Starting and growing a sustainable small business is never easy. Entrepreneurs often face hurdles like financial instability, competition, and market uncertainty. For women with disabilities, these barriers can be even more daunting. However, inclusive entrepreneurship programs like Maybank R.I.S.E. are proving that with financial literacy, strategic planning, and the right support, women can overcome adversity, achieve financial empowerment, and uplift their communities.

This is the story of Suzita Enis Binti Sukri, a Malaysian entrepreneur who turned personal and financial struggles into a thriving business, achieving a 1900% income increase in just four months.

Overcoming Personal and Financial Struggles

Suzita’s life changed drastically in 2019 when a severe ear infection led to permanent hearing impairment, forcing her to rely on a hearing aid for communication. The sudden loss of hearing made everyday interactions difficult, limiting her job opportunities and forcing her to adapt to a new way of living.

Her challenges escalated in 2022 when her father suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to work. With her family’s financial burden growing, Suzita knew she had to step up and find a stable income source.

Determined to support her loved ones, she turned to entrepreneurship.

📌 Her journey as an entrepreneur began during Malaysia’s Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020. She started selling homemade Macaroni Crispies, but the business had its limitations:

🔸 Limited Market Reach – She only sold to acquaintances and friends.
🔸 Single Product Dependency – With only one product, business expansion was slow.
🔸 Lack of Financial Planning – She had no structured pricing, costing, or savings plan.

Her business remained small and inconsistent, and despite her determination, she lacked the right tools and strategies to scale her venture into a sustainable business.

She needed a breakthrough.

Scaling Up with Maybank R.I.S.E.

That breakthrough came when Suzita joined Maybank R.I.S.E., an initiative by @MaybankFoundation designed to equip entrepreneurs with disabilities with the knowledge and skills needed to grow sustainable businesses.

Through financial literacy, business strategy training, and operational planning, she learned how to:

📌 Key Lessons from Maybank R.I.S.E.:

✔ Expanding Customer Base – The Customer Analysis module helped her identify larger markets. She secured partnerships with cafes and local businesses in Johor, dramatically boosting her sales.

✔ Operational Efficiency – With the Operational Planning module, she optimized production by hiring one part-time worker and two sales agents. This ensured she could meet rising demand, especially during peak festive seasons like Eid.

✔ Product Diversification – Using the Blue Ocean Strategy module, she introduced Red Velvet Cookies alongside her signature Macaroni Crispies. This expanded her revenue streams and allowed her to supply multiple products to her agents, maximizing profits.

✔ Smart Financial Management – She learned to price her products correctly, separate personal and business finances, and implement a savings plan, ensuring her business remained sustainable.

🚀 The result? A scalable business with multiple income streams and long-term growth.

Achieving 1900% Income Growth in Just Four Months

📈 Suzita’s business skyrocketed, growing by an incredible 1900%!

💰 Before R.I.S.E.: Struggled with inconsistent income and limited reach.
🚀 After R.I.S.E.: Strong sales network, diversified product range, and financial security.

🏆 With her newfound success, she:
✅ Hired 1 part-time worker and 2 sales agents from marginalized communities, giving them stable income opportunities.
✅ Started a weekly food donation initiative, providing meals to mosques to give back to the community that supported her.
✅ Implemented a savings plan, setting aside 10% of her monthly income to ensure business sustainability and financial security.

Her transformation from struggling entrepreneur to thriving business owner is proof that financial literacy and strategic business planning can change lives.

Women Empowering Women: Suzita’s Impact Beyond Business

💡 Suzita’s success goes beyond financial growth—it’s about breaking barriers for women entrepreneurs.

✔ Challenging Stereotypes – As a woman with a disability, she has overcome societal barriers, proving that entrepreneurship can empower women to achieve financial independence.

✔ Creating Opportunities – By hiring sales agents from marginalized communities, she is helping other women find economic stability.

✔ Giving Back to the Community – Her weekly food donation program reflects her commitment to social impact, proving that successful women entrepreneurs uplift those around them.

📢 “Women with disabilities can be leaders in business. We just need the right support to unlock our full potential.”

📢 When women entrepreneurs thrive, they create opportunities, strengthen communities, and drive inclusive economic growth.

Be Part of the Change

🚀 Discover more inspiring success stories like Suzita’s and learn how financial empowerment is transforming lives.

🔗 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 is empowering communities here.