Today we’d like to introduce you to Farida Mazlan
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in between two Southeast nations and cultures – the Muslim-majority Malaysia and Buddhist-oriented Thailand, with a diplomatic family history with ties to Australia. This instilled a strong travel instinct and curiosity to expand my worldview from an early age. I’m grateful that my parents encouraged open-mindedness, nobility in action, moral integrity, and resilience that trusted me to carve my path to individual freedom and build a life across the world. Since I left my country at 23 years old, I’ve travelled through 35 countries, worked in 11, and found a real sense of home and belonging in California, where I am today. Since I was 14, I’ve always wanted to be near the historic music venue 924 Gilman Street, and now I live 8 minutes away! If you really know what you want, be open to the evolution, be in service to the those around you, life will conspire to help you get where you need to be.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I often view my life as a series of triumphs and tragedies, but every struggle has been worth it to build strength, faith, and true resilience. From being stranded alone in the deep forested borders of Macedonia & Serbia, being chased by wild dogs and having to hitchhike to safety, to being taken advantage of by multiple business collaborators in different countries, to surviving cancer through early detection, and the constant deep love and heartbreaks – our struggles make us human! It’s how we pick ourselves back up, and not subscribe to the suffering while maintaining a sense of joy and wonder, that defines how well we can live our lives.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am multi-format designer, an independent art curator, and community activist. My specialization is in designing websites (online), and organizing events and projects (offline) that bring a unique, integrated touch to your story.
The projects I work on generally encompasses art, music, and activism, and my goal is to support pioneering, cultural change-makers to generate real positive impact.
My personal, conceptual venture – Startivism – is a culmination of all my skills evolved over time that supports communities, artists, individuals, businesses, and organizations to realize that their dreams or visions can be all at once tangible, educational, inspiring, and profitable.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I like the phrase “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” Finding a mentor can be as obvious as a best friend who knows you best to help guide you make the right decision, to wanting to improve yourself so greatly that you find a business coach, or research (and read!) the best self-help books that can help you gain perspective on where you need to grow. Networking is also key, it won’t hurt to reach out in as many ways as you can. There are business growth network groups all over the country and likely very near you that can expand support for you.
What has worked for me are all three examples I’ve just stated. The business coach was a big leap for me to know that I must invest and believe in myself to afford paid guidance from an expert to ensure I get where I want to be. I’m utmostly grateful as well to my incredible support system of loving friends who have encouraged me, and helped pick me back up when I needed it most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://startivism.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/faeriko
Image Credits
Profile photo by Matthew Kadi
Black Joy Parade photo by Sue Mark (Commons Archive)