Elaine Tang is the founder and CEO of Melvory Australia. Melvory started from humble beginnings in 2017, after Elaine felt so frustrated watching her children suffer with eczema. As a qualified Pharmacist, she decided to formulate a range of natural skincare products to help her children recover. The results were amazing!
From baby balms, she then developed a full range of products, including skincare, make-up, and haircare. Elaine now leads an amazing team of 13, with every product being handmade with love in South Australia.
After first selling her products at local markets, Melvory is now a global brand with over 55,000 loyal customers and stockists world-wide.
At the very heart of Melvory is their mission to transform lives. With every order that Melvory receives, 10 meals are donated to starving children in Kenya. Over 500,000 meals have been donated so far, saving many lives during the pandemic and beyond.
Can you tell us how your background has influenced the way you are as a WoC founder?
Back in my home country of Malaysia, despite finishing high school as the top student in my state, I was refused tertiary education because of my skin colour, religion, gender and my Chinese heritage.
I was told I should just find myself a husband, have kids and stay home. Refusing to accept that as my fate, I fought hard and received a scholarship to study Pharmacy at UniSA.
I arrived in Australia alone at 18, foreign to the language and I had to relearn all of the subjects in English.
Now, I’m a mum, a wife, an Asian woman, and I’ve built my business from scratch into a multi-million dollar, global business.
Yet there’s still this inner voice that tells me “Elaine, who are you to do this? Who are you to put yourself out there? You’re not good enough.” This is the narrative that has been ingrained into me growing up.
In actual fact, there have been so many generational and cultural expectations that I have had to “go against”. And I know I’m not alone.
This is why I am such a strong advocate for women of colour and my Asian sisters to use their voice, chase their dreams and never give in to generational expectations of how Asian women “should be”.
Together we can fight these inner voices, by encouraging, inspiring and uplifting one another. If we can all proudly own our success, then one day we will be able to break free from the stereotype and cultural biases.
I often get messages in my inbox from other Asian women commenting on how brave I am to go against tradition. And if I ever worry about being judged. I tell them:
“Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.” – Les Brown
Don’t let other people’s opinions and judgments shape our sense of self-worth and identity. It’s a reminder that our own thoughts and beliefs about ourselves are what truly matter, and that we should strive to be true to ourselves, even in the face of criticism and judgment from others. By not caring about what others think and believe, we can have the confidence and freedom to live our lives on our own terms and pursue our dreams and aspirations.
I truly want to ignite a spark in my Asian sisters, so that they know that there is no limit to what they can achieve. I want to tell them – girls, don’t be afraid. No matter how you define success – don’t be afraid of going further than your family and your culture has told you in the past.
Break through those ceilings, break through those limitations. And when I get messages that say they are doing just that – it makes my heart so happy. I have changed my life, and the life of my daughters. And I will keep going to help other Asian women to do the same.
What was one of the most gratifying moments for you in business?
In the past 12 months, we have continued to donate 10 meals to Kenyan children with every order placed and have reached over 500,000 meals donated in total! Together with our team No Hungry Children, we also built our 50th school in Kenya.
Through these schools, we will be feeding over 5,500 children every day in school. That’s 5,500 lives saved from the dooms of slums, not having to resort to theft and violence just to survive. They are clothed, given school uniforms, and have their bellies filled with nutritious food. When we feed students every day at school, they know that they are cared for and loved. These kids are learning English, Maths and other subjects.
Education is the key to break free from the vicious cycle of poverty and through feeding these precious children, it removes the “hunger obstacle” that keeps so many kids from going to school and receiving that life-changing education.
What do you think is one of the traits that makes a successful WoC founder?
There are several traits that can contribute to the success of a Woman of Colour founder, but one that stands out is resilience.
Women of Colour often face unique challenges in the business world, such as discrimination, bias, and lack of representation. These obstacles can make it harder for them to succeed, but resilience can help them overcome these challenges.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and persevere in the face of adversity. Successful Women of Colour founders often have a strong sense of resilience that allows them to stay focused on their goals, even when the road gets tough.
They are able to handle rejection, criticism, and failure without losing their motivation or drive. They are also able to pivot and adjust their strategies as needed, which is essential for success in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship.
You’re a Mum to 3 young children, what are 3 top tips you would give to a busy Mum who’s looking to start her own business?
- Prioritize and manage your time effectively: As a busy mum, my time is limited, so it’s important to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively. I make a list of the most important things I need to do each day and focus on completing those tasks first. I use a calendar or planner to keep track of my schedule and block off time for work, family time, and self-care.
- Set realistic goals: Starting a business can be overwhelming, especially when you have children to take care of. It’s important to set realistic goals and be patient with yourself. I don’t expect to accomplish everything at once. I break my goals down into smaller, achievable steps and celebrate my progress along the way.
- Build a support network: Starting a business can be a lonely journey, so it’s important to build a support network of family, friends, and fellow entrepreneurs who can offer me encouragement and advice.
As a busy mum, it’s important to take care of myself and prioritize my mental and physical health along the way. Starting a business can be challenging, but with the right mindset, strategies, and support, anyone can achieve their goals and build a successful business.
If you could turn back time, is there anything you would do differently knowing what you know now?
As an entrepreneur, one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that there is no such thing as the perfect time to start a business. I used to think that I needed to wait until I had all my ducks in a row, until I had enough savings in the bank, until my kids were a bit older, until the market was just right – the list goes on and on.
However, looking back, I now realize that waiting for the perfect time only held me back. I was missing out on valuable learning experiences and growth opportunities by delaying action. Starting a business is a journey that involves a lot of trial and error, and the earlier I started, the more time I would have had to learn and pivot along the way.
In fact, the very act of starting a business can often create opportunities that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. For example, reaching out to potential customers or partners, networking with other entrepreneurs, and getting feedback on your ideas can all lead to valuable insights and connections that can help your business grow and thrive.
So, if I could turn back time, I would have taken action sooner and embraced the journey of entrepreneurship with all its ups and downs. As the saying goes, “the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is now.” In the same way, the best time to start a business may have been yesterday, but the second-best time is today!
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