They may come from different industries and diverse backgrounds, but the eight mentors with Her World’s inaugural Mentorship Programme have plenty in common: For one, they are keen to lend their insights and advice from their own journeys.

Many of them have also had non-linear career paths, sometimes taking leaps of faith to land their biggest breakthroughs. Others have struggled with being the only woman in the room, or juggling the realities of being a mother, wife, and daughter.

We hear from our mentors directly, and learn how the power of mentorship has helped in their own careers.

THE HER WORLD MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

Whether you’re just starting out or at a crossroads in your career, Her World’s Mentorship Programme connects mentees with influential women who are leaders in their respective fields. Besides professional development, one stands to build valuable connections as well as gain professional insight and female support from this peer community.

Fannie Lim

Executive director, Daughters of Tomorrow

A former sales manager with a regional tech company, Fannie became a stay-home mum in 2010 to care for her three children. In 2016, she joined the non-profit sector, first as a volunteer with women’s organisation Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT), contributing to its employer engagement and community partnerships efforts, before becoming the head of programmes. Today, she is the charity’s executive director and leads a team of 22 people.

Fannie credits DOT’s founder, Carrie Tan and former board president Kim Underhill as being instrumental in her leadership journey. “One advice that [Carrie] has given me is to keep in good company with a diverse group of people. This helps challenge my own thinking and avoid groupthink,” she says.

What do you hope to achieve as a mentor?

I’ve benefitted from people who’ve invested in me, and I’d like to pay it forward. In some ways, it’s also a privilege to have the opportunity to invest in another person’s life. Of course, it never hurts to make a new friend.

Should one choose a career for money or passion?

I think it depends on your goals. Even for those who choose a career for passion, there would still be a money “goal” involved based on commitments, lifestyle choices, and so on. Money and passion are two factors that need not be mutually exclusive. And if you choose one over the other, know that your mindset might change depending on the seasons of