From Joanne Wong
This International Women’s Day, the theme of empowerment took on a beautifully creative form. I had the immense pleasure of joining Hebee of 3030thirtythirty and Alice in collaboration with the wonderful Hong Kong Momtrepreneurs (HKM) Moms4Moms alumni, to host a very special “Voices & Visions” workshop. Our creative space was at the super modern and inspiring offices of SEB Asia.
While I’ve spent many hours with pastels, this was my first foray into the Nagomi pastel technique—a practice as intuitive as it is freeing. It was a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the most profound creations come not from a strict technique, but from allowing our inner voice to guide our hands. The creative possibilities truly felt endless as we watched each participant bring their unique vision to life.
But the true magic of the afternoon wasn’t just in the stunning artwork created. It was in the atmosphere of the room. For two hours, a group of incredible working mothers and allies from SEB Asia carved out a precious pocket of time from their busy schedules. They didn’t just create; they connected. They breathed. They paused.
The workshop was thoughtfully designed to be more than just an art class. We began with a guided positive thinking exercise, using aromatherapy with calming scents like lavender and bergamot to set a tone of tranquility. From there, the participants dove into their art, each piece reflecting personal themes of strength and balance—some chose the resilience of flowers, others the steady rhythm of waves.
Seeing the participants take this time for themselves—to quiet the noise of daily life and simply be—was the most rewarding part of the day. Each artwork was unique and amazing, but the collective sense of calm, empathy, and peer support that filled the room was the true masterpiece.
For me, one of the most rewarding aspects behind the scenes was witnessing the deep sense of collaboration among our alumni team. As an illustrator and a writer one of program alumni, I found the experience to be a rich exchange of ideas and support, noting that collaborating with June, Grace, Hebee, Alice, and Lena felt less like organizing an event and more like a creative homecoming. It was an incredible opportunity for her to not only contribute her skills but also to learn from the unique strengths and perspectives of the other alumni, reinforcing the very spirit of community and mutual growth that our network strives to build.
A heartfelt thank you to the entire SEB Asia team for welcoming us so warmly into your offices. Thank you for your dedication to creating spaces where mothers can support, uplift, and empower one another.
Here’s to making time for our creative selves, for celebrating each other’s resilience, and for continuing to build communities where we can all thrive—together.