has started her own underwear company, written a book, produced a movie all while having a baby and holding a full time job)
– my friend Akima for her courage and not being afraid to stand up for herself and what she believes in
– Mr Foong for his ability to use humour to diffuse any situation!

There are loads of others but not enough space to list them all!!

4. What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?

Probably starting Suit & Pie is one of the most courageous things I’ve ever done.  That – and attempting to start my own girl band as a tween.

You always have this feeling that you have to fit in to get by, not draw attention to yourself, don’t shout too loud or rock the boat. So Suit & Pie was really scary for me because I was actually taking a position and saying – this is something I believe in. I don’t regret it for a minute though – everyone has been so supportive and the women and men I have met on this journey have been truly inspiring

5. What does Balance mean to you in your life?

Balance to me is more of a state of being than anything more tangible. It’s when I feel that I’m in control – of myself and of any other variables that I can manage. That’s when I feel the most at ease and the most confident in what I’m doing, in what I’m saying, in how I’m holding myself. It can happen at any time – even if you’re back to back in meetings and running around like a maniac as long as you have the right headspace. I picture it a bit as though I’m standing still and everything else around me is being fast forwarded (maybe I’ve been watching too many Matrix movies – bet Neo had balance, must have been that blue pill)

6. What’s the most inspiring thing you’ve read, seen or done in the last month?

I am going through a bit of a female comedian autobiography phase. I read Yes Please by Amy Poehler and Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham recently. Both very different but very honest and inspiring accounts from women who are in the creative industry which (as you ladies know) isn’t easy at all (she says, like she knows). There is something very unapologetic about them which I really admire. Kind of “this is me – take or leave it flaws and wobbly bits and all”. Yes, please I will take one of those to go!

Suit And Pie is a news and inspiration online platform for men and women. Visit the site here.

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