Gloria Arlini on career transitions, C-suite growth and the power of mentorship

Gloria Arlini has long been drawn to meaningful work, with 15 years of experience spanning the public sector, private enterprises, and the social impact space.

Now CEO at Generation Singapore, she helps individuals unlock new career pathways through employment.

“Her World’s 2025 mentorship theme – supporting women returnees – deeply resonates with our work,” she says. “At Generation Singapore, we’ve trained over 900 women since 2019, preparing them for jobs they might not have otherwise accessed. It’s something I’m incredibly proud of.”

Her own path has been shaped by early experiences in media, where her understanding of mentorship first began to take root.

“Fresh out of grad school, I joined SPH Magazines, and my supervisor and senior colleagues became my earliest mentors – though I didn’t realise it at the time,” she reflects. “They taught me the ropes, modelled professional integrity, and helped me find my feet.” 

Years later, her perspective expanded further when she joined a mentorship programme in 2023. “It was my first foray into board leadership, and the timing was uncanny,” she says. 

“Soon after, I stepped into my first C-suite role. That programme sharpened my understanding of governance, risk, and strategy – and gave me the tools to cultivate a strong, collaborative relationship with our board.”

For Gloria, cultivating a mentoring culture within organisations goes beyond assigning roles or launching short-term initiatives. “To build a mentoring culture, I believe an organisation needs to create value, create space, and create consistency.”

That means linking mentorship to formal learning and development agendas, intentionally carving out time for it, and embedding it into the organisation’s day-to-day rhythm.

“When done right, mentoring can happen in a more informal and organic way – through everyday learning moments,” she says.

What inspired you to volunteer as a mentor for the Her World Mentorship Programme?

Early in my career, I struggled with guilt about ending a work relationship to pursue a better opportunity. A senior colleague – whom I saw as a mentor – helped me reframe the situation more graciously and shifted my internal narrative. That experience taught me how to set healthy boundaries, manage relationships, and gave me a lesson I continue to carry with me.

Most valuable advice from a mentor?

Clarity – not necessarily advice, but a deeper understanding that emerges through our conversations. The best mentors serve as both mirrors and containers. They reflect my situation back to me with honesty, helping me see things clearly without being clouded by my own biases. They also provide a safe space for me to unpack thoughts, emotions, and doubts – something I’ve only experienced with people I trust deeply in and beyond work.

How does one make the most of a mentorship?

It’s important to be well prepared, to know yourself, and to be clear about what you hope to take away from the mentorship. You don’t have to ‘perform’ or get everything right. A mentor’s role is to support and guide you through challenges. What matters more is approaching the experience with the right questions and a mindset that’s open to learning and growth.

PHOTOGRAPHY Angela Guo
ART DIRECTION Ray Ticsay & Adeline Eng
STYLING Donson Chan
HAIR Angel Gwee, using Davines & Marc Teng
MAKEUP Benedict Choo & Nicole Ang / Suburbs, both using Cle de Peau Beaute
COORDINATION Chelsia Tan & Syed Zulfadhli

Special thanks to SCWO and Boardagender for their help and support with the Her World Mentorship Programme 2025.