In May 2021, I was invited by Service Design Network Singapore (SDNSG) to be a mentor for the first wave of their inaugural mentorship programme. This is where I met my mentee, Tricia Kat, an inspiring and passionate leader who made the brave move to switch to the healthcare industry after almost 20 years in aviation, designing and operationalizing best in class patient experience services (proud of you Tricia!). 

During our first meet up over Zoom, Tricia asked me what to expect as it’s her first time being mentored in this programme. Here is my response after being an experienced mentor and coach of over more than 25 years across industry background and cultural intricacies.

A mentee is someone who seeks the advice of a mentor to gain a higher knowledge and tap into experienced perspectives to further develop on a personal and professional basis.

A mentor acts as a trusted counsellor, coach, confidante, role model, guide, advisor, and "voice of experience". Both personal and professional discussions are the basis of a close, trusting, and respectful relationship.

My Mentoring Philosophy is simple: - I take pride in sharing my experience and guiding my mentees to cultivate both a meaningful career and a happy and well–balanced family/ life. I personally believe that this does not have to be mutually exclusive. It is a conscious choice. Through a transparent and trusting relationship, I help my mentee see options and opportunities, foster flexible and diverse thinking so that she/he can build the courage and self-esteem necessary to take action.

As one of the few SEA women leaders with trans-global commercial leadership experience, I hope to continue to inspire and be inspired by women in the workforce, who do not settle for less and strive to make a large impact in their community. I also hope to nurture the next generation of leaders to create and strengthen their communities through training, mentorship, and a network of diverse leaders.

It has been a delightful experience mentoring Tricia. I have become the person I am today because of the many great mentors and coaches that have touched my life. Growing up, I never thought that I would be able to embark on a global career that has given me the opportunity to sharpen my knowledge, skills and attitude to strive in today’s VUCA world. It gives me great joy and fulfilment to watch my mentee develop and unleash their fullest potential. I believe that Tricia will become a great mentor herself, which is something she has demonstrated a keen interest in.

I am grateful to have met Tricia and I wish her all the best in her new leadership role that will leverage her transferable skill sets on service design - plus her positivity is a force multiplier! Also, a shout out to Raymond and Gary for the initiative behind this programme via Singapore Service Design Network.