Programme Overview
Overview, objectives & list of mentors
Timeline
Programme structure & key events
Applications
Eligibility and application forms
Testimonials
Mentor and mentee experiences
Overview of the FWA‐AWF Mentoring Programme

The FWA Advancing Women in Finance (FWA-AWF) Mentoring Programme has been running since 2011, and was awarded the AWARE New Initiative Award in 2013.

In 2020, we received sponsorship from Seeds of Change Fund, supported by the Ministry of Social and Family Development and administered by the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations. The funding has been used to develop the Programme manuals for the Mentors and Mentees, and other resource materials to support the mentoring journey.

The programme is designed for mid-career women in the banking and finance industry, who seek guidance in professional and personal development from senior industry executives outside their organisations. To date, we have successfully mentored over 100 mentees, many of whom remain connected with their Mentors.

Here are some of our 2023 Mentors, made up of senior executives in the Singapore finance industry, many of whom are also Male and Female Champions of FWA. 

Mentor Company Designation
Agnes Koh SGX Chief Risk Officer
Ai Lin Leong LemmaTree Director, Tech Venture Building, Partnerships, Investments, Board Member
Alvin Lee Maybank Singapore Head Community Financial Services Singapore / Head Group Wealth Management
Catherine Low ING Regional Head of Lending, APAC
Celynne Go HSBC Head of Wholesale Credit Risk Management, Singapore
Chin Yee Png Temasek CFO
Chris Lum Saxo Markets Regional Head of Digital Sales
Chris Moore   Former Head of Corporate Practice in an International Law Firm
Cindy Tan GMO Singapore Pte. Limited CEO
Dennis Tan Prudential Assurance Company Singapore CEO
Ee Ching Tay Barclays Head of SEA Investment Banking
Eileen Chia United Overseas Bank Group Head of Global Market Sales
Eleanor Seet Nikko Asset Management Asia Limited President, Head of Asia ex. Japan
Eliza Ng Societe Generale Head of Corporate Client Coverage, South East Asia
Genevieve Heng Anthem Asia Limited Co-Founder and Director
Giao Pik Ho UOB Head of Banks Client Coverage, Global Financial Institutions Group
Henry Quek State Steer Bank and Trust Head of Global Markets, APAC
Hui-Joo Hoo Barclays Bank Head of Compliance, APAC
Jeff French OMERS Managing Director
Jessie Yim ANZ Head of Global Subsidiaries Group
Jia Yng Wee Cloudwall Capital COO & Co-Founder
Joanne Chan Barclays CFO, APAC
Joon Heem Kam Barclays COO, Singapore
Kerrine Koh Hamilton Lane Head, SEA
Mathilde Swierczynska SMBC Nikko Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd Head of Private Wealth Compliance, APAC
Nicolo Magni UBS Head of Global Banking, SEA & India
Patricia Enslow   Ex MD and Chief Marketing Officer
Priscilla Soh UOB MD, Business Technology
Priya Kini HSBC Head of Global Banking, Singapore
Rajeev Natarajan ICONIQ Capital CEO and Head, APAC
Raphael Cheminat Societe generale Chief Country Officer
Sage Patel S&P Global - Market Intelligence Head of Pricing, Valuations and Data Valuations
Samuel Lim Barclays Bank MD, Senior Relationship Management
Shirley Chua Golden Equator Capital Founding Partner
Stephanie Simonnet LoopedIN Founder
Sze Keed Wong AIA CEO
Thomas Kaegi UBS Asset Management Head UBS Asset Management Singapore & SEA
Global Head Sales Management, UBS Asset Management
Valentin Laiseca MSCI Head of South Asia
Virginie Babot Nasdaq Head of SEA
Wing Kwong Choo Nikko Asset Management Group Head of Portfolio Solutions
 
Objectives
To pair mid‐career female executives in the financial services industry with leaders and professionals with similar backgrounds/careers
Build a supportive community where mentors and mentees can openly discuss, share and learn from experiences
Increase awareness of FWA, and encourage mentees to contribute to FWA and its many causes
Programme Structure
Applications Open
1 – 19 Mar 2023
Mentee Selection Interviews
27 Mar ‐ 9 Apr 2023 (first round with subsequent rounds as required)
Pre‐Matching Networking 
8 - 24 May 2023 (first round with subsequent rounds as required)
Programme Opening Event
27 Jun 2023 (6.30pm to 8.30pm *tentatively)
Mid‐Point Check Event
14 Sep 2023
Programme Closing Event
25 Jan 2024
 
These are tentative dates which are subject to change.

