We are delighted to announce Yee Mon from Myanmar, as a finalist for the 2025 Wedu Women’s Leadership Awards in the Trailblazing MSME Award category.

Connection to the Award

The Trailblazing MSME Award celebrates entrepreneurs who redefine industries through innovation and impact. Dr. Yee Yee Mon, Founder of Venus Skinlux, exemplifies this spirit as one of Myanmar’s pioneers in circular business practices. By introducing eco-friendly alternatives such as shampoo and conditioner bars, packaging return schemes, and refill stations across more than ten townships, she is reshaping how personal care can align with sustainability.

Her leadership reflects courage and vision. Launching a purpose-driven business focused on social and environmental impact during Myanmar’s political and economic instability required extraordinary resilience. Yet, Venus Skinlux has grown into a model of responsible entrepreneurship, driving both environmental change and community empowerment.

Mobilising Change

Under Dr. Mon’s leadership, Venus Skinlux demonstrates how small businesses can have wide-reaching influence when rooted in sustainability and inclusivity. The company’s innovations include shampoo refill stations using repurposed energy drink bottles, reducing single-use plastics while shifting consumer habits towards responsible consumption. Ingredients and packaging are ethically sourced from local farms, factories, and artisans, ensuring that the value chain supports Myanmar communities. By collaborating with neighbourhood shops, stay-at-home mothers, and women entrepreneurs to run refill stations, Venus Skinlux creates jobs, collateral income, and spreads awareness of eco-conscious practices.

This approach uplifts entire communities by combining environmental stewardship with economic opportunity. Beyond its products, Venus Skinlux sparks conversations about sustainable living and reshapes consumer awareness in Myanmar, a country where such practices are still uncommon.

Why Dr. Yee Yee Mon and Venus Skinlux Stand Out

What sets Dr. Mon apart is her ability to blend science, social impact, and sustainability into a single vision. A trained mental health practitioner, cosmetic formulator, and entrepreneur, she brings a multifaceted perspective to building solutions that care for both people and the planet.

Her leadership has been tested by the realities of Myanmar’s unstable business environment, including limited resources, consumer resistance to behaviour change, and regulatory barriers. Yet she has consistently adapted by focusing on what she can control, leading her team with resilience, innovating daily operations, and building networks with like-minded organisations and women leaders.

Dr. Mon’s journey was also shaped by her participation in Wedu’s ITL course and mentorship programme, where she drew strength from the Rising Star community and mentors. She now pays it forward by offering free training, knowledge-sharing, and inspiration to other women pursuing eco-conscious futures.

Venus Skinlux has already earned recognition as an award-winning start-up, but its deeper impact lies in the cultural shift it is nurturing—encouraging communities to embrace sustainability, creating jobs for women, and positioning local entrepreneurship as a driver of environmental and social change. Through her unwavering commitment, Dr. Yee Yee Mon and Venus Skinlux are trailblazing a new path for Myanmar’s personal care industry, where sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience are at the core.

Connect with Yee on LinkedIn

Join us in celebrating women’s leadership!

On 30 September at 6PM ICT, we will announce the awardees of the four Wedu Women’s Leadership Awards in a special online celebration. Reserve your spot and be part of the moment. RSVP here to join us