Member Spotlight: Mishell Leong - Breaking the Mould

In November 2025, PWN Zug & Zurich started a new series of member spotlight articles, with an interview with the incredible Mishell Leong, 

From Chartered Accountant to International Artist, Mishell Leong's life journey illustrates a story of courage, creativity and success. 

What inspired your leap from the Banking and Finance world into the Art world? 

Motherhood was the first catalyst: becoming a mum cracked something open in me. But the real turning point was my health. Years of corporate stress left me with severe back pain, and I began having the same recurring dream: a quiet, insistent voice telling me something had to change. When I finally listened, I realised I didn’t just need a new job - I needed a new way of living! Art began as an experiment… and became a calling.  

What were the biggest obstacles in transitioning from corporate to professional artist? 

Everything felt like an obstacle at first: my identity, confidence, money, and imposter syndrome. I had no formal training. And yet, the biggest hurdle was unlearning the corporate mindset: the need to be “correct,” structured, approved. Art demanded the opposite. Letting myself play and create without permission was both terrifying and liberating.  

You are known for your bold colours and textures in your art. What bold move did you make this year that surprised even you? 

After 13 years as an artist, I returned home to Malaysia for my first-ever solo exhibition there. It became a monumental homecoming and the most ambitious exhibition I’ve ever created: a full six-sensory journey featuring my first fabric wall installation, floor-to-ceiling visuals, video wall, soundscapes, scent and an unforgettable collaboration with Malaysia’s iconic Habib Jewels. It taught me that when you dare to go “all in”, life meets you with magic you couldn’t have planned.  

How do you stay resilient when creative work and motherhood collide? 

By accepting that “balance” is a myth. Some seasons I’m an artist who happens to be a mum; other seasons I’m a mum who paints at midnight. The motherhood guilt doesn’t disappear, but the purpose keeps me going. My children are growing up watching their mother build something from passion - that matters more than perfection!  

Why is colour such an important part of your work and message? 

Colour brought me back to life. It’s how I process the world: joy, chaos, grief, hope - all of it. I believe people need colour the way they need sunlight. It reminds us that beauty exists even when life feels heavy. 

What’s one surprising thing about you that helps you stay creative?   

I once trained in pole dancing — simply because I’ve always dreamed of being a dancer in another life. It taught me something vital: we’re allowed to have many sides. The corporate woman, the mother, the artist… and the woman who just wants to dance. Embracing all of them made me braver, freer, and ultimately more creative. 

PWN Zug and Zurich would like to thank Mishell for her time, and for her inspiring story. If you have an inspiring story to share with our community, we'd love to hear from you.