International Women’s Day isn’t just another date circled on the calendar—it’s a global moment, a collective pause where women’s voices, struggles, and triumphs take centre stage. On 8 March 2026, the world comes together under the banner “Give to Gain”, a mantra that feels especially relevant to our generation. It’s about generosity, reciprocity, and the kind of mentorship that doesn’t just change careers, but changes lives.
For this year’s feature, we’ve gathered women who open up about the figures who shaped them—mentors who offered guidance when the path felt uncertain, mothers who modelled resilience in everyday ways, peers who dared them to take risks and reminded them that courage is contagious. Their stories remind us that mentorship isn’t about titles or accolades; it’s about those quiet, consistent acts of encouragement that shift the trajectory of a life.
In a world where systemic barriers still exist, mentorship is proof that empowerment multiplies when shared and that progress is collective. International Women’s Day 2026 is not just about celebration—it’s about contribution, about asking ourselves what we’re willing to give so that all of us can gain.
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Christine Amour-Levar
Founder, Her Planet Earth and Women Beyond Limits; Co-Founder of Investors for Climate
“One of my earliest and most influential role models was my mother. She is Filipina, and she raised me with deep pride in our heritage while encouraging me to explore the world beyond it. She had an adventurous attitude to life. In the 1960s and 70s, she travelled independently across continents, studied abroad, embraced new cultures and friendships, and chose to live boldly rather than conventionally. She continues to lead with quiet strength, integrity and resilience, showing me that elegance and grit can coexist. She taught me that privilege carries responsibility and that courage often looks calm on the outside. Her example shaped my global outlook, my love of exploration and my belief that women do not have to shrink themselves to belong. Later in my journey, I was deeply inspired by women leaders who combined intellect with empathy, proving that you can be ambitious without losing your humanity. Her advice to me shaped my leadership profoundly: “Do not wait to be invited to the table—build your own.” It encouraged me to create platforms for women rather than seek permission within existing systems. It also taught me that leadership is not about position, but about responsibility."
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Associate Professor Sophia Archuleta
Assistant Dean (Equal Opportunities & Career Development), NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine; Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital
"My mother, who was also a physician, was my first and most enduring role model. But I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to have a circle of remarkable women—especially the women in my book club, a group of brilliant, accomplished professionals who have supported me through the highs and lows of both career and life. Through their generosity in sharing their own experiences, they’ve shown me the power of women lifting one another forward. The best advice I’ve received is that kindness is not weakness. As a leader and infectious diseases physician—especially during the challenges of COVID—I’ve learned that you can project strength, expertise, and decisiveness while still leading with empathy and authenticity. In difficult moments, those values helped my team support one another and move forward with resilience."
Angelene Chan
Group Executive Chairman, DP Architects
“My mother often told me, ‘Approach life with your heart, give your best and trust that your efforts will make a difference.’ This advice has shaped the way I lead, make decisions, and relate to others. In architecture and leadership, challenges are inevitable, but approaching them with optimism, integrity and patience creates trust, resilience and meaningful outcomes. Her words remind me that success is not measured only by results but by the positive influence you leave on people and communities. I hope the next generation of women embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, trust their instincts and lead with both confidence and compassion. Equally important, I hope they experience the power of supportive communities and mentorship, knowing that their voice and vision matter. In return, I hope they give back by mentoring, advocating and lifting others—creating a cycle of empowerment where experiences, wisdom and opportunities are shared generously. True progress comes not only from personal achievement but from fostering collective growth and inspiring the next generation to dream bigger.”
