Live to Learn

Experienced mentors were paired up with NBS alumni from November 2023 to March 2024.

Seeking New Perspectives

Qiao Yuan works in human resources in the asset management industry. After completing her degree in accountancy in 2018, she spent several years in an accounting firm, where she handled expatriate taxes. Her mentor Dawn Ho is a health & wellness and career coach.

Feeling that it would be beneficial to have conversations with a mentor at different milestones in her career to ensure work alignment with her personal goals and beliefs, Qiao Yuan joined the programme seeking new perspectives. She had a fulfilling experience, stating: “The programme provided a safe space for conversations such as managing upwards, influencing others, and finding purpose in life. These are usually not taught in school or discussed at the workplace.”

Her mentor Dawn joined to support a fellow alumnus, recalling that she did not have a mentor in the early years of her career. She was glad to be able to learn about the challenges faced by mentees and help them navigate those obstacles. 

One-to-One Guidance

Duo Geng graduated from NBS in 2018 and leads the People & Strategy team at Glints, a Series D HR start-up with presence in nine markets. Prior to that, he worked as a consultant in Bain & Company. His mentor Richard Koh, founder and CEO of M-DAQ Pte Ltd, is a Fellow Chartered Accountant whose experience includes JP Morgan and PwC Singapore. He is also a member of the NBS Advisory Board.

Duo Geng wanted to learn from the career experiences of alumni. Under Richard’s mentorship, he found the one-to-one conversations most memorable, as Richard distilled insights relevant to his development. These included perspectives on diverse issues such as leadership during a crisis and personal-professional balance. He also broke out of his strict routine to try out a “blue-sky-day", to clear the calendar and think/work in a different environment.

Richard valued the different perspectives gained through this process of learning from and the sharing across generations. He was glad to see his mentee featured in a news article, sharing insights that originated from one of their discussions.

Both Richard and Duo Geng recommend the programme. Duo Geng praised the NBS Alumni Relations team for the excellent job matching with highly qualified mentors to the mentees' preference profiles.

Paying It Forward

Him Chuan and Cedric at the Mentoring Programme appreciation event on 27 March 2024.

Cedric is a Chartered Accountant who works as management consultant in the technology sector. His mentor Him Chuan leads the Group Strategy, Transformation, Analytics & Research team in DBS Group, where he drives strategic transformation powered by research and AI.

Cedric believes in the merits of mentorship, stating: “Having a mentor — especially if he/she has walked the same path — can help me gain a different perspective on the challenges I face. It also allows me to carve out a clearer career direction.”  

Cedric dedicated time to review his career development by seeking out mentors to learn from their experiences. He found their honest sharing particularly inspiring, which led him to reflect on his aspirations, strengths, and weaknesses. Joining the programme helped him reframe his mindset about career success and interpersonal relationships.

Him Chuan joined the programme to pay it forward, having benefitted from the guidance and coaching of others throughout his career. He eagerly accepted the invitation, confident that he could relate to the challenges of young professionals and offer guidance.

Him Chuan is pleased to have helped Cedric, commenting: “My perspectives on career building — especially how combining different experiences over time and across domains allowed me to take on roles that span boundaries – inspired my mentee to reposition his career for the future.”

For both Cedric and Him Chuan, the programme represents a significant opportunity. Connecting with an industry veteran with a shared academic or professional background was an exciting opportunity for Cedric, while Him Chuan believes that with a suitable mentor and clarity of purpose, the experience will be filled with learning and growth.

Building Meaningful Relationships

Mentors and mentees celebrating their journey in the Mentoring Programme together.

Anjali graduated with a degree in business in 2022 and spent more than a year working in marketing. She recently transitioned to a new role in the technology industry. Her journey through our mentoring program, guided by her mentor Shweta Anil Mishra, Vice President, HR for APAC for Match Group, showcases the transformative impact of mentoring on her career trajectory.  

Anjali joined the programme seeking more clarity in her career path, setting tangible goals as she transitioned from the university to the workplace. She hoped the programme would provide insightful guidance and a supportive network.

Through discussions with Shweta, Anjali became aware of her innate desire to explore myriad interests, often at the expense of sustained focus and effectiveness. Shweta challenged her to cultivate discipline, hone her ability to prioritise tasks better, and categorise her aspirations into concrete one-, three-, and five-year plans, paving the way for constructive dialogue and helping her chart a concrete path towards fulfilling her ambitions.
Shweta encouraged Anjali to set realistic and attainable milestones, offered constructive feedback, and challenged her to think critically about her aspirations. Their discussions were geared towards fostering Anjali's professional growth, enhancing her skill set, and equipping her with the tools needed for success in her new industry.

“Focus is important to achieving goals. I also learnt how intentional goal setting and aligning actions with aspirations can drive meaningful progress,” Anjali shared. Anjali encourages future participants to embrace the opportunity and approach each interaction with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to action. As a mentor, Shweta gained a deeper understanding into the mindset of new graduates. She believes that programmes like these are crucial for continuous learning, networking, and building meaningful relationships.