It's funny that I actively run advisor sessions at work and have been a mentor to new students during my university days, but I've never actually had a formal figure I go to for advice. That changed when I was introduced to Julie Yeo through the Young Women's Leadership Connection (YWLC) mentorship programme recently.

Julie heads Corporate Communications for SEA and Wealth Management Asia at UBS. She was also involved in pioneering the YWLC mentorship programme when the organization was first established 10 years ago. Even though I speak to executives regularly at work, I still get the jitters when meeting new faces, what more someone of her calibre. Julie and I met for the first time yesterday, and my anxiety was completely unfounded - she had no airs and we shared several things in common (kee chiu if you're a foodie like us!) I had such an enjoyable conversation and can't help but feel extremely lucky for this opportunity.

Someone asked me to share my takeaways from our conversation. To summarize:

1. Mentorship is a two-way street. Focus on building the relationship; learn from each other and grow together.

2. It is important to acknowledge that some things happen for a reason. It is good to set goals, but don't stress too much about them and let life happen naturally.

3. Don't be afraid to raise your hands to opportunities. You never know where they might lead you.

4. Never in history have we had so much positivity and celebration surrounding diversity. The best time to pursue what you want is now.

5. Learn how to find a balance in your life - it should not be all about work!

I can't wait for our next meeting already!

Do you have a mentor you look up to? How did they change your life? I would love to hear your story!