Before any session began, the spirit of ZafigoX was already in bloom. The foyer quietly buzzed with familiar warmth: hugs between old friends, smiles between first-timers, the hum of the machine from the Heni Coffee booth, and the soft rustle of book covers at the Lit Books booth. New partners also joined the mix this year—Ibupreneur with their homemade bakes and sambals, Thai Odyssey offering massages, and even Volvo, inviting test drives just outside.

It was more than just a check-in point; it was reunion and discovery all at once. And as everyone stepped into the ballroom, awash in Zafigo’s signature purple glow, the word ‘Acceleration’ illuminated on stage, a reminder of why we were here: to keep moving forward, together, and to keep breaking boundaries.

Healing harmonies: Elaha Soroor & the sound of resilience

Afghan singer, composer, and cultural activist Elaha Soroor opened the day with a single note that hung in the air like a memory. Her session, on how she used music as a path to healing and belonging, traced how music becomes both balm and bridge—connecting the past to the present, and pain to hope.

“In this journey,” she shared, “I meet many Afghan diasporas around the world. For them, it’s important to hear my perspective as someone who has lived in Afghanistan—bringing these songs and melodies for them to hear, so newer generations can still connect with the past, the culture, the music. Which right now is illegal where I used to call home.”

The room was silent, reverent, as she sang a few verses of an old Hazara song, her voice carrying the stories of a homeland silenced but not forgotten.

Safety in a digital world: Power, not paranoia

From melody to mindfulness, Jac SM Kee reminded us that the digital world too, is a terrain women must learn to navigate safely and confidently. In her talk, she unpacked the invisible boundaries of online life—how power and privacy intersect, and how safety begins with empowerment.

“We need to feel in power in order to feel safe,” she said—a simple truth that resonated deeply in an age where our lives are lived both offline and on.

Across worlds: Sadaf Saaz on moving between disciplines & dimensions

Writer, cultural curator, and entrepreneur Sadaf Saaz followed with a talk that fully embodied her session’s title. She spoke of her journey through textiles, literature, and biotech; a life shaped by curiosity and courage to move across silos.

“Across worlds means more to me than traversing continents,” she said. “It means understanding diverse perspectives and class structures—breaking out of discrete silos, veering away from typical career paths, and connecting these worlds.”

Her words echoed the theme of “Breaking Boundaries”; that innovation and impact often come from those unafraid to cross lines, disciplines, and expectations.

Between generations: Marina Mahathir, Zainah Anwar & Ain Husniza on the strength of using our voices

Few conversations felt as intimate and urgent as the intergenerational dialogue between Marina Mahathir, Zainah Anwar, and Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam. The three changemakers reflected on the evolution of activism—from the early days of Sisters in Islam to today’s digital movements led by youth like Ain.

“It is up to us to mobilise, organise, and speak up, to make sure that our voice is heard to bring about change,” said Zainah. “Because change is not going to come from the top.”

What unfolded was a tapestry of wisdom and defiance, the kind of conversation that reminded us that progress isn’t linear, but passed hand to hand, story to story, generation to generation.

Vision forward: Building brands (and leaders) that outlast trends

The energy shifted from advocacy to entrepreneurship with the Vision Forward panel, featuring Jacinta Lim (Co-founder of Seek Sophie), Jenn Low (Founder of Wanderlust + Co), and Miranda Yeoh (Founder of Paolo Paolo Gelato), moderated by the ever-engaging Alleena Abdullah (Yellow Tree Malaysia).

Each speaker shared candidly about growth, risk, and purpose in building brands that endure. “I think there’s an incredible opportunity for female entrepreneurs to go out there and solve our own problems,” said Jacinta. “It’s not that women’s products don’t exist—it’s just that 90% of builders are men. We have a huge amount of power if we built the companies we wanted to build.”

Their discussion was a masterclass in ambition, yet grounded, generous, and deeply human.

Breaking the mold: Women who continuously play to win

From the boardroom to the race track, the final panel of the day brought together Lesley Lim (dragon boat captain), Andriyana “ChuChu” Ghazali (professional gamer), and Farah Irdina (racing driver), guided by Edleen Ismail.

Their stories spanned sports, esports, and everything in between, proving that boundaries are made to be tested. “Don’t be too reckless,” said ChuChu, “but don’t tell yourself no; try it first. You’ll regret most of the things you never do instead of the things that you do.”

The audience applauded in agreement. These were women not only competing in male-dominated fields but also redefining the rules of play.

When music moves us: Munirih Jebeni & Elaha Soroor’s unplanned duet

Just when we thought the day couldn’t surprise us further, musician and educator Munirih Jebeni took the stage with her sape’. Her music, delicate yet powerful, filled the ballroom with the spirit of the rainforest.

Then came an unplanned moment of magic: Elaha Soroor joined her on stage, their individual sounds intertwining—the ancient and the modern, the rooted and the exiled. It was a reminder that connection transcends borders, languages, and histories.

A beat of our own: VIONA’s “Resam”

After a full day of ideas and reflection, VIONA brought the crowd to its feet with “Resam”—their electrifying blend of electronic beats and cultural storytelling. Their performance was both cathartic and joyful, a sonic embodiment of ZafigoX’s spirit: rooted in heritage, yet unafraid to reimagine the future.

In between conversations: Learning by doing

  • Read Like A Stranger, Revise Like An Editor
  • Ulam Pairing & Planting
  • Ulam Pairing & Planting
  • Beyond the Souvenir: An Introduction to Art Journalling as a Travel Log
  • Move Freely, Travel Fully.
  • Move Freely, Travel Fully.
  • Move Freely, Travel Fully.
  • Documenting Deeper Travel Stories on the Go
  • Documenting Deeper Travel Stories on the Go
  • Ronggeng Workshop: Inang & Joget
  • Ronggeng Workshop: Inang & Joget
  • Ronggeng Workshop: Inang & Joget

Workshops on the second half of the day offered moments of creativity, practicality, and pause, From Read Like a Stranger, Revise Like an Editor, to Secure Your Future: Building Wealth & Legacy. Attendees also rolled up their sleeves to plant ulam, craft art journals, ronggeng, and explore deeper storytelling.

Each room held its own rhythm; small pockets of community where ideas met action.

Breaking boundaries, together

By the end of Day 1, one thing was clear: ‘Breaking Boundaries’ wasn’t just a theme. It was a collective act. Every story told, every note played, and every conversation shared added to a growing sense of movement—that acceleration isn’t about speed, but about strength, solidarity, and self-belief.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support of our wonderful sponsors, who shared our vision for inspiring women to accelerate change through connection, creativity, and courage. Big thanks to Maybank, Berjaya, Yayasan Hasanah, TalentCorp, and Volvo, who each played a crucial role in making ZafigoX 2025 a success. Our heartfelt appreciation also goes out to all our product sponsors — Lumi, Larney, Cuckoo, CzipLee, Mangosteen, Thai Odyssey, Puras, Biosilk, and Double Zero Pizza — who together built a goodie bag that was as thoughtful as it was exciting, delighting attendees from start to finish.

As we step into Day 2, we carry these stories with us—reminders that before we can reclaim the world, we must first reclaim ourselves.