Meet Jia Li, an interesting woman whose life story is one of breaking barriers, showing resilience, and carving her own path with a single goal, to live a life she can look back on without regrets.
Here’s her story, and it’s one worth reading.
From corporate company to bakery
Jia Li is someone who constantly seeks growth, thrives on new experiences, and embraces challenges that push her potential. Growing up with a mindset that encouraged independent thinking, she was never afraid to take risks or pursue what truly fulfilled her.
That belief eventually led her to make one of the biggest decisions of her life: leaving her corporate career behind for an unexpected journey in the food industry.
This comes after years of working in multinational Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies and gaining experience across various divisions, where she realised her career had plateaued.
I had the knowledge, skills, and industry insights, but something still was missing, which was my personal fulfillment. Staying in the same job would have been the safe option, but I craved for more.
“Thus, the desire to push myself beyond my comfort zone ultimately drove me to take the leap into an entirely different industry,” she shared.
One risk after another
When Jia Li transitioned from a corporate job to working at a bakery café, the biggest challenge wasn’t the job itself; it was the reaction from those around her.
Friends and colleagues questioned why she would leave a stable corporate role for a career in a bakery, assuming that it came with a significant pay cut and menial tasks like cleaning tables.
“They’d say: ‘Why are you doing this? You had a high-paying job!’ But I knew what I was doing.
“What they actually didn’t realise was that my salary was actually higher than what I earned back at my corporate job. Once they knew about this, the judgmental remarks stopped,” she said.
Despite her unconventional career change, Jia Li’s interest in personal finance remained strong. She wanted to be part of an organisation with a strong culture that encouraged personal growth. While she had no prior experience in investment advisory, she saw immense value in financial literacy.
Thanks to her strong foundation in economics, Jia Li quickly grasped the intricacies of asset management and she was eventually selected for a fast-track program to obtain her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification.
This milestone enabled her to create comprehensive financial plans for clients, including investment portfolios and retirement planning.
“Many people panic when markets decline and often make poor decisions. My role as an adviser was to educate and guide them towards financial success with sound strategies and patience,” she said.
A woman who can do it all
Transitioning into the food industry wasn’t entirely unfamiliar for Jia Li. Her experience in FMCG had already given her an understanding of the supply chain, starting from sourcing raw materials to serving a finished product.
Working in a bakery café taught her customer service skills, branding, and business operations. Her financial background equipped her with the resilience needed to handle business risks and long hours.
Work is not just a job for me, it’s a lifestyle,” she reflected.
One of the most transformative moments of her journey was when her kitchen staff left unexpectedly, forcing her to step up as the head chef of her restaurant.
Despite having no prior culinary experience, she took only two days to learn every dish on the menu and reopened the restaurant by the third day. That night, they had a full house and she cooked non-stop for three and a half hours.
“I was exhausted, but when I saw customers finishing every bite, I knew I had done something right.
“Since then, I have created new dishes from scratch, including nasi lemak, sambal, and even French-inspired baked chicken,” she declared.
Through this journey, Jia Li has learned that if one is curious and resourceful, they can teach themselves almost anything.
Aside from creating delicious food, Jia Li has also picked up the skill of fixing broken tiles, changing ceiling lights, and understanding electrical and plumbing systems, skills that save money and make her a more capable entrepreneur.
I never thought I’d be fixing things myself, but when you own a business, you find a way to get things done,” she laughed.
“Fear is just not facing something enough. The more you expose yourself to challenges, the less scary they become”.
‘Trust the process’
For those who feel ‘stuck’ in their careers, Jia Li believes it’s a sign that they’ve outgrown their current roles and are ready for new challenges.
Taking a leap into something entirely different may seem daunting, but staying stagnant out of fear is an even greater risk.
“People will judge you no matter what you do and tell you what to do, but they’re not the ones taking the risks. Everyone needs to trust themselves.
“To me, always developing myself & living a fulfilling life is more important than working for a stable paycheck. True wealth naturally comes when you’re equipped with knowledge & substance!” she said.
Meanwhile, Jia Li is gathering like-minded people in her restaurant Jia’s located in PJ, where she holds interesting events that would bring people together to learn something meaningful.
If you would love to check out her halal food and also attend her events ,or you are a talent in the Education, Art, Music, Living Skill and Food industry & happy to collaborate together, you may contact her at +0168047084.
You can visit her restaurant at B-G, 11, Jalan SS 6/20, Dataran Glomac, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and follow her culinary journey on Instagram @jomkitajia.
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