• Pre-Matching Networking with Pre-Selected Mentors (for successful Applicants)

• Final pairing with Mentor based on mutual ranking of preferences (best efforts)

• Minimum 6 one-on-one Mentor-Mentee sessions between Programme Opening Event and Closing

• Opening, Mid-Point and Closing events to facilitate skills development, self‐awareness exercises and networking opportunities for Mentors and Mentees

Mentee Commitments
Organise a minimum of 6 meetings between Mentor and Mentee in 7-month timeframe of Programme
Attend a minimum of 70% of  Programme milestone events (refer to Timeline)
Treat information received during the Programme with strictest confidence and the utmost integrity
Mentee Eligibility
  • Have more than 8 years' experience in the financial industry
  • Be physically based in Singapore
  • Have a committed, mature and enthusiastic attitude towards the Programme
  • Be willing to give back to FWA and community after graduating from Programme
  • Be assessed for fit with available mentors
  • Upon a successful match with a Mentor, join FWA as an Individual FWA member (if not yet already a member)
  • Be willing to make necessary payments: Individual Membership fee is $120. Mentoring Programme fee is $100.
Applications
Applications for the 2023 Programme will be open from 1 — 19 March 2023.
To apply for the 2023 Programme, please complete this form
Contact
For clarifications, please contact the FWA Mentoring Sub Committee at mentoring@fwasg.org
Mentee and Mentor testimonials
Dennis Tan, Mentor 2021
CEO - Prudential Assurance Company Singapore

This is a great initiative by the FWA to support the professional advancement of women in finance. The programme is well organised and structured. The considered pairing of mentor and mentee ensures participants get the most out of the programme. I have thoroughly enjoyed the open conversations with my mentee, and taken away learnings that will help me be a more effective leader and coach. I highly recommend this programme to mid-career professionals who are seeking to advance their careers, and expand their network in the financial services industry.

 
Phaedra Pang, Mentee 2021
Digital Innovation Lead - PWC Singapore

My best decision last year has been to invest in myself via FWA Mentoring Programme.  The programme is designed for mid-career women in the banking and finance industry, who seek guidance in professional and personal development from senior industry executives outside their organisations. We are bound by an NDA which helps us Trust the confidentiality of our mentors and peers when voicing our thoughts, fears and plans.

The truly invaluable gift is the camaraderie and generosity to help each other from the get-go. It is amazing to meet accomplished industry leaders whom I probably would never be connected with otherwise. My mentor and I shared challenges, stories and ideas via WhatsApp, over dinners and on a nature walk.

 
Simon Cooper, Mentor 2021
CEO, Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking, Europe & The Americas - Standard Chartered Bank

As an FWA Champion, I’m very proud to have been a mentor in 2021, having the opportunity to discuss leadership, tackling unconscious bias and accelerating gender inclusion in the workplace with some amazing future talent. Speaking to the next generation of leaders is a two-way learning process that helps me do my job better as much as, I hope, it adds value to the FWA mentees on their own professional and personal journeys.  
 
Our industry is transforming, and we need a mixture of great people skills, world class digital and data capabilities and a passion to innovate if we are to serve our clients more effectively and contribute maximum value to the communities where we operate. The Financial Women’s Association Singapore epitomises the determination to ensure that this momentum is sustained across our industry, and I’m proud to be a part of that effort.
 

 
Gayle Chang, Mentee 2020
Director, APAC Head of eDebt Institutional Sales (Global Markets) - Deutsche Bank

I have truly enjoyed the mentorship programme so far. 
It has been really well organized and carefully crafted to ensure maximum benefit to those joining. 
From the pre-selection rounds, kick-off event, actual mentoring sessions as well as mentee monthly sharing. 
I have been able to connect with like-minded women virtually, and I have managed to meet one in person.
Would recommend it to anyone looking for support/guidance/growing their network in the broader finance community in Singapore. 

 
Henry Quek, Mentor 2020
Head of Global Markets, APAC - State Steer Bank and Trust

I have enjoyed my virtual mentoring sessions very much with the mentee. Besides sharing my career journey and work experiences with her, I have also learnt a lot from her, about how she thinks and what drives her. This to me is invaluable as I can then use this to help me better manage my own team.

 
Jane Tan, Mentee 2020
Business Development Manager - HSBC Insurance

This mentorship journey is akin growing a plant with some pruning and multiple fertilising phases. I am grateful to have a career coach to help steer my thought process into the right direction and to provide the timely advisory when I had to do my first telephone and virtual interviews during this pandemic period. This program also gives me the exposure to network with many dynamic, intelligent and authentic people who are more than willing to share their success stories with one another. It is my great pleasure to be part of the FWA community and in return, i hope to contribute meaningfully back to the community.

 
Priya Kini, Mentor 2020
Head of Global Banking, Singapore - HSBC

The FWA mentorship Programme provides a much‐needed platform bringing together talented females and leaders from Singapore’s financial services industry. I was privileged to mentor two extremely bright and ambitious mentees and was humbled by the trust they put in me; sharing their journeys, dreams and struggles. Acting as a sounding board for their ideas, we discussed different approaches and developed real, actionable plans to support their continued growth. And it was not all one way – I learnt a lot from these discussions too! Whilst most organisations are making strides in the D&I agenda, we must continue to work harder to advocate and support each other.