MEURAKI founder Michelle Ngiam is living proof of what it means to not just survive, but thrive. Describing herself as "the dreamer, the doer, the mother, the founder, and everything in between," Michelle's story is one of transformation: from a people-pleasing child who felt misunderstood to a woman who's learned to embrace every facet of herself. With a quiet resilience that masks her deep sensitivity, Michelle has spent the better part of her life navigating life's challenges. In June 2024, she channelled that resilience into founding MEURAKI, a holistic wellness platform that aims to redefine well-being.

Michelle's journey is one marked by profound highs, like the births of her daughters, and devastating lows, including a miscarriage in 2022 and postpartum anxiety in 2023. Through it all, she's emerged with a mission: to create a space where others can heal, grow, and flourish, just as she has. Beyond just a platform, MEURAKI is a companion for those facing their own battles, and a powerful reminder of the strength found in self-care and resilience.

The Making of a Resilient Spirit

Growing up in a traditional Singaporean household, where her father was the breadwinner and her mother a homemaker, Michelle was both a rebellious and a deeply sensitive child, a duality that shaped her early years. "I had a strong sense of justice even then, questioning rules and norms—not out of defiance, but because I always believed there could be better, more meaningful ways to do things," she explains.

Yet, beneath that spirited exterior lay a struggle. "I constantly struggled with the feeling that I was never good enough," she admits. "I wasn't top of the class, but I got by. I became a people-pleaser, always trying to meet expectations while feeling like I was being misunderstood." Growing up in a home where emotions weren't openly expressed, she learned to suppress parts of herself, a habit that followed her into adulthood. "As a highly sensitive person, I felt things deeply—sometimes too deeply—and for a long time, I thought that was a flaw."

It wasn't until 2018 that Michelle began to unlearning those patterns with the birth of her first daughter. "Motherhood was a major turning point for me," she says. "It made me reflect deeply on the kind of life I wanted to live and model for my children." She realized she didn't have to choose between her nurturing side and her ambitious streak; instead, she could embody both. "I wanted to be present for my daughters, but I also wanted to build something meaningful."

Turning Pain into Purpose: The Path to MEURAKI

Michelle's journey to founding MEURAKI wasn't linear. After graduating from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2009, she built a diverse career, working in translation project management, risk management consulting, and, for over a decade, as a financial consultant with Great Eastern Financial Advisers. "My work in financial consulting showed me just how deeply finances affect every other area of our lives—from mental and emotional well-being to our relationships and sense of security," she explains. The thousands of conversations shared with clients revealed a universal truth: "People were overwhelmed, disconnected, and often struggling in silence behind a facade of having it all together."

But it was her personal experiences that truly ignited her passion for wellness. In 2022, Michelle suffered a miscarriage during her second pregnancy, a loss that plunged her into grief. "It was an extremely vulnerable time," she reflects. The arrival of her rainbow baby in August 2023 should have been a moment of pure joy, but instead, it ushered in postpartum anxiety. "I found myself consumed by anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and emotional overwhelm," she says. "I didn't receive a clinical diagnosis, but I knew something wasn't right."

Seeking help from a counsellor became her lifeline. "It gave me space to process everything I was carrying—grief, fear, pressure, and pure exhaustion," she shares. "It reminded me that healing isn't linear and that asking for help is strength, not weakness." Her counsellor offered a critical piece of wisdom: "I have to give myself grace, that I am no longer the same first-time parent I was 5 years ago who could juggle so many things despite just becoming a mother. I am older and therefore, may not have the same capacity as I did back then."

This experience became the cornerstone of MEURAKI, reshaping how Michelle approached wellness. "It's not just as a concept, but as a lived, evolving journey that's deeply personal," she reflects.

MEURAKI: A Name and a Vision

In July 2024, Michelle launched MEURAKI, a wellness platform that blends AI-driven insights, community connection, and real-life experiences to empower individuals across all dimensions of well-being. The name itself is a fusion of two Greek words: meraki, meaning "essence of yourself," and eudaimonia, meaning "a flourishing life." "Meraki speaks to doing something with soul, creativity, and love—putting a piece of yourself into whatever you do," she explains. "Eudaimonia, on the other hand, is a Greek philosophical concept that means living in alignment with your highest self—a state of flourishing and true well-being."

