Freedom from Age: Inspiring women who prove age is no barrier to success

Starting her first venture at 14

Credit: Her World

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Urvi Guglani, Founder and chair of the Female Bond Fellowship; co-chair of Diversity for Blockchain Singapore Chapter

Just like the camellia flowers in Shiseido’s new Ultimune Power Infusing Serum, which continue to bloom despite the harsh conditions on Gotoh Island, Urvi Guglani has proven her resilience in the face of adversity, never letting age stand in her way.

She launched her first venture at just 14, only to encounter scepticism and doubt. Her innovative app Expisave – designed to help households reduce food waste – gained early traction, with hundreds of downloads. But as a young founder, she soon faced an uphill battle.

Business partners often dismissed her abilities, questioning her credibility due to her age. “Experience is often seen as the ultimate measure of credibility. I faced countless challenges in proving myself,” she recalls.

Instead of letting doubt hold her back, the now 27-year-old leaned into her ambition and problem-solving mindset. “Over time, I realised that expertise isn’t defined by years – it’s about the passion you bring, the unique perspective you offer, and the real impact you make,” she shares. 

“Rather than seeing age as a barrier, I turned it into my strength – challenging the status quo, taking bold risks, and bringing fresh, innovative ideas to the table. Today, I view my age not as a limitation, but as a testament to the power of youthful ambition and perspective.”

Urvi carries this belief into her work at the Female Bond Fellowship (FBF), an organisation dedicated to achieving gender parity in Fixed Income by 2030. “For me, ‘freedom from age is about breaking the constraints that society places on us,” she says. “It’s about giving yourself permission to step up, and recognising that your voice is valuable at every stage of life.” Her proudest moments? Seeing fellow FBF members achieve their dreams and gain recognition. 

“These moments remind me of the power of mentorship, and the importance of breaking down barriers for women in finance,” she adds.

Embarking on a new venture at 50

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Dr Lim Hong Huay Paediatrician, epidemiologist, and founder of CaringSG

At 50, Dr Lim Hong Huay embraced the opportunity to reinvent herself and her career – much like how Shiseido’s Ultimune supports skin renewal, reflecting a fresh start. For her, age was never a barrier to pursuing her passion. “Age is merely a chronological marker of our time in this world, but the way we choose to live this one life we have is not defined by it,” she says.

As a developmental and behavioural paediatrician, Dr Lim was accustomed to advocating for children with special needs. But at home, she’s also a mother to three children, two of whom have autism. 

For years, she juggled an intense career at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital with the demands of parenting, believing she could shoulder everything on her own. However, as the pressures mounted, the 52-year-old realised she could no longer manage it all without sacrificing either her career or her ability to be fully present for her children. In 2017, she made the difficult decision to step away from her medical career to focus on her family.

Despite dedicating herself fully to her family, Dr Lim soon realised that caregiving could be isolating. Hoping to find support, she joined a caregiver group – only to find that instead of receiving help, she was often leaned on for advice as a doctor.

It was then that she realised there was a critical gap in Singapore’s caregiver landscape. She had first-hand experience of the emotional and physical exhaustion that caregivers endured, the societal invisibility they often faced, and the lack of structured support systems. 

She knew she wasn’t alone in this struggle, and thought if she could unite caregivers, they could uplift each other. Her desire for change prompted her to take a bold step forward: She founded CaringSG, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting caregivers of people with disabilities, and parents of children with special needs. 

While some may have considered this an unconventional age to embark on such a major new venture, for Dr Lim, it was one of the most invigorating phases of her life. In fact, she admits that she felt younger than ever, driven by a deep sense of purpose and an unshakable calling from her heart.

However, the decision was not without its challenges. There were sceptics who questioned whether she had the experience to start and lead a non-profit from the ground up, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Others wondered if it was too late for her to take on such a demanding role, stepping into an unfamiliar sector while juggling her responsibilities as a mother and a paediatrician.

Still, Dr Lim knew that passion, resilience, and the drive to make a difference were far more powerful than any doubts cast her way. “The calling was so strong that I couldn’t stop thinking about caregivers during the day, and I couldn’t sleep at night,” she recalls. She realised that while she could help one caregiver at a time on her own, she could amplify that impact by bringing caregivers together to support one another. 

And so, despite the uncertainty, she took the first step, gathering a community of like-minded individuals who shared her vision. From there, CaringSG was born. Dr Lim’s journey is a testament to the idea that age is no barrier to following your heart. “You’re never too young or too old to do what your heart tells you to do. 

So don’t box yourself in – free yourself and let yourself fly,” she says. She hopes that her story inspires others to break free from limiting beliefs, enabling them to take that first leap, and trust that their passion will lead the way.

Earning international recognition at 36

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Li Jingmei, Bio-medical researcher

Committed to research and driven by a passion for women’s health and preventive medicine, Li Jingmei continually pushes boundaries to create a meaningful impact – much like Shiseido’s R&D team, which has spent over 30 years advancing skincare science.

At just 36, Jingmei received the Young Scientist Award at the 2017 President’s Science and Technology Awards. She was the only woman among the seven awardees that year.

Her groundbreaking research on the genetic determinants of complex diseases, particularly breast cancer, has earned her recognition both in Singapore and internationally.

However, her journey has not always been smooth sailing. Early in her career, she struggled to be taken seriously due to her youthful demeanour. “I had to remind myself to speak slower, or in my own words, ‘More ancient, like Master Yoda,’” she quips. 

Her age – though not a formal barrier – contributed to the sense of being an outsider. As a young researcher, she was eager to share every detail of her work during presentations, often speaking quickly and overwhelming her audience.

“In graduate school, my supervisors often had to remind me to speak slower,” she recalls. “I was eager to share everything I had discovered, but I learnt to be more selective and focus on the key points.”

At the time, her youth seemed like a limiting factor, with her zest often interpreted as “not fitting the mould”. However, the 43-year-old’s determination and drive led to impressive accomplishments that eventually proved her capabilities. In 2016, she was selected to join the prestigious Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm for her graduate studies. It was there that she discovered her passion for research.

“I knew nothing about statistics, genetics, or epidemiology, but I wanted to be part of something transformative,” she reflects. As a researcher specialising in genetics, she firmly believes that biological age is just a number. “Not everything has to go downhill as we age,” she explains. “By understanding our cells and organs, we can better comprehend ageing and be more proactive about our health. This is when early intervention becomes possible.”

“Age is just the number of times we go around the sun,” she reflects. “So, if I’m 42 years old on Earth, I’d be 180 years old on Mercury, and just a four-year-old on Jupiter.” Jingmei no longer views age as a limitation, but as a source of strength. “Freedom from age means accepting that age doesn’t define us.” 

She adds: “There is no ‘too young or old’ in research. Age is something that flows every day and changes every day. One day, I can feel very ‘young’, especially when I see something exciting and want to work on it all night. But the next day, when the results don’t meet expectations, I can feel ‘old’. If you’re passionate about something, you should just go for it.”


Credits
Photography: Athirah Annissa
Art direction and styling: Adeline Eng
Hair: Aung Apichai/Artistry Studios using Kevin. Murphy
Makeup: Lasalle Lee using Shiseido