Mentorship Masterclass #1: Growth and Resilience in the Age of AI

On Saturday, 4th October 2025 over 70 mentees from the 2025-2026 YWLC Mentorship Programme gathered at the iconic OCBC Centre for the first of two masterclasses in this year’s mentorship curriculum. With the city skyline as a backdrop and the spirit of learning in the air, the stage was set for a dynamic session focused on navigating the age of artificial intelligence (AI) with confidence, clarity and purpose. This inaugural masterclass, titled “Growth and Resilience in the Age of AI,” brought together industry leaders from OCBC, LinkedIn, Accenture and Women in AI (for Good) to offer diverse perspectives on the evolving landscape of work, the future of skills and how AI is already reshaping personal and professional lives.

Mentorship Masterclass Session #1

Opening Perspectives: AI, Disruption and Opportunity

In her opening remarks, Elaine Heng, Head of Global Commercial Banking at OCBC, reflected on the spirit of reinvention that has shaped both architecture and industries over time, from the OCBC Centre’s historic design by I.M. Pei to the sweeping digital changes redefining banking and beyond. She highlighted the urgency of embracing this shift, noting that "the forces of change are not just coming; they are already here."

The keynote segment featured Monica Bhatia (LinkedIn), Sonia Gupta (Accenture) and Donald McDonald (OCBC), who each delivered concise presentations on real-world applications and implications of AI across sectors.

Fireside chat with Keynote Speakers

Monica Bhatia examined the shift from job titles to skillsets, noting that 70 percent of skills for any given role are expected to change by 2030. She encouraged attendees to cultivate agility and adaptability, and to proactively shape their digital presence to reflect AI-related capabilities.

Sonia Gupta discussed how technology adoption drives business performance across business sectors and different industries. She shared examples ranging from biodiversity mapping to sustainable computing, showcasing the potential of AI to deliver both commercial and environmental impact.

Donald McDonald provided insights as an OCBC representative, outlining how AI is being used to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences and enable staff through tools such as agentic AI and generative co-pilots.

“The session opened my eyes to the plethora of ways AI could help shorten workflows and problem-solve more efficiently (than through a manual process, for example). I especially enjoyed the story shared by Monica on how she used AI to understand the physical intensity of the routes planned in her parents’ travel itinerary, prepping them for the journey ahead. At times, complex topics like AI may feel daunting to work with, but the session demonstrated how we could leverage its abilities to support our everyday lives as well.”

- Alyssa, Mentee 2025/2026

From Insight to Action: Practical Applications

Moderated by Elaine, the fireside chat deepened the discussion. The panellists addressed key questions about responsible AI adoption, personal branding in an AI-driven landscape, and the importance of cultivating a learning mindset.

Donald recommended weekly experimentation with AI tools, emphasising hands-on learning.

Sonia highlighted the enduring value of human traits such as context, judgment and collaboration, traits that remain vital in highly digital environments.

Monica shared actionable tips for optimising CVs for applicant tracking systems and AI screening, in addition to reinforcing the role of personal networks and referrals.

The panel concluded with a reminder that ethical and purposeful engagement with AI is critical, and that impact is best achieved when innovation is grounded in human-centric values.

Workshop: Hands-On with AI

Applied AI Session led by Shilpa

The morning concluded with an applied session led by Shilpa S Nath, founder of Women in AI (for Good) and a YWLC alumna. Her organisation aims to support 1,000 women integrate AI into their professional and personal lives by the end of 2025.

Through live demonstrations and relatable use cases such as investment tracking, content generation and budget planning, Shilpa encouraged participants to identify areas of their lives where AI can create meaningful value. Her core message was clear: start with a problem that matters, and work from there.

“I enjoyed how the workshop had perspectives from senior leaders who are at the forefront of driving the AI wave in their respective companies, that helped set the tone for why this AI wave matters for us all. I also enjoyed how the workshop helped many of us break the barrier to starting something with AI.”

- Yuxin, Mentee 2025/2026

YWLC extends our sincere thanks to OCBC for co-hosting the event and providing an inspiring venue and invaluable support. We are also deeply grateful to our guest speakers and workshop facilitator for their time, insights and generosity in sharing their expertise with the community.