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Chong Ee Rong
Vice Chair, Singapore Business Federation;
Founding Chair, Young Business Leaders Network
"Interestingly, the women who shaped me most were not the ones with the biggest titles. They were the ones who made space deliberately–and then held it open. Earlier in my career, I was in a senior role at one of the world’s largest advertising agencies. We had a female regional leader who operated in a way I had not seen before. She never tried to be the smartest person in the room (although she probably was). She focused on helping everyone else become sharper, better-prepared and more confident together. She spent her energy making the people around her look good—and as a result, the whole team lifted. I did not understand at the time how unusual that was, but I’ve certainly carried that with me since. Watching her, I learned that real influence comes from building people and institutions that outlast you, and that belief continues to anchor my thinking about leadership today. 'Give To Gain' is the most honest framing of mentorship I have encountered, because it names both sides of the equation. Real mentorship is not pure altruism. It is an investment with compounding returns. When you give your time, your network, and your hard-won perspective to someone at a critical juncture in their career and/or life, what you gain back is a multiplier. They go on to build things, mentor others, and reshape the environments they move through."
Natalie Craig
Chief Executive, Cushman & Wakefield Singapore
“My mother was the definition of a superwoman. Not because she made it look glamorous and effortless, but because she truly set an example of hard work, perseverance, resilience and humility. She grew up in Egypt, graduated as an engineer from Cairo University in the mid-70s and then migrated to Australia with my father to undertake her PhD in engineering at the University of New South Wales. She became the first woman in Australia to gain her PhD in Engineering—and completed it while pregnant, and also with a newborn baby (me!). She went on to have a distinguished career while raising my brother and I, supporting my father in his own engineering career, serving her community, loving and caring for her extended family. Unfortunately, she was taken from us far too young after a difficult battle with cancer—one that she approached with courage and selflessness. As a teenager, I felt a pressure to perform and achieve academically and often enjoyed blaming her for the pressure I felt to achieve. At one point she said to me: “Natalie, I have worked hard, set myself tough goals and achieved what I wanted in my career and in my personal life. Your life choices, your achievements and your failures don’t change my life, they change yours. Own your decisions, celebrate your successes and learn from your failures”. At the same time she also encouraged me to embrace learning in all forms, to try new things, build new skills and never give up. And finally, she modelled true servant leadership—always finding ways to support and help others, both in her personal and professional life.”
Dr June Goh
Senior Consultant in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care;
Board Member, Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO);
Founding Board Member, SG Her Empowerment (SHE)
"I’ve been fortunate to have more than one woman shape my journey, but two stand out: Laura Hwang from SCWO was the person who started me on my path. Her advice was beautifully simple: 'Step up—and I’ll be supportive all the way.' It taught me that leadership isn’t about waiting until you feel ready; it’s about having the courage to say yes and trusting that growth will follow. She also showed that leadership can be achieved elegantly, with a gentle voice but a will of steel. Earlier, Dr Ann Tan played a similarly pivotal role when she asked me to join the Association of Women Doctors Singapore (AWDS)—and then trusted me to step up and lead. From her, I learned that leadership is also about service. Together, these lessons shaped how I approach opportunities—with kindness, courage, responsibility, and a commitment to others."
How Kay Lii
Chief Executive Officer, SG Her Empowerment (SHE)
"A female role model who has shaped my life is Stefanie Yuen Thio, my Chairperson. Most people know her as the formidable Joint Managing Partner of TSMP Law Corporation. What few see is the side of her that built SHE. She saw a gap and decided to fill it, in her own way, and with so much heart. She is, in the truest sense, a super-connector—someone who instinctively brings together the right people, across sectors and disciplines, to make something greater than any one of them could do alone. Stef gave me a speech about imposter syndrome, which is something I struggle with even today. But my biggest learning from her is something harder to articulate: How to 做人, which in Mandarin means, literally, to be a person. But what it really means is how to conduct yourself with integrity, with grace, with genuine regard for the people around you. It is about noticing when someone has gone out of their way for you, and making sure they know it—and then finding a way to do the same. In a sector driven by mission and often stretched thin, that kind of human recognition sustains people in ways that are hard to measure and impossible to replace."
