For many women entrepreneurs, the journey to financial independence is filled with barriers—limited opportunities, financial instability, and societal challenges. For women with disabilities, these obstacles are even greater. However, inclusive entrepreneurship programs like Maybank R.I.S.E. are proving that with the right knowledge, financial literacy, and business strategies, women can transform their futures and uplift others.

Keo Rachana, a Cambodian entrepreneur, mother of three, and a person with a disability, faced years of financial hardship after a road accident left her physically disabled. The challenges multiplied when her husband, once the family’s main provider, was forced into retirement after a landmine explosion injury. With no stable income and growing responsibilities, she worked seven days a week while caring for her family, yet struggled to make ends meet.

Determined to turn adversity into opportunity, Rachana began making handcrafted seed jewelry from wild corn beads. But despite her efforts, a lack of financial literacy and business strategy kept her income stagnant—until she joined Maybank R.I.S.E.

With training in business expansion, financial management, and market positioning, she not only transformed her business but also empowered other women in her community, creating new job opportunities for single mothers and senior citizens.

This is her story.

Navigating Adversity: A Woman’s Fight for Financial Independence

Keo Rachana’s story is one of resilience, determination, and transformation.

After acquiring a physical disability from a road accident, she faced economic struggles as her husband, a former soldier, was forced into retirement due to injuries from a landmine explosion. With her family’s main provider unable to work, the financial burden fell entirely on her shoulders.

Despite the challenges, she never gave up. She took a job at an NGO, working seven days a week to support her three children while juggling her household and caregiving duties. Over the years, she saved enough to purchase a small plot of land, hoping to use it for additional income. However, it was soon overtaken by wild corn plants, leaving her with no clear path forward.

Determined to make the best of what she had, she saw an opportunity—handcrafting seed jewelry from wild corn beads. The intricate accessories she created were beautiful, but despite her efforts and passion, she lacked the financial literacy and business skills needed to scale her work into a profitable venture.

With limited resources and no clear strategy, she struggled to increase her income and provide long-term stability for her family.

She needed a breakthrough.

Transforming a Struggling Business with Maybank R.I.S.E.

That breakthrough came when she joined Maybank R.I.S.E., an initiative by @MaybankFoundation designed to equip PWD entrepreneurs with financial management skills, business strategy, and income growth techniques.

Through the program, she discovered key business principles that changed the trajectory of her life.

📌 Key Takeaways from the Program:

✔ Leveraging the Blue Ocean Strategy – Instead of struggling in a crowded marketplace, she learned to tap into an underutilized asset—real estate. By selling portions of her land without wild corn, she turned them into income-generating properties, securing an additional revenue stream.

✔ Understanding Customer Value Proposition (CVP) – She identified and secured bulk buyers for her seed jewelry, transforming them into exclusive distributors, ensuring a steady flow of revenue.

✔ Optimizing Business Operations – With increasing demand for her products, she expanded her workforce, hiring and training more artisans to handle production and marketing.

✔ Sustainable Resource Management – Instead of over-harvesting wild corn beads, she trained a local family in sustainable farming practices, ensuring the longevity of her raw materials while creating jobs.

The result? A complete transformation—not just for herself, but for the women in her community.

Achieving Financial Growth: 360% Income Increase

📈 Keo Rachana’s business skyrocketed, growing her income by 360% in just six months.

💰 Before R.I.S.E.: KHR 4,000,000 (USD 1,000)
🚀 After R.I.S.E.: KHR 16,300,000 (USD 4,600)

Her newfound financial stability enabled her to:

✅ Pay off two loans worth USD 6,500—completely freeing herself from debt
✅ Save USD 500 per month in an emergency fund for long-term security
✅ Provide better opportunities for her children, encouraging them to save USD 50 per month as well

But the impact of her success didn’t stop with her own family.

Empowering Other Women Through Financial Independence

💡 Rachana didn’t just uplift herself—she uplifted her entire community.

Realizing the potential of her business, she focused on creating opportunities for other women in need:

✔ Employed 11 senior citizens and single mothers in her jewelry workshop, paying them USD 200 per month, helping them gain financial stability
✔ Commissioned and trained a local family as caretakers and harvesters of wild corn beads, providing them with USD 250 per month plus a USD 50 school allowance for their children
✔ Promoted financial literacy within her household, encouraging her children to save and plan for their future

Through entrepreneurship, Rachana empowered other women to become financially independent, proving that when women succeed, they create opportunities for others.

A Story of Women’s Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship

Rachana’s journey embodies the power of financial literacy and inclusive entrepreneurship. Her success isn’t just about earning more—it’s about breaking cycles of poverty, lifting up other women, and creating a sustainable future for her family and community.

📢 Her story highlights a key truth: When women gain financial independence, they become catalysts for change.

Across ASEAN, Maybank R.I.S.E. is empowering PWD entrepreneurs like Rachana to:

🔹 Achieve financial stability
🔹 Expand their businesses and create jobs
🔹 Drive inclusive economic growth

Her story proves that women’s economic empowerment is not just about individual success—it’s about creating a ripple effect that transforms entire communities.

Be Part of the Change

🚀 Discover more inspiring success stories like Keo Rachana’s and see how financial empowerment is transforming lives through entrepreneurship.

🔗 Visit the Maybank Foundation website to explore the impact of Maybank R.I.S.E here.

🔗 Learn more about People Systems Consultancy (PSC) and how entrepreneurship can build sustainable communities here.