When Vivy Koo was 13, her family went on the run after her father’s business failed, leaving them with insurmountable debt.
She was sent to live with her uncle and aunt, who cared for her well but could not shoulder all her expenses. Vivy had to work to pay for school fees, books, and tuition.
Her first job was in a school supplies shop. At 14, she began waitressing in a seafood restaurant.
“When I was 15, I spent school holidays working in a daycare kindergarten in the mornings and waitressing in a seafood restaurant in the evenings. My health suffered greatly due to overwork,” recalls Vivy.
In Form 4, her weak immunity made her susceptible to illness. She was admitted for a viral infection that left her with painful throat ulcers and caused her to lose her sense of smell for over a month.
After high school, Vivy earned a scholarship to study film and television production in Kuala Lumpur. Growing up, TV dramas had been her ‘teachers’ – showing her how to understand life, gain wisdom, and become a better person. She dreamed of creating meaningful, educational programs for others.
After graduation, she threw herself into work, joining a small production company. She sought self-worth in her job and quickly became a workaholic, outperforming everyone’s expectations and cementing her role in the team.
Yet, something was missing.
“I didn’t know what I was working so hard for. My relationship with my family was splintering, and I was in a situationship with a colleague. Then, I was diagnosed with scoliosis,” she revealed.
Much of her income went to medical bills and treatments. Her fragile health kept her in and out of hospitals.
It all took a toll, and I began having depressive episodes. At work, I looked fine, but alone in my room, I would cry myself to sleep almost every night. That’s when I realised I was no longer myself; I used to be so cheerful,” the young woman revealed.
On earth for a reason
In 2017, Vivy began visiting church on and off, mostly out of curiosity.
“Most of my housemates were Christians. I had also remembered Danny and Amanda, two college mates. They lived differently; there was a joy and godly confidence in the way they communicated, handled assignments and carried themselves. And here I was, anxious and fearful. So I was intrigued by them,” she said.
That curiosity deepened. One day, while waiting to be admitted for a medical procedure, she decided to talk to “Whoever was up there”.
“I asked, “What is the purpose of my life? Why am I suffering so much?” I felt God say, “Don’t you already know that others around you are suffering too? They are lost. Why not create a platform to help young people find their purpose?” For some reason, that gave me hope that I was on earth for a reason,” Vivy said with a smile.
Over the next two years, she wavered between faith and doubt but noticed herself changing and transforming.
Her years of being on the run had shaped her into a tired, frustrated young woman. She carried unforgiveness towards her father and those she felt had wronged her.
“In my teens, I remember my dad once asking me, “Are you ashamed of being a part of this family?” I cried when God brought this memory back to me, because I realised then that I was now thinking about him without any ill-feelings,” she explained.
It was the beginning of a gradual change as she cautiously opened her heart to the Lord. “I became kinder, more gracious and forgiving. I felt lighter as I went about life, and I knew within me that it was God,” she reflected.
In 2019, Vivy could no longer deny God’s love and gave her life to Jesus.
Prepared for a unique call
As the first believer in her family, she faced her mother’s displeasure.
“I had been dedicated at a Taoist temple when I was 17 years old and was forced to drink burnt talisman water, so it was not easy. Along the way, however, my mother saw me change as I attended church more. In 2022, when I wanted to get water baptised, she went to the temple medium and, surprisingly, he told her to let me go ahead,” Vivy said with a bright laugh.
It was a tender moment of joy, hope and reconciliation when her mother and two brothers took off work and drove from Johor to KL to witness her water baptism. To Vivy, it was nothing short of a miracle.
As she moved through jobs in production, virtual tour development, recruitment, and even a short stint as a church worker, Vivy began to realise God was preparing her for something unique.
In a blend of her professional experience and passion for helping others find purpose, she launched The Waymaker Academy, a talent development platform offering 360° Career Virtual Tours, professional skills training, character-building programmes, and real career opportunities.
“Without a vision, people perish. That is the heart behind The Waymaker, where young people can have a tour of how real-life work in different careers look like, then giving them the opportunities to kickstart their career,” Vivy shared enthusiastically.
Together with her business partner, she is committed to doing business in a God-honouring way.
In the past, she has witnessed superiors act and lead in ways she personally feels would not bring God glory. Vivy was determined that these would not be trademarks of her leadership.
She started by looking for Christian entrepreneur communities and books because she had no business experience. “I wanted to start and do it right with God. That’s how I came across Faith-Driven Entrepreneur (FDE),” she explained.
Breaking down walls between faith and work
FDE is a global movement dedicated to gathering one million Christ-following entrepreneurs and equipping them to create and transform the world around them. In 2023, Vivy started an online foundation group in Malaysia. Earlier this year, it multiplied into two groups, each with more than 30 members.
She has seen God move in remarkable ways as Christians break down walls between faith and work. Some, once timid, now rise in confidence, becoming leaders and influencers in their workplaces, while others experience breakthroughs through divine connections and God’s provision.
“If you have the conviction that the Gospel can transform life, you can live it out in your workplace. It has been true in my experience. In the marketplace, many people are simply waiting for an invitation to have an encounter with Jesus and a community to grow together,” she reflected.
Vivy now encourages Christians in the marketplace to anchor themselves in Christ-centred communities such as FDE or Alpha, for encouragement and accountability to stay the course and view work as worship.
“In business, God must be our foundation. In my own life, He has granted undeserved favour when I put Him first. When we do things right with God’s character and His ways, instead of us chasing money, His provision chases us,” she concluded.
