How a race car driver and a VIP tour guide who refuses to retire are breaking stereotypes in SG

“How To Build A Singaporean Woman” is a Her World original docuseries which highlights the social and cultural issues that women in Singapore face, and asks: what does it mean to be a Singaporean woman today? In the twelfth episode, “Break Her Barriers”, two women from very different walks of life, 30-year-old race car driver Gladys Lam and 58-year-old Universal Studios Singapore VIP Guide Susie Low, are challenging societal expectations with confidence and heart. Whether it’s breaking into the male-dominated world of motorsports or embarking on a new career in your 50s, these women are pushing past age and gender stereotypes, proving that no path is too unconventional and that no dream is too late.

Fuelling their passion

For Gladys, her love for cars didn’t begin in a workshop — it began in school. At 17, surrounded by friends and seniors who were obsessed with engines, horsepower, and modified exhausts, she couldn’t help but be drawn in. What started as secondhand excitement soon turned into a genuine passion, eventually evolving into a deep love for driving itself.

That interest blossomed into a calling, eventually steering her into racing. But being a fresh face in the motorsports industry came with bumps on the road.

But where others might have been discouraged, Gladys leaned in. “The more questions I ask, the harder I learn, the more I show up. That’s where I started to find my true friends. The ones that didn’t question why I am there. The ones that were quietly supporting (me),” she reflected.

Meanwhile, Susie’s career took off in the skies. She joined Cathay Pacific as a cabin crew member at 19 and spent 18 years travelling the world. In every country she visited, she made it a point to seek out a theme park — her favourite of them all? Universal Studios Hollywood.

After taking a six-year break to raise her daughter, Susie re-entered the workforce, starting as a retail sales associate at Universal Studios Singapore. 14 months in she was encouraged to become a VIP guide given her natural flair for engaging and connecting with guests.

Recasting ourselves beyond society’s script

Unfortunately, in a world quick to judge based on age or gender, Susie’s outlook isn’t always shared — 7 in 10 Singaporeans who face workplace discrimination don’t even report it. Age, race and nationality remain top causes.

Gladys, too, is no stranger to bias. 

She shared that in the world of racing, there’s an unspoken spotlight on her — as soon as the results are out, people instinctively scan the list to see how “the girl” ranked. That kind of attention can be overwhelming, especially when it feels like all eyes are constantly on you. That pressure can be stifling, but she channels it into performance. “But at the same time, this is where you can really prove yourself. Your hard work, you showing up these are all things that people will notice,” enthused Gladys.

Unfortunately, this experience is all too familiar for many women in Singapore. A recent survey found that 77% of women feel there are unfair expectations placed on their gender, and 71% feel obligated to prioritise family over career, compared to 44% of men.

Learning without limits

When Susie first started, everything felt foreign and unfamiliar, but instead of shying away, she chose to embrace the unpredictability. With each new experience, she pushed herself to learn, adapt, and grow along the way.

That’s not just a mindset — it’s her lifestyle. While she admits that transitioning into the digital world hasn’t been easy, especially with the constant wave of new technologies, Susie takes pride in challenging herself to learn something new every year. Whether it’s picking up a fresh skill or trying out an activity she’s never done before, she encourages her peers to do the same and keep growing, no matter their age.

Racing against the clock

Gladys emphasises that women often face automatic judgment based on their age, whether they’re seen as too young to be taken seriously or too old to still be chasing ambitions. She points out how society tends to box women into narrow timelines — expecting them to hit certain milestones by a certain age, which can be both limiting and unfair.

But age hasn’t defined the goals Gladys or Susie want to achieve. For Susie, she picked up cosplaying in her 50s and now she’s became a ward entertainer at KK Hospital, entertaining sick kids once a month. On top of that, she models for an agency, despite many questioning whether agencies hire models over 50. Time and time again, Susie proves that when it comes to pursuing your passions, age is really just a number.

If the lane doesn’t exist? Create your own

In male-dominated fields, online abuse is unfortunately all too common. Nearly 2 in 5 Singaporeans report having seen or experienced sexist or harmful content online. Among these, the most frequently encountered types are comments or images implying men are superior to women (14%) and those blaming women for many of the problems men face (12%).

Gladys shares that she and many of her fellow female drivers often face misogynistic remarks, both online and in person. Despite this, she feels grateful for the strong support she receives from her family and friends within the racing community. “I do not just inspire females, but I also inspire my male friends as well,” she remarked.

Gladys shared that many girls grow up feeling like they need permission or approval from others to make their own choices or carve out their own path. But she firmly believes that if you truly want to do something, you don’t need anyone’s validation — just the courage to go for it.

Susie affirms this belief: “Do something that you think you like and that will keep you every day getting up, looking forward to it.” She often gets asked when she is going to retire. As a VIP tour guide well into her late 50s, people naturally assume she’s winding down. But Susie loves what she does and insists she’ll keep going for as long as she can — because passion, not age, sets the timeline.