Life advice from female leaders in Singapore (IWD)
Stay authentic, trust your gut, find your passion, and find a love to grow old with (not out of!) Female leadership dishes out wellness, relationship, career advice and dealing with failure
Text: The Soothe Team
While we at The Soothe are pro-women and seek out and celebrate women's accomplishments constantly, it’s on March 8 — International Women’s Day (IWD) — when women’s rights, gender equality and female leaders in Singapore really comes into the fore.
Here in our city state, times are changing. Last year, the United Nations Human Development Report ranked Singapore 11th out of 162 countries for gender equality, beating the US, Canada and Spain. But there is still a long way to go. For inspiration and a reminder to never give up, we speak to female leadership in Singapore who have risen to the top for advice on holistic health, careers, love, failure, and more.
Leading pro-female and gender equality supporter
Jean Low, CEO at 1880 & Vice-President, Aware
Why The Soothe loves her: A true cheerleader in removing all gender-based barriers from the women’s forum at private members club 1880, to helping lead gender quality at women’s rights association Aware, Jean supports individuals in Singapore to develop their potential.
Best wellness advice you’ve received: Trust your inner voice and listen to your body. Any mental or physical stress will always manifest. Sometimes it accumulates and stays dormant for years. Be still and pay attention to what your body is telling you, and don’t ignore it!
Best career advice: Always be honest with yourself. If you’re not having fun, deep down inside, you will know it. Summon the courage to follow your heart. For too many years I followed my head, doing what I thought I should do to become who I was supposed to be. Then one day, I had the rug pulled from under my feet. I had no option but to start listening to my heart. Now, although I still listen to the head, the voice of the heart is the one that I choose to follow.
Best relationship advice: Being in love is selfish, it is about wanting someone to fulfil you. Love, on the other hand, is about giving. It simply accepts and doesn’t demand anything. Your best bet is to choose someone who can make you laugh but don’t expect them to fulfil you. Only you can do that.
Advice on how to overcome failure: I failed my driving test twice, so remember, third time is a charm! The trick is not to take failure too seriously. At 52, I’m living proof that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. Stop being your biggest critic and learn to forgive and love yourself.
Psst! Pass it on! In moments of great stress and anxiety, remember that you already have everything you need to get you through it. Just start with a deep breath.
Leading philanthropist
Dipa Swaminathan, Founder, It’s Raining Raincoats
Why The Soothe loves her: As the founder of multiple award-winning social welfare initiative It’s Raining Raincoats, she manages over 500 volunteers, is a regular media personality and keen public speaker. Dipa’s brilliance as one of our mighty female leaders in Singapore was highlighted last year when she rallied our entire country into helping migrant workers through the Covid-19 outbreak.
Best wellness advice you’ve received: Stay true to yourself and lead your most authentic life.
Best career advice: Never undersell yourself.
Best relationship advice: Find someone you can grow old with, not someone you can grow out!
Advice on how to overcome failure: I came to a fork in my career once and in hindsight, I took the wrong path. I had no choice but to keep going and try to reconnect back with the road I was meant to be on!
Psst! Pass it on! If you want to embark on a path, just take small steps and get started. Soon, you’ll be surprised how far you’ve come.
Leading Singapore’s F&B scene
Sarissa Schwartz, Co-founder & CEO, SJS Group
Why The Soothe loves her: This total grafter has inclusive venues across the city including Bar Milano, Papi’s Tacos, Pasta Bar, Bang Bang, Employer’s Only, Lulu’s, and ecommerce wellness brand Fresh Society. Sarissa regularly speaks at workshops on topics such as effective branding, marketing, public relations and business development.
Best wellness advice you’ve received: If they gave out awards for burnout or taking on too much, I'm sure we'd all have a room filled with trophies. But they don't. You are not doing anyone any favours by biting off more than you can chew. Ask for help or learn how to say no!
Best career advice: Usually people say "dress for the job you want, not the job you have", but I say “work for the job you want”. Make yourself invaluable and give your employer no choice but to reward you! That's real work ethic.
Best relationship advice: My mom told me to “find someone who makes you laugh. When everything else fades, you'll always have that.”
Advice on how to overcome failure: All the education in the world cannot prevent or prepare you for a failure, however, I always believe failures are a way to save you from something potentially larger and more destructive down the road. Because of that, I have never made the same mistake twice.
Psst! Pass it on! When you realise how hard it is to change yourself, you understand what little chance we have of changing others. Put the work into self-awareness. Embrace and understand your weaknesses. Then, surround yourself with people who make you better, and distance yourself from people that don't.
Leading our local arts world
Christina Chua, Co-Founder and Director, Metis Art
Why The Soothe loves her: Christina is a pioneer in Singapore’s arts scene, travelling to art fairs around the world dealing in blue-chip masters like Yayoi Kusama, producing exhibitions, and supporting rising Singaporean stars like Zai Kuning. She is also a writer and chief editor of so-far, a web platform for experimental art practices, and a strategic advisor of innovation consultancy ArtBizTech.
Best wellness advice you’ve received: Take breaks often, and don’t beat yourself up for taking them! Pace your mind and body.
Best career advice: Trust your gut instincts, and never compromise on your own ethics, integrity and ambition — your reputation will pay off in the long run.
Best relationship advice: Maintain respect, honour, and of course, humour!
Advice on how to overcome failure: I burned out from too much travel, partying and a gruelling gallery routine when I was only 25. I came back with a vengeance after a two-year rest and a recalibration over the things that mattered to me. This is when I decided that fine art would always be a calling.
Psst! Pass it on! Stay steady on the course. It’s a long race and you have lots of time to win.
Leading minority groups campaigner
Veena Tadikonda, Co-Founder, Minority Voices
Why The Soothe loves her: Veena Tadikonda may only be 23 years-old, but she is already the co-founder of Minority Voices, a platform shedding light on stories of racism and discrimination faced by oppressed groups in Singapore. Along with overseeing the site, she is currently studying law at Durham University in the UK. She aims to work in governmental organisations and to join the United Nations to support people around the world who are in need of help.
Best wellness advice you’ve ever received: Caring for the mind is as crucial as caring for the body. One cannot be healthy without the other.
Best career advice: Do something you are passionate about and you will not work a day in your life.
Best relationship advice: Remember that we should not have to fight to be loved; don't stay where you are not valued. True love must include respect.
Advice on how to overcome failure: When hard things happen, try to stick with the mindset that ‘everything happens for a reason’. It’s important to make the best out of every situation you are in.
Psst! Pass it on! You may not be able to go back to the beginning, but never forget that you can start where you are and change the ending. Create a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside.