The name's origin story is as personal as its mission. "I originally wanted to name the brand Meraki," Michelle reveals. "It had always been the name of my Dropbox folder when I first started dreaming about this concept years ago. But when I finally decided to act on building it, I realized that the name Meraki had already been used by many other businesses around the world." Letting go of that initial vision led to something even more meaningful. "I sat with that for days, waiting, reflecting, and trusting that the right name would come. And then I came across another beautiful Greek word: Eudaimonia. The concept moved me deeply, and by incorporating the 'EU' from Eudaimonia into Meraki, MEURAKI was born."

For Michelle, MEURAKI is not just a platform, but a deeper philosophy. "To me, wellness isn't about chasing perfection, but about returning to wholeness," she says. "That's the heart of MEURAKI: helping people flourish across all dimensions of life, from the inside out."

Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams

Starting MEURAKI came with its own set of challenges, as Michelle faced the three-pronged hurdles of "time, energy, and self-doubt." "Starting a tech-driven wellness platform while raising two young kids and continuing my consulting work has been incredibly demanding," she explains. "There were moments I felt like I was stretched too thin or not doing enough in any area." Add to that the slow burn of entrepreneurship: "Unlike my past roles where results were more immediate, building MEURAKI has required patience and faith in the unseen. I've had to keep things under wraps for months, working tirelessly behind the scenes without the reward of instant feedback."

Staying anchored in her "why" helped to keep her grounded. "I also became more disciplined with boundaries, leaned on my support system, and reminded myself that building something meaningful takes time," she says. "Grit and grace have both been essential." Her husband, close friends, and family became her pillars. "Their presence reminded me that I wasn't alone, even in the darkest moments," she shares.

A Holistic Approach to Wellness

MEURAKI is built on Peggy Swarbrick's 8 Dimensions of Wellness—physical, mental, emotional, social, occupational, spiritual, environmental, and financial—a framework Michelle believes is critical in today's fragmented world. "We're complex beings, and our wellness can't be compartmentalised," she asserts. "A person can eat healthily and exercise, but still feel emotionally drained or financially stressed. All these would affect their overall well-being."

Her own life reflects this interconnection. "After my miscarriage and during postpartum anxiety, it wasn't just my emotional health that suffered," she recalls. "It impacted my relationships, energy levels, work, everything." MEURAKI's offerings, whether it be workshops, curated content, or community experiences, are designed to address these dimensions holistically. "It's not about doing everything at once, but about progress, not perfection," she explains. "What I hope is that users come away with a deeper, more intuitive understanding of their wellness journey. One that feels holistic, sustainable, and uniquely their own."

For Michelle, practices like meditation and mindful eating have been personal game-changers. "On days when I feel overwhelmed, even five minutes of simple breathing exercises or just closing my eyes and just being, helps me regulate and reset," she says. "Mindful eating has also helped me slow down and be present. It's no longer just about nutrition, but how I'm nurturing myself."

Self-Care as a Superpower

As a woman juggling motherhood, entrepreneurship, and a career, Michelle understands the pressure to "have it all together." "Balance is a constant recalibration," she admits. "Some days I get it right, and some days I don't. But I've learned to give myself grace." She advices women to leave room for self-care, explaining: "Self-care is not selfish, it's a declaration that you matter too. It's not about doing everything perfectly. It's about doing what's needed in the moment, with intention."

For those starting their own ventures, she shares words of wisdom: "Start before you're ready. You don't need all the answers. You need courage and clarity in your 'why.' There will be self-doubt, there will be fear, but don't let perfection stop your momentum."

The Future of MEURAKI: Michelle's Bold Vision

Michelle's ultimate dream for MEURAKI is bold. "I want it to be the go-to platform where wellness is personalized, immersive, and truly holistic," she envisions. "In the years to come, I envision MEURAKI to be part of every life stage, every household, and every city we expand to, shifting cultures and changing lives one empowered step at a time."

Her daughters fuel her drive. "I'm not building MEURAKI just to create a company," she says. "I'm building a future where wellness is woven into everyday life, where the next generation grows up with tools for emotional resilience, mental clarity, and a deep sense of self-worth." Inspired by figures like Michelle Obama and everyday mothers building empires, she adds, "They've shown me that vulnerability and vision can coexist, and that legacy is built not just through success, but through intention and impact."

Michelle's vision is a testament to her belief in the transformative power of wellness. "Self-care isn't a luxury, it's survival," she asserts. "It's how we stay whole in a world that's constantly asking more of us. And resilience doesn't mean being unbreakable. It means allowing yourself to bend, to feel, to rest, and still rise." For Michelle Ngiam and MEURAKI, this isn't just a guiding principle, but a deeper commitment to empowering others to flourish in their own unique way, one intentional step at a time.