Mentorships

“I wanted some guidance as I have heard from my seniors that “adulting” would be overwhelming. I wanted to learn from someone in the industry on what to look out for, and how to position yourself. My mentor and I cycled together a few times and had good conversations. I didn’t really ask him for “tangible” things like opportunities, but rather, I was just curious to understand his insights on certain issues. For instance – how to treat money, how to be charitable, how to be a dependable person, and so on. I would advise future mentees to not be too concerned about landing a mentor to get what you want. Instead, focus on finding a compatible mentor who can help you grow. It is good to check in with your own motivations on why you want to be part of this mentorship programme."

"I joined this programme with an open heart. As an undergraduate who wanted to learn more about the banking and finance industry, I looked forward to obtaining career advice from a mentor. I had no prior banking experience, so my mentor – Mr Piao Yu Foo, who is the Director of the Derivative Products Group within Capital Markets Origination at Scotiabank spent time sharing with me his diverse background and advice. He celebrated my small victories when I successfully secured my first banking internship, and we caught up over time where he would check in on my progress and continue giving me advice. It was a comfortable and friendly relationship. Despite age and experience differences, my mentor felt more like a friend whom I could rely on for good advice."

"Yes, my expectations were more than 100% met! My mentor, Theresa Tan, who is a Senior Director, Software at NTT Ltd told me about her professional life journey and work ethic. Her principles align with my personal values and to hear from a female leader in technology empowered me. I would advise anyone who is interested in this programme to read up on your mentors’ background and always come prepared with questions during the sessions. After each session, take 15 minutes to reflect and jot down learning points to internalise the discussion. Connect with the mentor on a personal level with genuine curiosity and be open to share your own personal stories.”

“Overall, I had an extremely positive and fruitful mentorship experience with my mentor, Adeline. Adeline was extremely patient and shared with me her experience in the FMCG industry. She also gave me tips on how to excel in the case interviews, interviews and held mock interviews with me. With her help, I am currently a management trainee under Nestle. Therefore, I would like to extend my upmost gratitude to Adeline and the programme.“

"The programme was well organised with briefing and guidance given by the career office. We met online and went through resume critique as well as mock interviews. My mentee shared with me that she got a full time offer from a local bank before she graduated. Encouraging note to share to inspire future mentees for this programme: One step at a time and you will be able to unleash your potential."

"In my second stint with the programme, I found immense satisfaction guiding mentees on their journeys. Both mentees successfully landed opportunities they aspired to. My recent mentee sought a role, interviewed with my ex-company, and received an offer from a bank. Recognising her personality, I advised her to accept the internship, highlighting the importance of a suitable environment. Encouraging note to share to inspire future mentees for this programme: Don't be afraid, reach out and keep the relationship with the mentor even after the programme because these are valuable contacts for future coaching or networking purposes.”

“My mentor was extremely helpful. She not only gave me insightful advice for career development but also emotional support when I didn't get an internship offer.”

“The course broadened my perspective on topics such as understanding unique journeys, personal branding, and empowerment. It was very interactive and engaged us through various panels, group discussions and more. Especially under mentors who were eager to share about their experiences and advice they’ve gathered, it was inspiring to converse, learn from and make connections with them. The final pitch component also allowed us to explore design thinking in an area we cared about. It was gratifying to have won the pitch with my group, but it was even more so to be able to learn, ask questions and explore in such a supportive environment, along with other like-minded young women. Through the mentors, the course material and engaging in meaningful projects, I was able to delve deeper into what it meant for me to ‘climb the ladder’, understand my career and personal goals better, and make genuine connections."

“It was a great experience to share my career journey with a group of passionate female students as part of the Women's Professional Development (WPD) course. As an NUS Science alumna turned Marketer, I shed light on my career switch journey and how good mentorship enabled me to embark on my dream. It was insightful to hear students sharing their career challenges as well as aspirations. That gave me insights to better support my mentees and young team members as well. Due to its good engagement, I decided to contribute more of my time to the course and I look forward to being part of more students’ growth journeys!”

"I enjoyed this networking session! It was really nice to be able to get to know more about the employers like this. For accessibility considerations, I really liked that it was a rather small room in a rather quiet environment, especially compared to the huge crowd at the career fair at level 1. To autistic people, or in general, people sensitive to excessive noise and prone to sensory overload, this is a great alternative for them! Would love to see more of such events in the future."

"The event was well planned and provided students with a valuable opportunity to engage up-close with potential employers."

"The networking session was very informative and it helped me gain a better insight of the various internship opportunities. "

"The Mentor Programme allowed me to understand practice in real life as my mentor shared with me personal experiences and helped me better understand what I want to do in the future and how I can go about it. My mentor also gave me invaluable advice that I would not have known had I not spoken to someone currently in practice."

“I think it is wonderful that the mentors come from diverse backgrounds. Thus, I was able to gain valuable insights into aspects of legal practice that I wasn't aware of before.”