Today (30 August 2024) we celebrate Teachers’ Day in schools across Singapore. While we are no longer in school, teachers are ever-present in our lives — our supervisors, seniors and mentors are people who guide and push us, and who shape our lives for the better. Hear more from a few of our team members who have their mentors to thank for who they are today.

Our Financial Controller Sin Hui has her mentor Priscilla to thank for her life’s motto: “Don’t shit in your own backyard”. Priscilla was her boss at Sin Hui’s first job, and she taught Sin Hui to be strong and adaptable in all situations, important traits in today’s ever-changing world.

“As a finance person, the most common project that we undertake is implementing system change. Priscilla emphasized the importance of setting up the system based on the core requirement. If you do not get the foundation right, there is no point in moving forward as it will either be a complete failure or you will spend twice the effort trying to rectify things. This is the same in life too,” says Sin Hui.

Copywriter Liyana Hidhir tells us she has always looked up to our Creative Director Mark Fillon. “He was there to guide me in my early days as an intern in advertising. Prior to that, I had a pretty toxic experience at a smaller agency. So coming into big agency life with someone like Mark who valued my perspectives and decisions from the beginning made a significant impact on me. He is also a walking encyclopedia and through our conversations, he has inspired me to nurture my hunger for life.”

Liyana and Mark share a passion for gaming, which they have extended into collaborating on one of Mark’s games, Chinatown Detective Agency.

Mark has his own mentor to thank: Andrew, the Executive Creative Director in his previous agency. “I worked extensively with him on a project that would eventually win me my first Cannes Lions. What I remember from that experience is that a great manager knows when to get hands on by sharpening and perfecting the creative output, and when to back off and let the creatives run with their ideas without limits.”

For Senior Copywriter Peh Xin Ying, the effect of her mentor Hwa on her life was transformative. “I met Hwa during a talk in college. At the time I’d had my heart set on becoming a graphic designer. However, after his presentation, I crossed that out and changed it to: work in advertising. One year later, after one nervous phone call and a few stuttered words, I landed an internship. Hwa and my other first bosses gave me a green card into the industry and laid the foundations for me to become the creative I am today. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him.”

Mentors can touch all points of our career journeys. Ariel Ho, Senior Account Manager tells us about her mentor, Fiona, changed her life during a time when she was disappointed with her career growth and was considering giving up being in the creative industry. “She encouraged me to give advertising another shot and linked me up with an opportunity that is now giving me challenges and growth.”

A piece of advice from her mentor that never left Ariel? “You don’t need to force yourself to change to fit in the mold of other people. Just because other people do client relationships in a certain way doesn’t mean you have to. You can still do you without crossing boundaries, and clients will still come to you simply because they know you will add value to their business.”

The lesson on staying true to oneself is one that bears repeating. Liyana says one piece of advice that she will pass on to the next generation is that there is room for every kind of creative. “Sometimes, you might feel some pressure to fit in. When you feel like you don’t quite belong, remember to celebrate what makes you unique. The right people will see you and value you as you are.”

Xin Ying says her lesson to pass on would be: kindness and open-mindedness, which sound easier in theory than it is to practice. “I’ve observed that the best bosses I’ve had—and have—are the ones who recognise how personal struggles can impact performance, and choose to respond with consideration and patience.

“The industry we work in is often tough on people, and while we should always be hard on the work, a bit of understanding goes a long way.”