Who is Shuhada Alauddin, the Malaysian Girl Boss who has been featured in The Star, Herworld, Cosmopolitan Malaysia, Marie Claire? Yeah, you hear it right this queen girl decided to take a different path in life no one else would and has now become a transformational speaker, life coach and the founder of
Growing always feels like breaking at first
It all started when one day Alauddin had a major meltdown when she was still in legal practice. At the time she was a corporate lawyer for many years and drafting agreements and conducting negotiations for purposes of company take-overs and mergers were her bread and butter; which Alauddin naturally
‘’This discovery convinced me to undertake a certification course on colour energy and 1 year after completing the course I decided to leave legal practice to start my coaching company.’’
Alauddin’s aim was to share what she discovered for herself – as she believes many people are in the same boat she was i.e. not doing what they are meant to do because they unsure what it is they are supposed to do due to now knowing who they really are at the core; and it became her mission to help as many people to find their true colours and discover the dream job/ business that fits their personality.
Tell us about your workshop at the moment, how do you come up with the tips to coach your clients?
For individual clients, the workshops that I’ve been conducting are known as “Hue I Am: Start Owning Your Potential & Hack That Dream Business With Colours” and “Flow-In-Millions Masterclass: Unblock Money Energy”.
For these 2 programs, I train, coach and share with my clients based on the experiences that I’ve gone through myself. So the tips and techniques I share are the ones that truly work.
Plus, since I’ve done this so many participants and have gathered feedbacks from them, I’ve also included their experiences to be shared in my programs.
You are saying that you gave up your legal firm’s partnership and quit the corporate legal practice of 10 years. Tell us what have you learned the most from those 10 years? Did you quit after 10 years to start MYRYL?
Yes, I left practice after 10 years to start
For one, I’ve
Those 10 years have also obviously equipped me with sufficent legal knowledge and expertise that I need during my start up and also continue to help me as there are always legal matters or issues to look out for or deal with in my business.
You are working mostly in Malaysia, do you also work internationally? If not, do you plan to go international?
Yes, I conduct my workshops and coaching programs mostly in Malaysia but I have also been invited for speaking engagements in Manchester,United Kingdom and Tokyo, Japan.
Moving forward, I intent to receive more opportunities to share on my colour energy and behavioral patterns expertise on the international stage and also working with international clients for personal coaching sessions that can be done via skype or another similar platform.
In addition to that, I’ve also produced an online video training program of the “Hue I Am: Start Owning Your Potential & Hack That Dream Business With Colours” that can be purchased and immediately downloaded at our site www.myryl.net/hueiam. I intent for this program to be in the hands of millions of people worldwide.
What are your goals currently? What problem are you trying to solve?
My goal for 2019 is to spread more on being conscious of the mind, mastering it and shifting energy. I find that a lot of people from all walks of life and regardless of age; are not aware of the extent of their mind and the power it has and also that people are not familiar with how energy can affect them and those around them daily. By making sure that our thoughts are “programmed” and the energy it creates flow unhindered will determine how much one can accomplish in all areas such as wealth, health, success, happiness etc.
Tell us who are your clients?
My clients have been predominantly professional/entrepreneur women between the ages of 25 to 40 years of age. In the past 6 years, I notice that they usually come to MYRYL seeking the following:
- They want to learn about how I manage to change my career when I was in my 30s and want to get to know their colour personality so that they can identify who they really are at the core and what’s their true calling.
- They are interested to know about colour energy per se and how it affects their daily lives and how to apply it effectively in how they carry themselves, in what they do at work or in their personal relationships.
- They are interested to know how energy shifting can help them, what is blocking their energy, why it becomes blocked and how to let it flow right again for example in the area of money.
- The want to identify what mental blockages that they have and how to eliminate it so that they can move up at work, improve their relationship with friends, colleagues or partner, so that they can start the business they been wanting to or step up their business.
Tell us about a time when a client didn’t like your work, what did you do about it?
When I first started I was so gungho about wanting to help people make a change. One of my clients at the time was so resistant towards my help and everything I did doesn’t produce the result that I hoped for. That made me doubt myself whether I’m really fit to coach people.
I spoke to one of my mentors and he asked me this question – “Shuhada, did you want the change more than she does?” That stopped me in my tracks and it dawned on me that I truly wanted her to see her potential and living up to it. But she wasn’t ready for it.
Another thing that I also learnt from that incident is to always provide my expertise or services to anyone for a fee.
At the time I thought it would be best for me to provide some free consultations and services (the abovementioned client was one of them) because I was just starting out and was collecting testimonials and portfolios.
I’ve come to realize that by doing things for free means that the person usually is not ready to make a change and is just in it because “why not since it’s FREE” mindset.
When people are invested they are committed and takes ownership of the change they want to do.
How would you describe your work style while running your business?
When I first started out I was always planning everything but there were things that didn’t go too well. Looking back I now realise that I’ve had hunches about those things that didn’t work out.
Now I finally own up to the fact that I’m an intuitive person. So now as much as I plan, I also go along with my intuition to help me decide whether or not I should go ahead with a plan, or work with someone or hire someone etc and so far this has been working out well for me.
Do you believe in destiny or do you think you can control your fate?
I truly believe that we can create the life that we want. Sadly though we were never taught how to and instead we have been led to believe that we have no control over our destiny and fate.
That’s why it is part of my mission and goal to spread the awareness of mastering our thoughts and energy because that’s how we have control of our lives and able to create it the way we want it.
What is the best advice you give your clients, that you would like to share with Women On Topp Readers?
The advice that I always tell my clients happens to also be the name of my company, which is “master yourself, revamp your life” ☺
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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