On 13 March 2025, past and recent recipients of HSBC Scholarships, who are also the community members of Hub for the Future, attended the highly anticipated kickoff event at the HSBC building in Central. Mentors and mentees were introduced to their respective matches to connect interactively and set goals for their mentoring journey. This mentoring programme is a wonderful opportunity for experienced Hub members and HSBC staff to pass on their knowledge by coaching future leaders in their professional development.
Attending the event were recipients of different HSBC Scholarships, ranging from the Social Work Scholarship to the Greater Bay Area Scholarship and more. The mentees were matched with mentors, including senior HSBC Scholars and HSBC staff, hailing from a diverse array of backgrounds and industries, from finance to physics, medicine to science.
Hosted by Vivian Seo, Executive Director of Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI), and Dina Pesumal, Program Manager at FSI, this event encouraged mentees and mentors to engage dynamically through a series of ice breakers, discussions, and idea sharing.
The event began with icebreakers, which sparked conversations among all the mentees and mentors present. The interactions helped break down barriers and foster a sense of community among participants, allowing them to freely share their personal stories and aspirations.
The mentees and mentors were then tasked with setting concrete and realistic goals to make the most out of the mentoring journey. Mentees were given guidance on adopting the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal-setting framework. This structured approach to goal-setting is essential for devising actionable plans so that the mentors and mentees can review and evaluate new progress. Meanwhile, the mentors provided invaluable insights on developing objectives that would assist mentees in exploring their potential.
The mentors also shared words of wisdom, reminding mentees not to be afraid to pivot from their goals, recalibrate, and chart a new path ahead. They highlighted that the path to success is rarely linear and that flexibility and resilience are crucial in navigating challenges and bouncing back from failures. Another piece of advice offered by the mentors was having an open mind to seek new information through reading and exposure to a variety of media. This way, mentees can enrich their knowledge base, draw inspiration from diverse perspectives, and enhance their understanding of the world.
After the thoughtful sharing session, participants exchanged contact information, discussed their interests, and began to schedule meetings and coffee chats to start their respective mentoring journeys. The mentees and mentors were asked to commit to no less than two hours of mentoring sessions by the end of May, and they were encouraged to explore different meeting frequencies and formats to enhance the efficacy of the sessions. Co-creating a schedule suitable for both parties would allow the mentees and mentors to better reassess progress, share experiences, and celebrate achievements, as they co-create a mutually beneficial relationship rich in consistent support and growth.
A highlight of the event was the lively conversations between mentors and mentees. Mentees had the opportunity to connect with mentors to inquire about their experiences, learning from their incredible stories of both successes and failures. These conversations provided mentees with clarity regarding their career decisions and insights to actualise their personal and professional goals. The dynamic networking opportunity also allowed participants to discover like-minded individuals and build relationships that could certainly extend beyond the event.
The event concluded after invigorating and fruitful discussions, with the Hub community members brimming with excitement to embark on their mentoring journey. The mentoring programme is truly a full-circle moment for HSBC: previous cohorts of HSBC Scholars as well as HSBC staff are now able to give back to the Hub community by uplifting the next generation of young innovative leaders.
We look forward to seeing the mentees unleashing their endless possibilities! With the guidance and support from their mentors and their peers, the horizons for growth and success are boundless.
