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Tan Su Shan is Woman of The Year 2026! To check out all the highlights from our Women of The Year gala dinner, click here.
Woman of the Year

Her World Hot Takes: What Singapore’s inspiring women really think about success, passion and their 30s

With answers on both sides of the fence, some of our Her World Women of the Year attendees share their spicy takes on ambition, success, relationships and navigating life

By Mandy Tan - 

Credit: Athirah Annissa
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Her World celebrated its annual Women of the Year Awards last evening on 6 October 2026, filling the ballroom with a guest list of inspiring and motivational women. It was a night to remember, bringing together women of all ages, yet united by the same drive and determination to strive for more.

To add some fun to the night, we asked some of your favourite personalities for their hot takes on a few thought-provoking questions that often leave us pondering. It’s safe to say their answers gave us plenty more to think about, tackling debatable topics that drew responses from both ends of the spectrum.

With the options to agree, disagree, or say “it’s complicated,” take a look at how the women of the night responded to our challenging questions. Some of their answers might even make you think twice about your own take.

Hot Take 1: Do women need to be liked to be successful?

Kong Man Jing, Co-founder of Just Keep Thinking & 2026 Young Woman Achiever

“It’s complicated because while it’s easy to say all we need is to be respected but not well-liked, I would like to think it’s not mutually exclusive and we can achieve both at the same time. Especially in the realm of social media where if people don’t like you, then they won’t want to listen to you. And if I want people to hear the words I have to say, I must have some form of likability. So it’s both for me.”

“I think it’s more important to be respected than likable because the former lasts a hell lot longer.”
Pat Law, Founder of GOODSTUPH

Simone Heng, Author & Speaker

“I thought about this a lot over the years, and I realised it’s just better to be liked. By being kind, you just get way more recommendations for your business, you get so many more people wanting to collaborate with you. So, actually the answer is if you’re nice and you are liked, you become more successful anyway. It’s the long game strategy!”

Dr. Malik Meghjani, Assistant Professor at SUTD

“Agree! Because success will speak for itself.”

“I think being likable shouldn’t be the sole aim, or at least the primary aim. But I think that if we can try our best to achieve a win-win situation and do what’s best for others, then it makes life a lot easier as well — trying to be successful while also having people like you as a person.”
Dr. Shalini Arulanandam, Chief Medical Officer for the Ministry of Home Affairs

Hot Take 2: Your career doesn’t have to be your passion

Eugenia Ye-Yeo, Founder of Nodspark

“I agree. For me, I feel that running a business with passion, or if you do your business because of passion, you actually run the risk of running dry very quickly when you’re tired and when the passion runs out. I much prefer chasing excellence and I enjoy the challenges that come with the business, not so much because of the passion.”

“I have to disagree because I spend so many hours at work that it must be my passion.”
June Goh, Senior Consultant Anaesthesiologist

Tiziana Tan, Founder & CEO of Brain Juice Collective

“I think it’s complicated because you need passion to start a career, but you need resilience to keep it going.”

“I’m going to say it’s complicated. I feel that it really helps if you’re passionate about your career or something that you do but sometimes you can be good at something without actually being passionate about it from a very practical perspective.”
Rachel Ho, Founder of Skin Longevity Clinic

Maggie Chan, Founder of Jaedals

“Disagree. I am a 100% believer in waking up every day, being passionate about what you do, and that’s Jaedals for me.

“I would say it’s complicated. In the best of both worlds, it begins as your passion, but as you grow you want to allow other passions to come in, so that you’re not defined solely by your career.”
Beatrice Chia-Richmond, Theatre Director & Actor

Hot Take 3: Are your 30s better than your 20s?

Xixi Lim, Actress

“I agree. I think financially we are more stable and of course, we are glowing so definitely we will be more confident and I enjoy my 30s a lot.”

“I am going to say I agree. Even though I am not at that stage of my life yet, but I would argue all of the women who are older than me are wiser than me, they’re sexier, they’re more fun, and they are just so wise and incredible.”
Regene Lim, Actress

Bonita Ma, Director of Basic Models

“I agree too. I think 30s is the new 18.”

“Of course! I think the 20s are for you to make mistakes and learn from them. In your 30s, you are wiser, you are hotter and you have more money. So it’s very fun in the 30s.”
Wirda Elliesa, Content Creator & Entrepreneur

Nicole Liel, Content Creator & Entrepreneur

“First things first, rude! I’m only 28, I disagree. We are not there yet. When I reach there, then I will allow the world to call me auntie. For the time being, hell no.”

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