Grishma Kewada
CEO and Country Manager, Coface Singapore;
Immediate Past President, Financial Women’s Association Singapore;
Chairperson, BoardAgender, Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO)
“My mother is my inspiration. From the earliest days of my life, she has been my source of strength, compassion, and clarity. Her resilience taught me how to stand firm in difficult moments. Her kindness shaped the way I see the world. And her unwavering belief in me became the quiet force that carried me forward, even when I doubted myself. She led by example, through her actions, her sacrifices, and her boundless love. She taught me to stay grounded, humble, to stay grateful, and to give more than I take. These lessons have stayed with me throughout every chapter of my life. Today, I celebrate her. Her courage. Her generosity. Her gentle leadership that continues to guide me in ways big and small. If I have ever shown strength, empathy, or conviction, it is because she planted those seeds long before I ever recognised them.”
Sabrina Loi
Board of Director, ISACA Singapore
"A woman who has profoundly shaped me is Michelle Obama. Beyond her achievements, what moves me is her steadiness—the way she holds her identity with clarity and grace, even under immense scrutiny. She speaks about worth, resilience, and owning your story in a way that feels deeply human. Watching her reminded me that strength does not require hardness; it can coexist with warmth and vulnerability. Her reminder to 'go high' stayed with me in the darkest season of my life. When I was navigating (Stage 4 uterine) cancer, uncertainty, and the quiet grief of plans interrupted, I realised that dignity is a choice, especially when circumstances feel unfair. Choosing hope over bitterness, presence over fear, shaped how I healed and how I lead today. It taught me that our response to adversity becomes part of our legacy. I want younger women to see that resilience is not about being unbreakable; it is about choosing to rise, again and again. If sharing my story makes someone feel less alone, then it is worth it. When we transform our struggles into support for others, we turn survival into something far greater—we turn it into purpose."
Su Anne Mi
Co-Founder & CEO, The Great Room
"My mother has shaped me profoundly, in how I see possibility and in how I choose to live and lead. She began her career as a surgeon and followed what many would consider a traditional, stable path. But what shaped me most was not her early achievements—it was what she chose to do later. At a stage when many people feel settled, or defined by their past choices, she pivoted. She pursued architecture, became a sculptor, and spent her 50s through 70s travelling extensively, often on months-long cross-country drives, from Singapore to Paris, or across Africa. Watching her reinvent herself was quietly transformative. She showed me that identity is not fixed, and that reinvention is possible at any age. If her journey taught me anything, it’s that identity is far more fluid than we sometimes allow ourselves to believe. I would love to see more women give themselves permission to explore new paths, raise their hands earlier, and step into rooms even before they feel completely ready. We’re often taught to believe that our careers and identities should be linear or predictable. But the older I get, the more I recognise that they rarely are, and that’s not a weakness, but a strength."
Adjunct Assistant Professor Mo Yin
Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
"As a woman in science, I am grateful for the chance to contribute to a wider community of female researchers. I hope young women see that women can lead in science by being rigorous, collaborative, and empathetic—and that our voices matter. I’ve learned that many decisions in life sit on a delicate line—between the heart and the mind, bravery and fear, persistence and stubbornness. Walking that line requires discipline and the humility to question our own realities. Global health is often driven by short-term funding cycles and initiatives that aim for quick impact but may not always reflect local needs. My research on health equity and antimicrobial resistance, the so-called “superbug problem”, focuses on the long term: building people, infrastructure, and research systems that can generate data and evidence to drive lasting change through policy."
Julie Mulligan-Barish
CEO and Co-Founder, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
"One of the most influential women in my life was my dear childhood friend’s mother, Trish Hagood. She had this incredible belief that you can learn anything in two weeks, and it became a guiding mantra for me. Her advice shaped the way I approach challenges: Start by understanding what you know, be honest about what you don’t, and remember that a lack of knowledge isn’t a limitation. Instead, it’s an invitation to grow. Because of her, I’ve never hesitated to learn new skills, adapt quickly, or dive in head first to figure things out on my own rather than waiting for others to show me the way. Trish was an entrepreneur and business owner for most of her life, moving through the world with such independence and resilience. With the right intention and consistent effort, we can always close the gap between where we are and where we want to be. In my role, I’m always striving to contribute more. I think a lot about the next generation because of my two girls (aged 17 years old and 17 months old). I hope they build lives that honour their personalities and individual strengths, and that they find strong communities that appreciate and support them. And I hope they also learn the importance of reciprocity. That to truly receive, you have to give, and giving is at its best when something flows back."
