Meet Zai, whose story is one of courage, transformation, and unwavering faith. Once a rising entrepreneur chasing milestones and external success, her life took an unexpected turn after a devastating accident left her fighting to walk again. What began as a painful pause became a powerful awakening, revealing an inner strength and purpose that would shape the rest of her journey.

Today, Zai is a motivational speaker, certified life coach, and the founder of Step Up Journey, a platform dedicated to helping others rise from setbacks with grace and grit. Through her healing, she found her mission: to remind people that no matter how hard life gets, hope is never out of reach.

You’ve lived through an extraordinary journey—from a rising young entrepreneur to surviving a life-changing accident. Looking back, how would you describe the person you were before the crash?

Before the crash, I was a woman in pursuit of the world — success, recognition, the next milestone. I was ambitious and driven, but if I’m honest, much of that drive came from proving my worth.

I was constantly doing, rarely being. The accident was the pause I never knew I needed. It stripped away my titles, my independence, and my identity as I knew it. And in that silence, I began to rediscover who I truly was beneath all the noise.

During recovery, what kept you mentally and emotionally strong when you were told you might never walk again?

Faith. That was my anchor. When the doctors said I had only a 5% chance of walking again, I chose to focus on the 5% and not the 95%. I told myself, as long as there’s life, there’s hope. My family, my faith in God, and my vision of standing again one day kept me going.

I surrounded myself with positive energy, gratitude, and the belief that miracles still happen and they did.

You’ve since become a motivational speaker, life coach, and author. How did your personal healing journey evolve into a mission to inspire others?

Healing showed me purpose. My pain became a platform. I realised my story wasn’t meant to stay within hospital walls. It was meant to give hope to others who had lost theirs. The moment I began sharing my journey, people started reaching out saying, “You gave me the courage to try again.”

That’s when I knew my healing wasn’t just for me. It was for humanity. Today, through Step Up Journey, I help others rise from setbacks, step into purpose, and lead with resilience, strength, and soul.

Healing showed me purpose. My pain became a platform. I realised my story wasn’t meant to stay within hospital walls. It was meant to give hope to others who had lost theirs.

You’ve often spoken about faith, mindset, and gratitude. How did these values shape your healing process and continue to influence your work today?

Faith taught me surrender. Mindset taught me responsibility. Gratitude taught me peace. Together, they became my foundation for life and leadership. Whether I’m coaching executives or speaking on global stages, I remind people that true power begins within, not in titles, wealth, or achievements.

It’s in knowing who you are, why you’re here, and choosing to rise with grace, no matter what life throws your way.

When you look at your life today, what does success mean to you and what would you tell your 21-year-old self who first set foot in Japan, full of dreams?

Success to me now is freedom and that is to live, to love and to give. It’s being able to wake up every morning doing what I love, making a difference, and being at peace with who I’ve become.

To my 21-year-old self, I’d say: Keep dreaming big, but don’t lose yourself in the chase. The world will try to define you, but your truth, your faith, and your heart will be your compass. You are destined for greatness, but remember, greatness is not in the spotlight. It’s in the service.

What would get you jumping out of bed seven days a week?

Purpose. The thought that somewhere, someone needs a message of hope today and I might be the vessel. That’s what fuels me.

Whether it’s speaking, coaching, writing, or mentoring, I wake up excited to serve, to uplift, and to remind others that no matter how hard life gets, we can always rise again.

What’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?

I envision Singapore as a beacon of human-centred leadership, where success is not just measured by GDP, but by GHE: Gross Human Empowerment.

I want to see more conscious leaders, especially women and youths, rising with empathy, resilience and purpose, leading from the heart while building sustainable, soulful success stories that impact the world.

If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?

I’d choose the power of instant healing, to touch the hearts of those carrying invisible pain and help them remember their light.

So many people look fine on the outside but are breaking within. If I could ease even one person’s suffering either physically, emotionally, or spiritually, that would be a day well-lived.

Connect with Zai: StepUpJourney, LinkedIn and Facebook.