Intro
Wendy Vaz is a Malaysian-based entrepreneur and content creator who recently walked away from a six-year corporate career to go all-in on her own business. While many wait for a “perfect” window to transition, Wendy took the leap in the middle of a year defined by major life shifts: a wedding, a move, and a serious back injury that left her temporarily unable to sit up.
In this episode, we discuss the reality of the “messy middle” of entrepreneurship just two months after resigning. Wendy opens up about the self-doubt that occurs when you stop looking outward for validation and the spiritual shift required to trust a journey that included a fractured spine on Christmas Eve. We explore her philosophy of “nervous system regulation” as a business strategy and why she would rather work as a barista than return to the comfort of a nine-to-five.
Story Highlights
- Transitioning from a decade of “halfhearted” side hustling to going all-in on her own platforms.
- Overcoming the “looking outwards” phase where seeking advice from successful peers increased her stress levels.
- The realization that a calmed nervous system leads to better business decisions than functioning from a state of “fight or flight”.
- Navigating the “limiting belief” of being an international student and realizing that loud participation in class does not always equal intelligence.
- The impact of reverse culture shock and depression upon returning to Malaysia after studying abroad.
- Adopting a “burn the boats” mentality where having no Plan B forces the necessary focus to succeed.
Quote
“I always know that I’m a human first before I’m a content creator or a coach or whatever … I find that tools and systems are there to guide us to live as human beings. “
About Wendy Vaz
Wendy Vaz is a content creator and entrepreneur based in Kuala Lumpur. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, she has spent over ten years documenting her life through blogging, YouTube, and podcasting. After a career in the corporate world, she now focuses on helping others navigate modern stress by prioritizing mental health and personal alignment. Her mission is rooted in her own experiences with depression and physical recovery, aiming to help people feel calmer and more comforted in their daily lives.
Why This Conversation Matters
Wendy’s story provides a grounded counter-narrative to the typical “hustle culture” approach to starting a business. By focusing on the internal state—her nervous system—rather than just external metrics, she offers a blueprint for building a career that is sustainable rather than just profitable. This conversation is particularly relevant for those feeling a “growing gap” between their corporate roles and their personal values, showing that alignment is a practical choice involving significant trade-offs.
Turning Points
Wendy’s path was fundamentally altered by a full scholarship to Canada, which was her first time leaving Malaysia and forced her to adapt to an entirely different culture. A significant internal shift occurred in December 2023 when she fractured her back; the experience of being stuck on a hospital bed led to a deep level of spiritual trust in her journey. The final pivot came two months into her entrepreneurial journey when she realized that removing her “Plan B” was the only way to ensure she wouldn’t retreat when things got difficult.
Key Lessons
- Regulate your nervous system first: Making business decisions from a place of fear or stress often leads to poor outcomes.
- Trust the journey’s timing: Slowing down can often open opportunities that rushing and “grinding” might close off.
- Acknowledge your humanity: Systems and productivity tools should serve your life as a human, not just your output as a worker.
- Consistency over “niche” perfection: Wendy’s long history of sharing in public helped her find her voice and build a network before she ever felt “ready”.
- Commitment requires removing exits: If going back to a corporate job remains an easy option, you may not push through the hardest moments of building something new.
- Prioritize alignment over comfort: A high-paying, “good” company can still be the wrong place if it no longer serves your vision for your life.
If You Enjoyed This Episode
You might also like:
- Charlene Chew on Evolving Identity, the Cost of the Mask, and Processing Trauma — for more on the reality of physical recovery and reclaiming one’s narrative.
- Nuray Istiqbal on Reinvention, Identity, and Starting Over — exploring the complexities of transformation and self-acceptance.