Belinda Pervan
Vice President, Asia Pacific & Japan Marketing, Veeam Software; Co-Lead, Mentor Walks
"I had the privilege of working with Wendy Johnston twice, at EMC and later at Salesforce, and her influence has stayed with me throughout my career. Wendy was the kind of leader who made you feel seen. She led with both strength and empathy at a time when executives often prioritised authority over vulnerability, and she showed me that the two were never in conflict. She could hold her ground in tough conversations and be warm and nurturing in other moments with our team. Watching her navigate difficult environments with both openness, trust and compassion reshaped my understanding of what effective leadership could look like. Wendy’s best advice to me was to use whatever influence I have to create opportunities for others and give them the visibility to grow. She never made leadership about herself; she consistently put her team at the forefront, making sure we had the platform to showcase our work and progress in our careers. Because of her, I strive to build a workplace where people feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work and where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. That mindset has made me a much stronger advocate for diversity and inclusion. To me, a truly diverse and inclusive workplace creates the space for innovation, better decision-making, real collaboration, and a genuinely empowering culture."
Christine Tan
Head of Brand Marketing, Zouk Group
"My biggest role models would be my two best friends. We’ve grown up side-by-side since our early teens, and they’ve seen every version of me—the unsure one, the overly ambitious one, the one figuring things out as she goes. We’ve gone through heartbreak, setbacks and milestones together, and in many ways, shaped each other into who we are today. One of the most important things they’ve taught me consistently over the years is to trust myself. There have been many moments where I second-guess my decisions or felt like I wasn’t ready for the opportunities in front of me, but they were always there to remind me on how far I’ve gone on my own and that I didn’t need to have everything figured out to take the next step. That shaped how I approach both my career and leadership. I believe in decisiveness and discernment, and I try to create that same sense of belief for the people around me—to help them see their own capability before they start talking themselves out of it. I lead a team comprised mostly of young female marketers and creatives. All of them are still early in their career paths, so it's important for me to set a good foundation. Each of them has different strengths, skills and working styles, and it's something that I learn to adapt to in order to provide a personalised mentorship style. I also try to be intentional about recognising people’s efforts— because I know firsthand how much it can mean to have someone believe in you, especially early on."
Mrinalini Venkatachalam
Regional Director for South East Asia, North Asia, and Oceania, WEConnect International; Board Member, One Singapore (Women in Sustainability and Environment); Board member, Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO)
"When I worked at the Singapore Committee for UN Women, I had a few senior leaders who deeply shaped how I think about leadership and impact. They led with conviction and compassion and held high standards while creating space for growth. They trusted me with real responsibility, gave candid feedback, and modeled what it looks like to advocate boldly for women while staying grounded in integrity. The best advice I’ve ever received wasn’t a single line, it was their steady, unwavering belief in me. That kind of confidence completely changed how I see my own potential and how I approach opportunities today. I’m so grateful for their guidance, because it taught me to lead with purpose, take thoughtful risks, and, most importantly, to give others the same belief and support they gave me. Meaningful mentorship is really about intentionally investing in someone’s growth. It’s about taking the time to understand who they are, what they want to become, and giving honest feedback in a thoughtful, caring way. It’s also about gently pushing them to stretch beyond their comfort zone. I hope the next generation of women gains the confidence to own their voice, the courage to lead boldly, the freedom to define success for themselves and that they give back by lifting others as they rise by opening doors, sharing power, and building a world where opportunity isn’t the exception, but the standard."