PMEs to get chance to be mentored by chief executives

SINGAPORE — The labour movement launched a series of mentoring sessions today (May 22) as part of its programme to help develop future leaders among professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) and support their career advancement.

The Future Leaders Mentorship Sessions, which will see small groups of 10 to 15 PMEs getting a chance to dialogue with chief executives in a closed-door setting, will begin in July following feedback received from young PMEs expressing a desire to hear corporate leaders speak on career development .

An online poll by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) last December had found that 75 per cent of some 1,500 PMEs aged between 20 and 35 said they would like to learn career advancement tips, followed by entrepreneurial skills (54 per cent), and how to prepare for a career switch (43 per cent).

Another poll, also conducted by the NTUC last year, found that 35 per cent of some 850 PMEs felt there could be more support at the workplace for skills upgrading and continuous learning.

Four mentorship sessions have been lined-up this year with another six to be held next year, said the NTUC.

Two mentors have already come on board the programme — NTUC Income chief executive Ken Ng and LinkedIn head of consumer marketing Sandeep Suvarna.

NTUC membership director Vivek Kumar said the mentoring programme is a unique way to help PME members get “a rare opportunity to meet a CEO in person and interact with him or her over a coffee.”

Besides the mentorship sessions, NTUC’s leadership development programme for PMEs includes an annual Future Leaders Summit, which is a platform for outstanding industry leaders to share life stories and career advice to some 1,000 PMEs, and a series of fireside chats where a CEO interacts with 100 participants.

PMEs interested in the mentorship programme can register by writing in to fls [at] ntuc.org.sg.