Empowering Resilience and Leadership: A Look Back at the HER Passion to Purpose Forum 2024  

Empowering Resilience and Leadership: A Look Back at the HER Passion to Purpose Forum 2024  

The HER® Passion to Purpose Forum 2024 brought together an inspiring mix of entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders from Southeast Asia. Hosted at Chimichanga Mexican Restaurant in VivoCity, Singapore, the event showcased HER’s ongoing commitment to building a supportive and inclusive community for growth, collaboration, and innovation.

 

 

About the Event  

The forum offered an afternoon of shared stories, meaningful discussions, and fresh perspectives. Attendees connected with leaders across industries, learning from their experiences and expertise. Vegetarian and halal-sourced refreshments added a welcoming touch during networking sessions.

Event Details:

• • Date: 5 December 2024, Thursday

• • Time: 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM (SGT)

• • Venue: Chimichanga Mexican Restaurant, VivoCity, Singapore

Networking and Warm Welcomes

The event began with a networking session at 2:00 PM, followed by opening remarks by HER® Entrepreneur founder, Renee Tan. Renee shared her inspiring journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of resilience and purpose.

 

Panel Discussion: Women Leading Innovation and Overcoming Barriers in STEAM
Leaders like Usha Chandradas, Dr. Lakshmi Ramachandran, Tien Nguyet Long, and Jamie Neo discussed their journeys in STEAM fields. Dr. Lakshmi’s empowering words, “You must tap into your inner power. Don’t wait for validation from others,” resonated with the audience.

 

 

Also it was a platform for leaders to share invaluable lessons:

• • Usha Chandradas: Usha shared her journey from being an advocate to joining Parliament, highlighting how her community encouraged her to take the next step. She talked about how, at press events, she was always the one questioning the government and pushing for better support for artists, which inspired her to get more involved which reminded us of how important it is to have the support of others when we want to create change. As Usha said, “When an opportunity comes, don’t be afraid to take it.” Her words encouraged all of us to step up and use our voices to make a difference in the world around us.

• • Tien Nguyet Long: Tien shared the remarkable story of Sabina West Miller, a pioneer who fought for equity in insurance over 200 years ago. She used this as a springboard to discuss the importance of diverse workplaces in overcoming systemic biases. Her insights served as a reminder to continually push for equity, as she said, “Continue to fight for equity in everything that we do.” By advocating for a workforce reflective of diverse perspectives, Tien highlighted how equity drives innovation and fairness in modern workplaces.

• • Jamie Neo: Jamie spoke passionately about the value of diversity in engineering and manufacturing. She noted that only 30% of engineers globally are women, pointing out how this imbalance can lead to missed opportunities in design and innovation. By highlighting efforts like fostering inclusive recruitment and establishing communities such as the Society of Women Engineers, Jamie demonstrated how diversity contributes to better products, stronger teams, and more equitable workplaces.
    
    
  • Dr. Lakshmi Ramachandran: Dr. Lakshmi also touched upon the “Leaky Career Pipe” in STEM, explaining how unconscious biases still prevent many women from reaching leadership roles. She emphasized the need to address this issue by bringing awareness to biases and creating supportive environments for women to thrive.

Keynote Address by ASG Yeo Wan Ling
Guest-of-Honour ASG Yeo Wan Ling delivered an inspiring keynote that highlighted the essence of resilience and adaptability. She shared her journey of overcoming workplace biases during her early career, recounting a pivotal moment at the Economic Development Board. When told that personal matter would mark the end of her overseas career opportunities, she chose to persevere rather than escalate the issue.

 

 

“This is when I realized it is important to be like water,” she said, referencing the adaptability and strength women inherently possess. She urged attendees to create pathways not just for themselves but for others, remarking, “Be the headwater that creates thin roads for other women to follow.” Yeo also emphasized the importance of leveraging female networks and encouraged entrepreneurs to partner with organizations like NTUC to grow their businesses. Her reflections resonated deeply, leaving attendees inspired to embrace challenges and foster innovation.

Wellness and Connection
A calming Sound Bath Recharge session by Michele Chong allowed participants to reflect and recharge. Following this, attendees enjoyed a Mexican High Tea networking session filled with delightful treats and meaningful conversations.

 

 

Insights on Breaking Barriers and Driving Innovation
Executive Chairman Yen-Lu Chow closed the sessions with actionable advice on fostering diversity and innovation. He reminded attendees, “Find purpose in what you do.”

Closing Networking
The event wrapped up with a final networking session, giving attendees the opportunity to deepen connections and reflect on their takeaways.

 

 

A Step Towards a Better Future  

HER’s forum was more than just an event, it was a celebration of resilience, leadership, and innovation. It reinforced the importance of purpose-driven communities and collaboration. The lessons shared and connections made promise to inspire and empower participants long after the event.

 

 

HER® remains dedicated to its mission to be an inclusive and diverse regional omni-channel media & community platform for entrepreneurs, leaders, government and investors to be inspired, educated, empowered. And by supporting initiatives like these, we can continue to overcome challenges, break barriers, and drive meaningful change together.

Join the Journey  

Be a HER® member now and let’s celebrate and champion communities like HER® that inspire us to be our best selves and contribute to a more inclusive and innovative world.