Facing a life-changing event in her youth, Indian Australian Krish Waje re-evaluated her life’s purpose.
“At the young age of 15, I discovered I had a congenital heart defect – a hole in my heart that caused it to enlarge significantly. I was told by the cardiologist that if I didn’t have open heart surgery, my heart would most likely give up in my thirties“.
“Facing such a serious medical situation at that age was terrifying. It forced me to re-evaluate what was truly important in life“, she shared with Emma Pei-Yin of She Leads/Being Asian Australian.
Promising herself to do something that will make impact and contribute to the world, Krish knew that starting her own business was the way to go. However, growing up in a traditional household, Krish felt for the longest time success meant climbing the corporate ladder – and that is what she did for awhile.
Whilst working her 9-5 job, the idea for her business was formed and it wasn’t until she was made redundant that she decided to take the chance and pursue her life goals.
“I had formed the business while working at my 9-5 but had not thought about pursuing it full time.. Until I was made redundant from my full time job. I truly believe everything happens for a reason because this was ultimately the perfect driving force that allowed me to go all in on my business. Instead of seeing the redundancy as a set back, the experience ignited a fire in me to pursue a more creative and impactful path“, Krish discussed.
“I remind myself that I’m not just creating beautiful candles, I am changing the world, one refill at a time“.
This entrepreneurial spirit was not something that happened overnight or was a spur of the moment thing, but it had been brewing inside of Krish since she was seven years old. Back then she set up a lemonade stand with her neighbour – selling homegrown lemons and homemade crafts. These early experiences instilled in her a love for creativity and the thrill of building something from scratch.
“My neighbour and I set up a lemonade stand, selling our homegrown lemons and some homemade crafts. While making money wasn’t the main focus, it was all about being in charge, having fun and seeing our ‘business’ come to life. Looking back, these experiences were the seeds of my entrepreneurial journey. They instilled in me a love for creativity, resourcefulness, and the thrill of building something from scratch“.
This was how Lunaire was born in 2022. Going through the trifles of life and starting a new business, Krish and her partner jumped through hoops and obstacles to create the environmentally sustainable candle brand they dreamt of. What sets Lunaire apart from other fragrant candle brands is their refillable candle concept.
“Jumping into entrepreneurship has been an extremely rewarding adventure, with MANY learnings along the way. Neither my partner nor I had experience starting a business, so we were (and still are) constantly encountering new challenges”, Krish passionately stated.
“One example was the launch of our refillable candle concept. We identified a gap in the market and wanted to be among the first movers. However, our Forever Jars, designed to be the ultimate sustainable solution, were still under development“.
Despite her family’s initial traditional career expectations, they have become her biggest supporters. She involves her parents in Lunaire’s strategic planning, helping them see the seriousness of her venture.
“Deep down perhaps [my parents] want me to go back to corporate life eventually because of their traditional values, but I have learnt that we all define “success” in different ways. For me, being successful in my business is ultimately having time and financial freedom, it’s not about earning a specific job title.”
Discussing the vision behind Lunaire, Krish stated that the company takes sustainability and the environment with utmost importance. It has shaped Krish’s values, principles and is the foundation of all the decisions made at Lunaire.
“Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for Lunaire – it’s the very foundation of our business model. My personal values, shaped by my upbringing and a deep respect for nature, heavily influence every decision we make. We strive to minimise our environmental impact at every step, from product to packaging to shipping“, Krish stated.
“Our refillable candles are a testament to this commitment. We believe in creating high-quality products that are kind to both the people and the planet. By offering refills, we significantly reduce waste compared to traditional disposable candles“.
Krish is a great example of Asian Australian women creating opportunities for themself and for the greater Asian Australian community. She demonstrates vision, persistence and the will to succeed and follow long lived dreams. She is also a leader and wants to see more Asian women in business leadership roles in Australia.
This is personal and important for Krish and has driven her to pursue business as her career.
“Seeing Asian women in leadership roles is critical. It breaks down barriers and inspires future generations. . Growing up, I didn’t see many Asian women leading companies, and that can subconsciously limit your own aspirations. Seeing someone who looks like you achieving success is incredibly powerful – it breaks down barriers and shows you that anything is possible“
“I am currently documenting my journey on instagram to show other people in my network that it is possible to achieve your dreams. I am sharing not just my wins, but also my learnings along the way so that I am showcasing my true authentic self as I embark on this journey with Lunaire“.
SHE LEADS is a newly branded series which aims at uplifting and empowering Asian Australian women in business, creative and other different sectors.
If you are interested in finding out more about Lunaire, you can visit their website: https://lunaire.au and on Instagram @lunairesydney.