Leadership, Growth, and Purpose: A YWLC Journey from Involvement to Impact
- Young Women's Leadership Connection
- Aug 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 31
The Young Women Leadership Connection (YWLC) has long been a catalyst for cultivating leadership, fostering collaboration, and instilling growth in capable young women. At the heart of this vibrant community is its leaders, whose dedication and vision shape the organisation’s impact year after year.
Continuing our series featuring the 9th EXCO, we speak with Adreena Lau, the current Vice-Chairperson of YWLC.
Through personal anecdotes, reflections on past contributions, and insights into her vision for YWLC’s future, she shares not only how the organisation has shaped her growth but also how she hopes to inspire the next generation of women leaders to step up, embrace challenges, and thrive within a community that celebrates collaboration, creativity, and meaningful impact.
How did you first get involved with YWLC, and what motivated you to take on subcommittee roles? What are you most proud of from these experiences?
Be collaborative and creative!
I was first introduced to YWLC by alumna Michelle Khoo during the “Sustainability x Tech: What the Future Holds” event in 2023, where I presented my then-organisation’s sustainability journey transforming agricultural waste into sustainable textiles. Standing before senior women leaders and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Ms Grace Fu, I realised that YWLC was more than a platform; it was a community powered by purpose, collaboration, and impact. At the time, I was seeking opportunities to stretch myself, and joining YWLC felt like a courageous leap, a chance to grow by embracing uncertainty.
As Deputy Director of Partnerships, I had the privilege of co-developing partnership strategies with Natalie Eng (Director of Partnerships of 8th EXCO) and contributing to flagship events like International Women’s Day 2025 (IWD 2025) and Partners’ Night. I am particularly proud and grateful to be part of these opportunities:
Partners’ Night 2024, where I combined my passion for design through a butterfly motif symbolising transformation, growth, and empowerment, while also taking on the challenge of moderating my first high-profile fireside chat with Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of Transport Ms Sun Xueling; and
IWD 2025, where, for the first time, the team spotlighted women-led businesses, creating a space to amplify their entrepreneurial stories and forge meaningful partnerships.
Beyond Partnerships, I also contributed to the Social Impact subcommittee, particularly the Pay-It-Forward (PIF) programme. Curating workshops and stepping up as emcee not only allowed me to empower the next generation of women leaders but also helped me hone my facilitation and leadership skills.
What inspired you to step up as Vice Chairperson of the 9th Executive Committee? What excites you most about this new chapter, and what do you hope to contribute as Vice Chairperson of the 9th EXCO?
Have courage & curiosity.
Stepping up as Vice Chairperson of the 9th EXCO is deeply personal for me. YWLC has been a springboard for my leadership journey, a space where I have had the opportunity to refine my skills, crystallise new ideas, and explore the kind of leader I aspire to be. The growth I’ve experienced here complements how I lead at work, and in turn, my professional experiences enrich the way I contribute at YWLC. This reciprocity has given me clarity, courage, and curiosity, and stepping up felt like the natural next step.
What excites me most about this chapter is the opportunity to build on the strong foundation laid by the 8th EXCO, learning from what worked, what didn’t, and what advanced the organisation. I am committed to championing diversity by bringing in partners, stakeholders, and mentors with refreshing and unconventional journeys, while driving programming where diversity, equity and inclusivity (DEI) is embedded from the start, not treated as an afterthought.
With refreshed strategic goals and the upcoming values charter, I see my role as both the cheerleader and the ‘glue’, fostering collaboration within the 9th EXCO team, strengthening strategic partnerships across sectors, and ensuring DEI is consistently integrated into our initiatives. The foundations have been strong, and now is the time to formalise and sustain them.
Through YWLC, I’ve experienced the beauty of leadership as a shared journey; I hope more women will join us to explore their own growth and thrive in our community that leads with purpose and respect.
Looking back, how has your time in YWLC helped you grow personally and professionally? What advice would you give to members who are thinking about stepping up or taking on more responsibility within the community?
If not now, then when?
Looking back, my time in YWLC has been shaped by a leap of confidence and a commitment to serve. Stepping into roles such as moderating, emceeing, and leading initiatives became a springboard for growth, helping me build confidence and sharpen my professional skills.
Along the way, I’ve forged beautiful friendships, shared moments of fun and laughter, and found constant inspiration in the women around me. They are the true agents of illumination who lead with purpose and light the way for others. Most of all, this journey has deepened my commitment to contribute meaningfully and uplift others too.
My advice to new and future members is simple: embrace challenges, make the most of every opportunity, and trust that the YWLC community will be there to support and inspire you at every step.
Find out more about our subcommittees here or contact us at info@ywlc.org.sg.
