Alumni Spotlight: How SIT Alumna How Kah Hwee Found Healing and Success Beyond the Balance Sheet (Part 2)
Discover how Kah Hwee navigated early setbacks, honed her skills, and used her education in accountancy to build a business rooted in heart and creativity.
Building A Business with Heart
The name Inwarmregard was inspired by a parting phrase from her therapist: “Always hold yourself in unconditional positive warm regard, and you will be okay.” Kah Hwee’s art reflects this philosophy, with her intricate animal illustrations and storytelling aiming to inspire love, connection, and authenticity. “I hope our products are a gentle reminder to hold ourselves in warm regard and extend that to our community too,” she explains.
The Night is Darkest Before the Dawn
Having no formal art education or business experience, starting her business was no easy feat. In her first year, Kah Hwee earned an annual income of $1,000. “I poured days and weeks into single paintings, posted them online, and hoped for sales. But it was silent. I never felt so transparent in my life,” she recalls.
Kah Hwee made her first sale to strangers on Etsy during Chinese New Year in 2023, marking the start of small projects coming her way. However, the income from these projects wasn’t enough to support her financially. Struggling both financially and creatively, she took on part-time accounting and even a zookeeping job to sustain herself while refining her artistic style.
“I think throughout this whole time, I wanted to be noticed, but I didn’t dare to step out into the real-physical-in-person world. I participated in a few art contests, all of which I was not selected for. But I thought to myself, it’s now or never. I really have to put myself out there now,” Kah Hwee shares.
With this newfound resolve, she applied for her first booth at the Illustration Art Fest, but her application was not selected.
“Along the way, there were so many other big and small setbacks. I’d feel defeated and demoralised, but I think the passion kept me going. The duration to bounce back gets shorter over time too as I learn how to better manage them,” she adds.
Her breakthrough came in October 2023, when she secured a booth at the curated Public Garden market. “It was a huge success,” she says. “I finally felt validated, seen, and my brand started gaining traction.” Today, Kah Hwee earns an income comparable to a full-time professional in the accounting industry.
No Degree is Ever Wasted
One of the most common questions Kah Hwee got from worried family members when she was seemingly going off track from what she studied was, “Aren’t you wasting your degree?”
While accountancy may seem like an unlikely foundation for an artistic venture, Kah Hwee credits her SIT education for instilling the resilience, discipline, and problem-solving skills that now guide her entrepreneurial journey.
“I think what helps the most from my education at SIT is really the fundamental analytical mindset in numbers. Sourcing for products is how things get started. And before I commit, it’s important to crunch the numbers. Specifically, from costs of products to profit margins, to building worst- to best-case scenarios, forecasting with different variations, spending enough on marketing, withholding ineffective costs, and many more — they are all very important to building a sensible business. Accounting is always the backbone of a business. Without the figures, we can’t know for sure if we are doing well. Besides, only with regular tracking of our financials and statistics can we make strategic plans to see what improvements to make,” Kah Hwee explains.
Returning to SIT in March 2024 for the university’s 10th Anniversary Celebration was a full-circle moment for Kah Hwee. “Coming back as an alumna reminded me that my degree was never wasted. I was actually building a fundamental foundation through various real-life-applicable projects and curriculum that allowed me to go further in life,” she says. Her education at SIT, particularly its emphasis on analytics and strategic thinking, continues to underpin her approach to running her business.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Reflecting on her journey, Kah Hwee emphasises the importance of cultivating one’s inner sense of self. “Skills can be learnt; knowledge can be sought, and experiences can be accumulated. There is a lot of valuable advice, from podcasts, books, mentors, on how to do things. But sometimes, too many different pieces of advice and voices can create a lot of noise and pull you in different directions. Hence, finding our own voice is still the most important, and there are plenty of introspective activities to know ourselves better,” she advises those considering a similar leap.
In closing, Kah Hwee shares one of her favourite quotes: “What comes from the heart touches the heart.” She firmly believes that the heart is the most important. “Your intention is where your energy goes, and people can feel it,” she concludes.
Looking Ahead
As Kah Hwee continues to grow Inwarmregard, she remains grounded in her mission to create designs that touch on meaningful causes. Her story is a powerful reminder that success is not about following a straight path but about embracing the journey with an open heart and mind.
To explore Kah Hwee’s designs, visit Inwarmregard and follow her on Instagram for updates! For an interested partnership, please email Kah Hwee.
Missed out Part 1 of Kah Hwee’s story? Fret not, click here to read!
The Alumni Spotlight series shares personal and intimate stories of SIT alumni. Know someone with a unique story, or have an interesting experience to share? Contact us here!
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