Not all mentorship begins with advice. Sometimes, it begins with someone choosing to believe in you—often before you believe in yourself. That idea, introduced by GRAZIA Singapore’s Editor-in-Chief Pakkee Tan, set the tone for a conversation that materialised at our third anniversary celebration.
Held at Mett Singapore, the event took shape as an intimate luncheon and panel centred on The Power of Mentorship, as part of our ongoing Power Series. The occasion reflected what GRAZIA Singapore has continued to build over the years: a space where women are invited not only to speak, but to be heard.
Keeping with the spirit of the afternoon, floral arrangements by The Floral Atelier traced the tablescape in a palette of yellow and violet. Plum-toned anthuriums and delicate purple orchids were set against vibrant delphiniums and smaller bursts of sunshine-coloured blooms. The decor was animated but poised, structured but soft—much like the women gathered around it.
And what a gathering it was. Guests arrived dressed to the theme of “off-duty executive,” offering interpretations of power dressing in oversized suiting and shirt dresses with crisp collars. Sleeves were rolled, ties were loosened, and blazers draped casually over shoulders. Despite the relaxed approach to workwear, accessories still carried a familiar sense of authority—namely through a parade of Hermès Birkins and Chanel flap bags tucked under arms.
It’s not surprising given the calibre of attendees. GRAZIA Singapore’s 2026 Game Changers were the guests of honour this year, as this month’s cover stars. They were joined by Game Changers of previous years, as well as GRAZIA’s wider community of industry leaders. Spanning beauty founders, restaurateurs, and music artists, the room reflected a cross-section of women shaping and simultaneously disrupting Singapore’s cultural landscape.
With this assembled company, the panel was soon underway. Moderated by Tan, the conversation featured Shireena Shroff Manchharam, Tjin Lee, and 2026 Game Changer Eileen Goh.
“For me, mentorship is not a transaction,” Tan noted in his opening remarks. “I feel it is an incredible act of generosity—the decision to share your hard-won wisdom, your scars, your network, your belief in someone else’s potential.”
For Manchharam, mental health advocate and founder of Sheens Consulting, mentorship began with a defining moment in her youth. “Mentorship to me really means someone outside having faith in you,” she shared, recalling a teacher who believed in her at a time when she hadn’t yet found confidence in herself.
Goh, chief creative officer of DMK Shoes, attributed her understanding of mentorship to her mother. “My mum taught me to never settle,” Goh said. “What I learnt as a woman is that I don’t have to always choose between ambition and identity. Both can coexist.”
Speaking next, Lee, founder of Mercury Integrated and now head of Southeast Asia for Gusto Collective, described mentorship as a series of instances that shape the trajectory of a life. “For me, mentorship really means enlightening the path of the woman with our experiences and knowledge,” she explained. “Some of the most important mentorships can happen in a simple conversation, a quiet room, or a pivotal moment.”
Throughout the panel, a few ideas surfaced again and again: that softness and strength are not opposites, that there is no singular definition of success—or of womanhood—and that sometimes, the most powerful thing a mentor can do is ask the right question.
The conversation carried easily into lunch. Over burrata and heirloom tomatoes, then cacio e pepe gnocchetti and grilled branzino and braised beef cheek, the room stayed animated—voices overlapping, threads picked up and extended, the kind of dialogue that doesn’t require a moderator. A classic tiramisu arrived at the end, though by then the real sustenance had already been found elsewhere.
Chatter drifted over to the coffee corner by local kopi brand Adler Provisions, where kopi O and kopi C flowed freely—the unofficial fuel of a room full of businesswomen. For those seeking a different kind of discourse, tarot card readings by psychic medium Kelly Lightworker drew a steady queue throughout the afternoon. There is something telling about that image: women who spend their days making decisions, building companies, shaping industries—pausing, just briefly, to ask what might come next. Even among women busy shaping their own futures, a little guidance—and a little hope—never goes amiss.
Before the celebration wound down, guests received GRAZIA Singapore’s limited-edition anniversary tote, created in collaboration with Our Second Nature. Designed in a sky-blue hue with a whimsical floral print, the bag held a thoughtful selection of keepsakes: coffee blends from Adler Provisions and our April 2026 issue. There was also a redemption card for the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan, which prompted an immediate ripple of excitement upon discovery. One could hardly fault the reaction. It was a fitting takeaway for women who remain composed, no matter how immense the pressure or how high the heat.
By the end of the afternoon, the room was alive with a steady hum of truths realised and connections made. The panel had asked what mentorship means—and the answers, as they always do, came back to the same thing: someone who saw what you couldn’t yet see in yourself, and held that vision long enough for you to catch up. Three years in, that is still what GRAZIA Singapore is here to do.
Below, an inside look at GRAZIA Singapore’s third anniversary celebration.
PHOTOGRAPHY SHERMAN SEE-THO, GOH CHIANG YANG
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