"Fannie is generous in sharing her experiences" – Nur Hashimah Ghazali on her mentorship experience with Fannie Lim

In a world where talent is everywhere but opportunity isn’t, mentors can provide guidance and support, cultivate confidence, and share their knowledge to help foster growth in a positive direction. This is why Her World launched its mentorship programme this year. At its core, the inaugural programme connects mentees with influential women who are leaders in their respective fields.

The pairing process started late last year. We shortlisted eight mentors, extraordinary women who have overcome obstacles, and are keen to pay it forward by sharing their knowledge, and paired them with 11 mentees.

We speak to mentor Fannie Lim, head  of Partnerships and Programmes at Dreams Asia, and one of her mentees, Nur Hashimah Ghazali, executive at an events company. (Her second mentee, Meilan Lim, was unavailable for this shoot)

What was your impression of each other? 

Fannie Lim (FL): The first session was casual for me. I expected it to be a relaxed, get-to-know-you conversation, rather than something formal. However, Hashimah came well-prepared. She showed great respect for her mentor’s time, and treated it as an opportunity not to be wasted. She had clear goals in mind, and impressed me with her drive and resourcefulness. I would even describe her as opportunistic, but in a positive way. She actively seeks out opportunities and resources. 

Nur Hashimah Ghazali (NHG): For an executive director, I was surprised by how humble and down-to-earth she was. She genuinely provided guidance, offering different perspectives, valuable tips, and useful insights. She was generous in sharing her knowledge and experiences, without hesitation or reservation.

What are your thoughts on the Her World Mentorship programme? 

FL: To make the mentorship programme truly impactful, it is important for participants to approach it with a sense of purpose and preparedness. Hashimah serves as a great example of this. Coming prepared with goals and specific areas of focus allows for a more productive and fulfilling experience. Even if the goal is to discover one’s purpose or direction, having that desire and openness to explore is crucial. It’s not necessary to have everything figured out, but having a genuine intention and willingness to engage in meaningful conversations is key.

What specific goals or objectives did you set at the beginning of the mentorship, and were they achieved?

NHG: When I first came across this opportunity, I was in a challenging situation due to Covid-19. I had lost my previous job, and was working as a programme coordinator in a charitable organisation. During that time, I was exploring various avenues and unconventional job search methods, such as attending career events and joining a “women back at work” programme offered by a nonprofit self-help group.

That’s when I came across the [Her World] mentorship advertisement on Instagram, and I thought it was worth exploring.

Naturally, my expectations were to receive support and guidance from accomplished women who could assist me in my journey. 

I was also open to any networking opportunities or connections they could provide. During the sessions, I shared my action plan for achieving my goals, and Fannie would question certain aspects, and offer her own insights and suggestions. I found her questioning to be really helpful in refining my plans.

What’s the best advice that Fannie has given you? 

NHG: Communication and interpersonal skills. She advised me that there’s no harm in asking questions to get the opportunities I am seeking.  

PHOTOGRAPHY Veronica Tay
ART DIRECTION Adeline Eng
STYLING ASSISTANCE Lena Kamaruddin
HAIR & MAKEUP Aung Apichai / Artistry, using Shu Uemura & Kevin Murphy; Benedict Choo, using Laura Mercier