Life doesn’t always go as planned, but if there’s one thing Kristy Yong has learned, it’s that being open to change—and trusting your instincts—can be the most powerful tools in leadership.

As the executive director of Ms Read, a Malaysian fashion brand that has empowered plus-size women for over 28 years,
Yong has carved out her own path, steering the brand into a new era while staying true to its core values. Ms Read was founded in 1997 by her mother, Helen Read, with a simple yet revolutionary mission: to create stylish, well-fitting clothes for women sized UK12 to UK24.

From a single store, it has grown into a regional presence with 15 locations across Malaysia and Singapore, complemented by a thriving e-commerce platform. Under Yong’s leadership, Ms Read has made its mark beyond borders, leveraging technology and data to optimise research and customer relations.

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