On 23 November 2024, our YWLC Pay-It-Forward (PIF) 2024 mentors and mentees had an inspiring day of learning and connection through the PIF midway engagement session. This event featured a customised workshop by Bold At Work and a series of mentor-led discussions, empowering attendees with insights to navigate their personal and professional journeys.
Starting Boldly with Bold at Work
The day began with an interactive workshop led by Michelle from Bold At Work, starting with ice-breakers, and transitioning into deeper reflections. Participants shared their life goals and explored similarities and differences within their groups.
These seemingly simple interactions naturally unveiled shared challenges, aspirations, and opportunities for collaboration. This showed our participants the importance of working with others to achieve personal and professional goals, leaving them inspired to view teamwork as a powerful tool for success.
Human Library: Stories That Inspire
The second half of the day featured a Human Library component, where mentees engaged in intimate discussions with four mentors (YWLC members) - Nicole, Valery, Denise, and Urmila. Each mentor shared unique insights and lessons drawn from their journeys, offering valuable perspectives to the mentees.
Nicole spoke about the importance of embracing curiosity and leaning into discomfort as part of personal growth. She shared how stepping out of her comfort zone, both professionally and personally, helped her discover her passions and develop resilience. Her stories of immersing herself in diverse markets and cultures illustrated how taking bold steps can unlock unexpected opportunities.
Valery shared her journey of resilience and her unconventional path into entrepreneurship. She discussed the importance of staying open to new experiences and drawing strength from a supportive community. Her emphasis on adaptability and perseverance resonated with the mentees, especially those curious to seek uncharted career paths.
Denise provided insights into transitioning from school to the workplace, focusing on practical tips for navigating this pivotal phase. She highlighted the importance of taking internships to better understand one’s interests and strengths. The sharings gave participants key takeaways on how adopting a proactive mindset, honing communication skills, and maintaining confidence can ease the transition and foster workplace success.
Urmila’s session centred on self-leadership, where she encouraged mentees to take charge of their personal and professional growth. She shared with the participants on how she went about making intentional decisions in her career moves when taking on different roles within the current organisation she is with. The key learning was on the importance of self-reflection in understanding one’s motivations, strengths and gaps to be filled that can help in progressing to the next step helped with aligning decisions with longer-term goals.
Building Connections and Paying It Forward
Through thought-provoking discussions and actionable insights, the engagement session showcased how collaboration and mutual learning serve as essential catalysts for collective growth.
As the Pay-It-Forward Mentorship Programme 2024 continues, we look forward to seeing how these lessons inspire mentees to embrace challenges, seize opportunities, and build meaningful connections.
Comments