From Nail Art to Online Nail Academy: Systems-Building with Jessica Choong
- S11E12
- 53:40
- June 26th 2026
In this episode, Malaysian entrepreneur Jessica Choong shares how she transformed nail artistry into a scalable, affiliate-driven education platform.
From moving from Malaysia to New Zealand to building an online nail academy and Gel X courses, she reveals how systems, mentorship, and authentic connections powered growth.
Learn how she uses affiliates to mentor new students, partner with brands to cut costs and pursue cross-cultural learning to expand her reach.
A journey of courage, experimentation, and generosity, this episode offers practical tactics for turning expertise and nail artistry into a lasting, impact-driven business.
Listen to the full conversation to hear how one woman is designing a future where women empower other women through education and community.
Show Notes
- 00:01:00 — Jessica’s background: from fashion design in Penang to becoming a Malaysia Airlines cabin crew and then the big move to New Zealand.
- 00:14:00 — The birth of the nail course: meeting demand and focusing on helping students gain financial independence.
- 00:19:00 — Marketing the course: from Rae, the first student, to filming the online course and expanding online/offline options.
- 00:31:00 — Building systems with affiliates: mentoring, teaching manuals, and hands-on practice via affiliate mentors.
- 00:36:00 — Challenges and strategy: avoiding cold pitches, building a warm network, and planning for international growth.
- 00:43:00 — The power of sharing knowledge: how generosity in teaching attracts opportunities and sponsorships.
- 00:50:00 — Reflections on culture and community in New Zealand versus Malaysia; the value of being heard.
3 Key Takeaways
- Turn ideas into action: small starts can grow into large, opportunity-rich platforms.
- Build a replicable system: affiliates and teaching manuals scale impact while maintaining standards.
- Lead with connection: warm introductions and mentorship deepen trust and open doors.
This episode is sponsored by RedboxStudio.com
For the full show notes, visit WomenpreneurAsia.com
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Womenpreneur Asia
Womenpreneur Asia is a podcast featuring Asian women entrepreneurs across Asia. If you want to know how our Asian women entrepreneurs start, run and manage their businesses, this is the podcast for you!
What you can expect: honest, down-to-earth stories from women who open up about the gritty struggles, fears and challenges of running a business in Asia. We delve into their personal stories too and uncover the lessons they've learnt along the way.
These are delightful, inspiring and surprising conversations with women across Asia whose stories may inspire and encourage you on your own personal entrepreneurship path.
Womenpreneur Asia is a seasonal podcast created and hosted by Krista Goon, a Malaysian entrepreneur, author, communicator and marketer. All episodes are sponsored by Redbox Studio.
