Unlocking the Leadership Journey: A Glimpse into YWLC's Deputy Directors

The Deputy Director (DD) Scheme was conceptualised in 2021 and aims to continue building the pipeline of leadership at YWLC. DDs are nominated by the Exco for an annual term.

In the vibrant tapestry of YWLC, the Deputy Directors stand as the unsung heroes, weaving intricate threads of commitment, vision, and empowerment. Behind every successful initiative, every transformative project, and every impactful strategy, these dedicated individuals play a pivotal role in steering the ship toward YWLC's overarching mission of fostering leadership among young women in Singapore.

In this exclusive feature, we bring you candid conversations with Joanne, Nicolette, Samantha Halim, and Samantha Lim. Each Deputy Director leads a unique subcommittee, contributing to the diverse fabric that makes up YWLC's dynamic community.

1.⁠ ⁠As a deputy director, you play a crucial role in executing the vision of YWLC. Can you elaborate on how you serve as the deputy director for your subcommittee under your guidance and how this role contributes to the overall success of YWLC?

Joanne Ong - Deputy Director for Social Impact (SI):

In my role as Deputy Director for SI, I spearhead projects like Female & Fearless (F&F) and 100 Wishes: Star Shelter. F&F focuses on workshops to instill confidence and digital skills in secondary school girls, while Star Shelter engages beneficiaries at a women’s shelter. My aim is to provide opportunities for YWLC members to lead projects, volunteer, and contribute to the community. By leveraging existing partnerships and understanding community needs, we enhance YWLC’s impact on both partners and society.

Nicolette Tan - Deputy Director for Social Impact:

My focus is on the Pay it Forward mentorship program, a key SI initiative where YWLC members share experiences with younger ladies. I believe in harnessing our collective wisdom, resources, and connections for the greater good. Collaborating with Vicky (8th Exco Social Impact Director) and Joanne, I facilitate opportunities for members to give back. Our role is not just about mentoring but also creating avenues for community engagement and positive contributions.

Samantha Halim - Deputy Director for Leadership Development:

Leading the Breakfast Club series, I aim to foster authentic conversations and provide insights from accomplished female leaders. The interactive, intimate format aims to connect participants and offer diverse perspectives. Next on driving content strategy, we have member leadership features and bite-sized content in the pipeline, to contribute to YWLC's thought leadership.

Samantha Lim - Deputy Director for Member Journey & Data Innovation:

In my role, I work towards nurturing a culture of data-driven innovation, promoting progressive changes for better member engagement and growth. By welcoming data-driven approaches, I aim to ensure that YWLC members experience meaningful professional and social growth during their time with the organization.

2.⁠ ⁠Deputy directors are integral in partnering with directors to bring YWLC’s vision to life. How do you collaborate with your director to ensure seamless coordination between the broader YWLC goals and the specific initiatives led by subcommittee members? Can you share an example that illustrates the effectiveness of this partnership?

Joanne Ong - Deputy Director for Social Impact (SI):

Collaborating closely with SI Director and fellow Deputy Director, we focus on recognising and addressing the concerns of girls and women in our projects. An example is the development of a confidence curriculum for Female & Fearless, drawing from our personal journeys. Frequent communication ensures alignment on individual and collective goals, strengthening SI's strategic approach and building a closer-knit sub-committee.

Nicolette Tan - Deputy Director for Social Impact:

In 2024, we aim for a holistic view of SI strategy, emphasizing clearer communication and a closer-knit SI sub-committee. Aligning on individual and collective goals provides clarity. Frequent and clear communication between Vicky, Joanne and I is key, and so far we have very regular check-in. For example, at the start of 2024 we aligned on our individual “why”, and also on our collective goals for SI this year, which was very clarifying and unifying.

We also hope to work on having a closer knit SI sub-committee and provide opportunity and direction for our members to be more involved!

Samantha Halim - Deputy Director for Leadership Development:

To foster effective collaboration with the Leadership Development Director Nithya, this involved understanding each other's personalities and working styles. The TetraMap model revealed our complementary strengths and differences, with the diversity contributing to our success. For instance, we worked closely together to introduce a new event format - the Breakfast Club series and successfully brought it to life with our first run last year.

Samantha Lim - Deputy Director for Member Journey & Data Innovation:

We maintain open communication and regular update meetings to align perspectives and engage team members. An example is the launch of YWLC Hangouts, conceived to welcome new members and enhance networking opportunities. The quick ideation-to-launch timeline demonstrates the effectiveness of our collaboration.

⁠3. Looking ahead, what strategic plans are you working on with the Exco Directors to ensure the success of the subcommittee? How do these plans align with the broader objectives of YWLC, and how will they reinforce your role in supporting YWLC’s mission?

Joanne Ong - Deputy Director for Social Impact (SI):

Future plans involve potential new initiatives, increased communication, and expanded events for existing projects within SI. Understanding member interests and skill sets will inform partnerships and events, fostering both volunteering opportunities and member connections.

Nicolette Tan - Deputy Director for Social Impact:

SI plans include recruiting a strategy team for better SI implementation and serving the community. Ad-hoc volunteering opportunities will enhance member bonding and contribute to the community.

Samantha Halim - Deputy Director for Leadership Development:

Leadership Development's vision is to empower tomorrow's leaders through our various initiatives, which are anchored on our leadership competency framework. We also aim to increase awareness of leadership content and provide inspiration to members to lead in their own right.

Samantha Lim - Deputy Director for Member Journey & Data Innovation:

Anticipating the future, data-driven initiatives involve robust metrics for accountability and impact. Optimising digital platforms and creating spaces for knowledge exchange support continuous development, reinforcing YWLC's mission of empowerment and transformative leadership.

This article was co-authored by Joanne Ong, Nicolette Tan, Samantha Halim, Samantha Lim

and edited by Mei Yu Lim.