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For five years, she worked at a multinational company in KL Sentral, commuting 60km daily from Semenyih.
For 28-year-old Nur Syafieqa Aziela, her life was a blur of early mornings, long hours, and never-ending stress. But today, she’s swapped corporate calls for cakes, and office deadlines for dessert tables.
Now the proud owner of a home-based bakery called Kueh Maneih, this Malaysian mom is baking her way into people’s hearts—one event at a time.
From IT troubleshooting to trays of brownies
Before starting her business, Syaf spent years in the tech industry, where her role involved troubleshooting, customer service, and working with external partners.
At first, it was manageable. But as the years passed, the job took its toll on her.
I had to wake up by 6am just to reach the office by 8am. Sometimes, I’d come home late, exhausted. Even during rest days, my mind would still be occupied with work.
“Eventually, I realised this wasn’t the life I truly wanted.”
A new beginning sparked by motherhood
It wasn’t until her maternity leave that things started to shift. With three to four months off, Syaf began baking out of curiosity mostly for her husband, with her first creation being a simple tray of brownies.
“I never knew I had a talent for baking. But to my surprise, I actually enjoyed the process. Baking felt peaceful, like a kind of therapy.
“I started jotting down recipes and experimenting with them. I also took baking classes and learned traditional recipes from my mother, who’s a kuih-maker,” she shared.
Together, they formed a mother-daughter partnership with Syaf’s mom handling the kuih and Syaf focusing on cakes and Western desserts.
And that was how Kueh Maneih was born—a sweet blend of both old and new.
A business born from scratch
Leaving a stable, high-paying corporate job wasn’t easy. But deep down, Syaf knew she needed a change as she no longer felt fulfilled at her job and dreaded the long commutes.
I wanted to do something that made me feel alive again—something that gave me space to breathe.”
Starting a business from home came with its own set of challenges. As a new mom, Syaf’s time was stretched thin, with her son demanding every bit of attention from her, making it hard for her to work uninterrupted.
“He’s my only child and he’s super clingy. From the moment I start baking, he wanted to be with me all the time,” she explained.
Still, Syaf pressed on and began giving out free samples of muffins and cakes to friends and family for events. As word about her business started to spread, orders flowed in and Syaf’s online presence started to grow.
As for the financial side however, things were less than rosy.
“Although I made RM1,000 in sales, it didn’t translate into RM1,000 in profit. Without an accountant, I had to manage everything myself.
“Every cent was carefully planned, with the extra going straight into the business,” she said.
Trading stability for peace of mind
Before officially leaving her job, Syaf made sure to save at least six months’ worth of living expenses and used half of the amount to invest in basic baking equipment, supplies, and other tools.
She also received financial support from her family, something that she’s deeply grateful for. Today, everything that’s sold at Kueh Maneh is 100% handmade from scratch.
When asked what was the most fulfilling parts of the job, Syaf’s face lit up when recalling one particular instance.
“I had some clients who rebooked me for future events after trying my desserts. It’s moments like these that give me strength on tough days and reminds me why I chose this path.
Compared to my previous job, my income now is less predictable. But what I gained in return was peace. Baking gave me a new sense of purpose and helped me discover parts of herself I didn’t know existed.”
Learning to juggle motherhood and ambition
Balancing motherhood with running a business hasn’t been easy. Syaf’s son demands attention almost every hour, so she often bakes while he sleeps either late at night or early in the morning.
During the day, she focuses on caring for him. But even when she’s exhausted, her passion keeps her going.
“I’ve learnt that being a mother doesn’t mean putting your dreams on hold. You can still be ambitious, tired, and passionate—all at once. Even though I’m a mom, I’m still a woman with ambition,” she said.
Dreaming of something bigger
Looking ahead, Syaf hopes to eventually build a team of her own and move into a proper baking space. For now, everything is done straight from her apartment.
But with every order, she’s one step closer to that dream.
If there’s one thing she wishes she knew earlier, it’s that the journey wouldn’t be easy — but it would be worth it.
I just hope my business continues to grow and that I’ll gain more customers in the future.”
She may earn less now, but she’s gained something far more valuable: freedom, purpose, and the joy of creating something with her own hands.
And sometimes, that’s more than enough.
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