Tan Su-Lyn believes a good manager balances empathy with firmness

The fourth edition of the Her World Mentorship Programme champions women who are just stepping into leadership. This year, 13 hand-picked mentees will spend six months journeying with accomplished women leaders.

For Tan Su-Lyn, purpose at work comes in two forms. The first is doing the work so well that it disappears entirely – when a campaign or initiative feels so genuinely true to a brand that her hand in it goes unnoticed.

“If we’ve done a great job, we’re invisible,” she says of her brand strategy and communications agency. “Whatever has been done on behalf of a brand should feel authentic and genuine.”

The second involves the people she works with. Colleagues come and go, but she believes that the time spent together is invaluable, especially when it comes to teaching and properly grooming someone. It gives her the greatest satisfaction when someone from her team thrives and is recognised in their own capacities.

Su-Lyn sees the Her World Mentorship Programme as an extension of her purpose, and she is excited at the prospect of bridging the gap between women.

“Think of it like the old kampung days. If you sat down and eavesdropped on a whole bunch of older ladies’ conversations, you would glean something real and useful,” she says. “We have lost a lot of that. Everything is on social media now, and depending on your algorithm, it becomes an echo chamber.”

She adds: “If another woman can tell you that you are not alone, that you are not messing up, that this is just life – and that there are choices within your control – that is worth everything.”

How do you handle moments when you feel uncertain or out of your depth as a leader?

If you are not feeling uncomfortable, you are not learning. I have made peace with that. When I feel out of my depth, I try not to reach for the right answer immediately. Instead, I take a step back, study the terrain, look at the data, and ask myself what the issue actually is. I listen. I give myself the time to find out what the possible next avenues might be before making a recommendation.

What are the hallmarks of a good manager?

Listening and empathy, paired with firmness. Particularly now, teams need leaders who are nurturing, but who still hold the line on standards. The two are not in conflict – in fact, the best managers I have seen hold both at once. They create an environment where people feel supported, but where the quality of delivery is never negotiable.

How should someone show up at work if they want to be seen as leadership material?

Be curious. Be genuinely interested in how things work. Take initiative, not just by asking, “How can I help?”, but by actually reading the room and acting on what you see.

Leadership material is not always about the big operational move. Sometimes, it is noticing that the people around the table are uncomfortable, and doing something to ease the tension. Opening a conversation. Creating space. That is initiative too, and it is often more telling than anything else.

Her World Mentorship Programme 2026 is made possible with the support of official beauty partner Cle de Peau Beaute and official network partner Singtel.

ART DIRECTION Adeline Eng
STYLING Donson Chan
HAIR Aung Apichai
MAKEUP Lasalle Lee