Meet the women who are thriving as digital nomads – and redefining work-life balance

Being constantly on the move as a digital nomad can be fun, but at times, it is a lonely experience. For Ho Ming Xia, 30, who has been working remotely since 2021, that changed when she found a sense of belonging among other female digital nomads.

Her previous employer, Draper Startup House, started as a global hospitality chain bringing the digital nomad and entrepreneur community together. As head of community, she helped launch communities and offered a space for them to connect and host events at its shophouse location on Ann Siang Hill.

That was how the startup consultant got to know the co-founders of Asian Wander Women (AWW), a community connecting women who travel and work remotely.

“We recognise that even remote workers need community; a sense of belonging and human interactions when they are on the road. The mission of AWW aligned with Draper Startup House in recognising that the entrepreneurial ecosystem consists of surrounding communities that collectively drive progress,” says Ming Xia.

Her job took her to places such as Croatia, France, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and India – and she realised how beneficial it was for her to connect with other women on similar journeys.

“The experience is often empowering and uplifting. The journey does not seem so lonely, especially when you are able to connect with others who shared similar sentiments in other circumstances,” says Ming Xia who has since left her full-time role and working on ad hoc projects through her network’s referrals.

Ivy Xu, 31, a tech entrepreneur from Canada and co-founder of AWW, says the idea for the group came about in 2021, after she had been working remotely since 2018, as a way to stay connected with other female digital nomads.

What began as virtual gatherings among friends grew into a global network, with meet-ups in cities around the world, community-led events, and annual travel summits. The group has since evolved to welcome women building global careers, whether or not they are digital nomads.

“We try to create opportunities for deep conversations and connection – both in person and virtual,” says Ivy. 

Members continue to organise their own meet-ups in different cities, keeping the community alive through relationships built within it. The group launched its first travel summit in Taipei last year, followed by a recent one in Singapore, with the next set to take place in San Francisco.

“I love the idea of having friends globally and being able to feel like you’re at home, no matter where you are in the world. I think the most important thing that we do is show women that it is possible to create a life that’s totally different from the one that maybe Asian parents imagined us to lead,” Ivy says.

As the number of digital nomads continues to rise – with an expected one billion of them by 2035 – so too does the number of women choosing this lifestyle, and along with it, the communities built to support them.

Communities such as Wifi Tribe, The Solo Female Traveler Network, and Female Digital Nomads offer virtual and in-person spaces where women can share resources, connect, and find solidarity.

Ming Xia herself is part of AWW and Women in VSEA, the latter a group for women in venture capital or private equity. Although she is less active in the groups today due to her constant travels, she continues to contribute by introducing and connecting women who are seeking a community to resonate with, and knowledge sharing where possible.

Whether it is a casual conversation or a strategic connection, she believes in helping more women find support on their journeys, just as how the groups have been a source of support for her. She tries to reach out to them whenever she’s in town, even setting up virtual calls to catch up or make plans to travel together to another country.

“Even though it may not be frequent communication, support always feels like it is within reach. When feeling low, it is easier to reach out to ask for help and support, whether to grieve, brainstorm, get back on one’s feet, or to source for validation, inspiration and empowerment,” she says. 

Travelling solo, but not alone

While community groups provide a source of much-needed support for what often feels like a solo endeavour, support can also come from the people around us.

For Nurul Jalil, 32, a travel content creator and marketing specialist who recently embraced the digital nomad lifestyle, it is the people she meets along the way that make the journey meaningful – along with the freedom and personal growth it brings.

“Whether they are creators, locals or fellow travellers, these people inspire me in different ways,” she says. It was in 2021, while working remotely for her full-time job and as a content creator on the side, that Nurul realised her work could be done from anywhere.

“I started to think about the kind of lifestyle I wanted, and the freedom to be anywhere was something I kept coming back to. When my company switched to a permanent return-to-office policy in 2023, I took it as a sign to make the leap – and officially left my full-time role in October 2024 to pursue remote work fully,” she shares.

What was meant to be a short trip to Seoul to catch boy band Seventeen in March this year turned into a two-month stay as she fell in love with the country again.

Determined to remain there for the long term, she found a company willing to sponsor her accommodation and, after a short trip back home to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa, packed her bags and flew back to South Korea.

She now volunteers as a marketing team lead, and works and stays at Nomadx Life, a digital nomad hub in Busan that also houses a co-working and living space. Surrounded by an entire community of digital nomads daily gives her a much-needed social connection in an otherwise mostly solo journey.

At the same time, she makes sure to stay in touch with other content creators through social media, and catches up with them if they happen to be in town at the same time. She also checks in regularly with her close friends.

At times when the boundaries between work and play blur as a digital nomad, both Ming Xia and Nurul advocate having proper structure for work and taking breaks.

Ming Xia stresses the importance of making time for rest: “It’s easy to get caught up with working too much, especially if it is the only thing you are familiar with in a new environment. Stepping away from the laptop can also be hard, with guilt stemming from having to be available to compensate for not being physically present in an office.”

For those feeling lonely away from home, she advises: “Gain on-the-ground connections by going to meet-ups, make new friends, and pace yourself. Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun along the way.”