“What is the difference between a coach and mentor?” asked May Anne Bird who led the 22 January 2025 workshop on Career Coaching. We engaged in thoughtful discussions by reflecting on the mentors and coaches we have had who trained and helped us build our careers with the 6Cs:
1) Continuous Learning - Confidence
No matter where we are in our academic journeys or careers, learning from people is essential to ensue and healthy mind and encourage self-directed learning which can build our confidence
2) Community and Network
Until EMPOWER, the idea of networking was hard for me to grasp. But after various workshops and pratices, you realise the importance of having a strong connection of mentors in the educational field. Not just in career, but just discussing career goals from friends can give us encouragement.
3) Communication
But to build an extensive network, we need to have good communication skills. For example, glancing at the Linkedin profile of your mentors or reseashing about the company you want to work for helps conversation be more productive and fruitful.
4) Care - Looking after yourself
It is important to take breaks from time to time to reassess what we want to do. As stress can easily lead to burnout, we need toremind ourselves of the importance of mental health.
5) Coaches, Mentors, Allies
Coaches, Mentors, Allies can be a great tool in our career that help us build connections, provide valuable insights, share experiences, offer constructive feedback, and encourage personal growth and professional development.
6) Commitment and Hardwork
The most important factors are your dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to continuous self-improvement. We should not only elevate your own performance but also contribute to a positive work environment and inspire those around you.
After learning about the 6Cs, we got to work on our communication by practising our elevator speeches and reflect on our careers while receiving personalized coaching sessions from our group leaders. I was fortunate enough to be mentored by Petunia Kingsley and Ikra Mohammed, both experienced professionals in the education field. From them, I learned valuable strategies for avoiding burnout. They emphasized the importance of time management and staying committed to a job as it can impact our professional growth.

With networking and the air full of motivation and dialogue amongst the cohort and group leaders, we got to hear from Jasper Wong from UBS, Kathleen Magramo from CNN, and Year 1 EMPOWER Alumni Zahira Yasmeen from HSBC. The panel began with the start of their careers and their perseverance and resilience to reach their current positions. Their story motivated us to network and put our best foot forward in our careers. They encouraged us to take the first step and reach our opportunities which build connections and rapport. The biggest takeaway was not to take opportunities for granted. Reflecting on my own experience, I often hesitate to take a valuable opportunity, only to watch it slip away. This moment taught me that every opportunity is a potential stepping stone toward success.

“Every opportunity is a potential stepping stone toward success.”
The night came to a close, allowing us to bid farewell and express our gratitude. I got the incredible chance to thank everyone for the night and call the EMPOWER girls to take proactive actions for their career success and keep the 6Cs for building a strong career in mind.
Comments