Address by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development, and President, SINDA, at the ‘Let Her Shine!’ Career Clinic Launch on Saturday, 14 March 2026, Singapore Land Tower
Opening
- I’m really happy to join all of you today for the ‘Let Her Shine!’ Career Clinic Series.
- When we first started ‘Let Her Shine!’, it was just an idea where we wanted to empower girls and women to help them see their potential. We wanted them to navigate life with confidence and joy. I’m so glad that we’ve come so far — today’s Career Clinic is one of the latest initiatives in this journey.
- I want to say thank you to the amazing team that has made this possible — all the women who have stepped up to help, and all of you, participants. Please give yourselves a big hand.
- We also recently marked International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the achievements of women and reaffirm our commitment to supporting and empowering them.
- Earlier, we heard from Jhanani who shared her ‘LHS!’ journey. Her story reminds us how important confidence, support and opportunities are for young women as they transition from education into the workplace.
Launch of ‘LHS!’ Career Clinic Series & National Alignment
- ‘LHS!’ extends women empowerment efforts deeper into the community. We want to create spaces where young women can grow, learn, thrive, and pursue their ambitions with confidence and purpose.
- Many of you are preparing to enter the workforce for the first time. While some of us may receive guidance from our family members or friends, many of us may not. Even when advice is available, from our mothers, or our aunts, the workplace today is very different from what it was in the past.
- The entry point into the workforce has changed and the way that you approach it and navigate it is different. So, these Career Clinics, which really brings you up to date on what is happening in the workplace, especially your first job, is important because it helps you to bridge that gap between school and work.
- Also, the nature of work is rapidly evolving. Newer technologies — particularly AI — are changing the way we work. This has also been a key focus of this year’s Singapore Budget, and we want to make sure that our young women are fully equipped.
- AI is a tool. It will not replace people, but those who know how to use it will have an advantage. It is therefore important that young women are equipped, confident and comfortable with technology.
- And AI is only the beginning. In five or ten years’ time, there will be other new technologies and developments. Just as platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok and Facebook have become part of everyday life today, AI will become another familiar tool in the future.
- Through this Career Series, we want you to have real-world opportunities, explore suitable career pathways, access one-on-one career consultations and importantly, explore internship training and career opportunities.
- Internships, in particular, is something that you need to have on your resume as a fresh graduate. They allow you to get your feet wet in a particular sector — to understand that space, see whether it’s right for you and, more importantly get to know the people in that workplace.
- At the same time, internships allow employers to get to know you. If you perform well and make a positive impression, the chances of being offered a job in that sector can increase significantly.
- The converse is also true — if you find through the internship that this sector is not for you, then treat that as knowledge well gained and try something else.
- We want to grow this programme to be a sustained one that meets women’s needs. An important part of the programme is having mentors. It’s important to have somebody who’s been there, who you can talk to for guidance and shared experiences.
- Everyone’s journey is different, and there will always be challenges that only you can face. But having someone to talk to, to share concerns with, or to seek advice from can make a real difference.
- Sometimes, just talking through an issue helps you see things more clearly — and in the process, you may even find the solution yourself.
Involved Mentors: Women-for-Women
- I just want to say a big thank you to our mentors. We have a core team of 30 women mentors and professionals from various industries — ranging from healthcare and law to public policy, finance, banking and even the armed forces, as you can see.
- We wanted to have a really diverse range of mentors to help you learn from different experiences, broaden their perspectives and see the many possibilities available to them.
- Through their guidance, these mentors can help young women shape their mindsets, widen their horizons and pursue their aspirations with greater confidence.
Closing
- In closing, let me just say that every journey is filled with ups and downs. It won’t be smooth sailing all the way, and that is okay.
- What matters is recognising that challenges are part of the journey — and remembering that you are not alone. SINDA is here to support you, and we hope that one day many of you will return to give back — whether as mentors, volunteers or simply as someone who encourages the next young woman on her journey.
- With that, thank you very much and I hope you all have a very good afternoon.