PIF 2026 Community Day & Workshop 2: Building Confidence, Connections and Your Personal Brand
As the Pay-It-Forward (PIF) Mentorship Programme 2026 continues, mentors and mentees came together in July and August for Community Day and Workshop 2. Each session focused on building confidence, gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and developing personal brands. From self-reflection to group sharing sessions, participants walked away with practical takeaways on how to show up authentically in school and beyond.
Community Day: Becoming You
On 18 July 2026, mentors and mentees gathered at People’s Association Headquarters for Community Day, featuring Becoming You, a three-hour workshop on building confidence through self-awareness, intentional choices and meaningful connections. The session was curated and facilitated by Regina Ong, an established Agile expert and coach.
At the heart of the session was a simple four-step framework:
Pause > Reflect > Set an Intention > Take One Small Step
Participants were encouraged to recognise how they were feeling, to reflect on what mattered to them and to acknowledge the strengths they may have overlooked. Through activities such as Walk the Line and reflections using Dream4, a privacy-first personal growth AI coach, participants moved through the workshop's three stages (i.e., Grounding, Exploring and Connecting) to better understand themselves and connect with others.
The event concluded with “String of Connections”, where participants connected with someone who had shared something that related to, someone who helped them see things differently, or someone they hoped to stay in touch with.
It was a reminder that sometimes, growth starts with knowing ourselves better and having the courage to take the next small step to know someone else.
Workshop 2: Showing Up as Your Authentic Self
On 29 August 2026, participants reunited for Workshop 2, which focused on personal branding, confidence, networking and career growth through a thoughtfully curated workshop by PIF’s main partner, EY followed by a fireside chat featuring PIF mentors.
The session was facilitated by Kathleen Chin from EY, who encouraged participants to consider the bright sparks and skills they exhibit in their daily lives. One key lesson was to take pride in one’s unique hobbies. Kathleen reframed how a participant’s proficiency in scuba diving reflected unique skills and strengths such as discipline and risk-management that are easily overlooked. Taking the time to pause, participants shared their hobbies, interests and stories and reflected how their lived experiences could be reframed as unique strengths.
Kathleen also shared her own journey through her career journey and pivots, reminding participants that success comes in many forms. Participants were encouraged and empowered to explore and choose paths that align with their evolving life priorities and circumstances.
Fireside Chat: Building a Personal Brand with Confidence
The session continued with a fireside chat featuring Tessa Lim, Asia East & ASEAN Tax Talent Director at EY, and PIF 2026 Mentors Chantelle, Gindelin and Hui Ying. The fireside chat was moderated by Xin Lin of PIF’s organising committee.
When it comes to confidence, preparation and practice can make a difference. Hui Ying encouraged participants to start small by preparing notes before meetings, speaking up in lower-risk environments and gradually building confidence in larger settings.
Tessa added that asking thoughtful questions can demonstrate both confidence and curiosity. Visibility at work does not have to come from self-promotion alone; it can also grow through taking on new opportunities, showing initiative and making meaningful contributions. To sum up, a personal brand answers two questions: “What do you want to be known for, by whom?”
Overall, panellists agreed that personal branding is neither fixed nor limited to the digital world. A personal brand develops through everyday interactions, our relationships and the way we consistently show up. Participants were encouraged to consider who they have in their formal and informal networks. These can be friends at schools, community members and other meaningful connections collected along the way. Chantelle encouraged participants to think not only about what they could gain but also what they could give in service of others.
On navigating an increasingly complex job landscape, Gin spoke about the importance of lifelong learning and acquiring skills long before they are needed. She encouraged participants to be strategic about their next career move and actively build the skills (and network) to get there.
Continuing the PIF Journey
While Community Day encouraged participants to look inward, Workshop 2 explored how that self-awareness shapes the way we show up in the world.
Together, the sessions reinforced that growth does not require having all the answers. It can begin with a moment of reflection, a genuine connection or simply one small step towards the person we want to become.
Author: Jasmine Leong
Organising Committee: Sarah Seet Lim Jia Ying, Jermaine Yiow, Pan Yubo, Fatimah Mohd, Kim Tan, Kwek Xin Lin, Estelle Ang, Eileen Chionh, Krithika Balasubramaniam, Samatha Lim, Jasmine Leong
