Wanda Wijaya talks about her journey with Ohana Therapy and what she’s learnt from her experience.
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Tell us the story behind your business.
I grew up with a preschool principal as a mother, so I spent a lot of time surrounded by children. Over the years, I discovered a passion for working with kids who have different or additional needs. Ohana Therapy is truly my dream come true. I’ve had a longstanding ambition to open a holistic, ethical, and multi-disciplinary clinic that is accessible to all, and I think we’ve achieved this!
The clinic is rooted in the belief that nobody gets left behind. We know we can’t be the best at everything, so we’re more than happy to work closely with other healthcare professionals or even refer clients to other therapists who may be a better fit for them. At the heart of it, we are carers first, and we want everyone who walks through our doors to feel like they are seen, heard, and known. Together with the team, we support and empower individuals and their families so that they can lead their most fulfilling lives.
What are some milestones or achievements you’re most proud of?
Our team recently won the Silver award for Expat Living’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2024, which was a huge milestone and achievement for us! I was so touched, honoured, and thankful to everyone who voted for us.
On a more personal level, starting this business and building a multi-disciplinary team of like-minded individuals – in terms of values, approach, and practice – have been some of my life’s biggest accomplishments. My team is fantastic! Each person brings their unique expertise and personality to the organisation, which makes them an absolute joy to work with. I love collaborating across teams and disciplines to help clients who have multiple or more complex needs. The teams’ differing backgrounds, experience, and education help us connect with our clients more deeply and ensure that we always put the best plan forward.
Share with us a setback that taught you a valuable lesson about running a business.
Running a business is like having a child who never sleeps. There’s always something to do, improve, fix, think, or worry about. It can be non-stop work 24/7. In the early days of the business, this was the case. I was the master and commander of all, and everything in between. This started taking a toll on my physical and mental well-being. It was even affecting some of my relationships.
Since then, I’ve learnt that setting boundaries and putting in place plans with achievable timelines helped. I also learnt to let go – sometimes hiring the right help (and trusting them) is the best solution!
Describe a typical day in your life and what you love most about it.
I allocate certain days for seeing clients and others for business development and management. However, most of the time I end up doing both on the same day, and I secretly love it! I currently get the best of both worlds; running a business while seeing clients and maintaining my clinical learning.
If I’m not seeing clients, I’m discussing upcoming plans or campaigns with the team, building relationships with other healthcare professionals from different fields, designing Instagram posts (you can check them out @ohanatherapy.sg!) or attending trainings to grow as a therapist. This journey has helped me learn so much – both from my team and from the wonderful people I’ve met along the way.
Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Always remember your ‘why’. Why did you make this leap to start your business? The entrepreneurial journey isn’t easy and it’s filled with many ups and downs. Holding on to that ‘why’ will help you when the going gets tough.
Having a strong support system is also important, be it family, friends, or fellow business owners you can bounce ideas with. Last but not least, someone once told me, “Work on the business, not in the business.” That hit me deep, so I want to pass that on. There will be times in the business when it seems more comfortable being involved in the day-to-day things, but if you want the business to grow, you have to learn to let go of the micro tasks to focus on the macro work!
Top tip for maintaining a good work-life balance?
Be firm with yourself and set boundaries with work (I’m still working on this if we’re being honest). Schedule a few fun or relaxing things into your calendar every week, and don’t compromise on them.
Favourite thing to do on weekends?
Weekends are usually reserved for some downtime. This might mean reading a book, doing a 1,000-piece puzzle, or going for walks. I also love spending quality time with family, especially with my adorable little niblings!
Tell us one fun fact about yourself that not many people know.
I don’t like chocolate. I often get gifts from clients or industry partners that include chocolates, and I feel guilty saying this, but I don’t eat any of them. My husband’s waistline hates me for it!
Get in touch with Wanda Wijaya online.
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