In 2026, I was part of twelve fellows across Asia and the Pacific selected to participate in the Asia Foundation Development Fellowship Program. Our first residency took us to Korea, where we met leaders from social innovation, impact investing, academia, climate, politics and business.
What stayed with me was how each fellow defined the problem they saw, the purpose of their work, and the role they saw themselves play. Coming from Singapore, there were times I felt the "problems" I was working on were "lesser problems"; e.g. economic growth, productivity in a longevity economy, AI and impact on jobs, social class segregation, resilience and mental health among youths...as compared to financial inclusion, women's education & rights, climate and environment, marine conservation. Furthermore, unlike my peers, who were mostly leaders in the non-profit sector, it took me some time to "find my voice" and tell my story as a public servant. Nevertheless, the program helped me to understand that no problem is too insignificant to solve, and we all have a role to play as leaders, mobilising the resources we have access to.
Looking back, these were some of the top things I learned over the week:
Firstly, the power of story-telling. There were a couple of fellows who were younger than me, but whom I've felt possessed a streak of maturity pass their age. The stories of their personal causes were compelling and personal. They spoke with conviction and charisma, exuding confidence captivating attention in the room. Leadership comes from how you apply yourself to galvanise others.
Secondly, the power of foresight and judgement. The leader does not always have the right answer. However, he or she must pick the right problem, and create an environment that helps the team to step up and contribute.
Thirdly, it is ok to be "work in progress". What I liked about this fellowship program is the focus on the process of becoming. It recognises potential, and helps to avail opportunities, insights and networks to support each fellow. I hope I will be able to make good use of the resources made available.