At Mapletree’s International Women’s Day 2026 Sharing Session, two executives from DBS and Mapletree Investments discuss leadership, artificial intelligence (AI) and the work-life balancing act.
Climbing the corporate ladder can be a challenge, especially for women juggling parenthood with high-octane careers. Just ask Ms Tan Su Shan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DBS Group; and Ms Wendy Koh, Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Mapletree Investments.
Both women shared lessons and observations from their careers during the session which had the theme of “Inspiring the Next Generation”.
Moderated by former NTU-Mapletree bursary recipient Ms Sarah Kang, the event at Mapletree Business City on 2 March 2026 was attended by 200 Mapletree tenants, staff and tertiary students.
Here are key insights drawn from their conversation.
1. CREATE YOUR ‘BOARD OF DIRECTORS’
Young women looking to rise in their careers should seek out mentors, Ms Tan said. “Create in your mind your own personal ‘board of directors’… four to five people you can reach out to for independent, objective advice,” she said.
Other nuggets of advice include mastering clear, simple communication.
Finally, know that life is not always a straight line. Ms Tan volunteered for a “demotion” when she joined DBS to lead private banking in 2010. She requested to report to the then-Head of Consumer Banking, instead of then-DBS CEO Mr Piyush Gupta, as she felt the best way to build the private bank was through the consumer bank.
2. BOUNCE BACK STRONG
When Ms Koh was working in a bank in her mid-20s, she clocked long hours every day. But during the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis, she faced a rude shock: a pink retrenchment slip.
Though shaken by the experience, she bounced back quickly. She appreciates that this happened to her at a young age as it taught her two valuable lessons.
First, retrenchment is “not personal and not the end of the world”, she said.
Second, hard work is not always enough.
“Don’t just sit at the corner and do your work quietly. You need to be visible.”
3. HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE
Some people argue that AI has led to junior roles being eradicated, resulting in a “diamond-shaped” corporate structure with a lean top and bottom.
While there may be some truth to this, it is not viable for long-term growth, Ms Tan said. Large companies, especially, should continue building a pipeline of young talent with fresh ideas and hiring good people.
“I tell my hiring managers: hire for attitude. With the astounding pace of AI improvements, knowledge is ubiquitous so what matters is a good attitude,” she added. “You want curiosity, you want agility and you want humility.”
Opportunities for learning, and self-improvement, can be seized if one knows how to recognise them.
“Even from a boss who may not be the most pleasant to work with, there are skills you can learn from them,” added Ms Koh.
At Mapletree, we provide very good opportunities for women. All our REITs CEOs and CFOs – all six of them – are women.
Ms Wendy Koh,
Group CFO, Mapletree Investments
4. KNOW WHEN TO STEP BACK
Balancing motherhood and a career can sometimes involve making difficult tradeoffs.
The tipping point for Ms Koh came when one of her predecessors – who was also a mother – told her that she had regretted not spending enough time with her children.
And so Ms Koh, who had been travelling a lot for work, decided to take a year-long sabbatical to spend time with her young daughters.
“If I missed the growing-up years, I wouldn’t be able to turn back the clock,” she said.
Ms Koh eventually returned to work on a part-time basis, before going back full-time. She was fortunate to have had supportive bosses and flexible work arrangements, she added.
A similar view was shared by Ms Tan, who famously took her Bloomberg terminal with her into the delivery suite when she had her first child in 1999, just as the yen was crashing against the dollar.
Confessing that her career took a back seat when her children were very young, she added that balancing a career with parenthood was about knowing what to prioritise.
“It’s one of tradeoffs and figuring out what is important and what you have to let go,” Ms Tan said, noting that she tried to limit her overseas travel in the early years and be present for important milestones.
AI creates capacity by reducing mundane tasks and allowing employees to focus on higher order work involving human to human interaction. But workers must be willing to embrace this shift while companies should support their staff along this journey.
Ms Tan Su Shan,
CEO, DBS Group
WALKS TO TALKS
Mapletree’s IWD Events
WELLNESS TALKS
Did you know that as women age, the risk of osteoporosis increases? On 4 March, 237 online attendees gained a deeper understanding of how to prevent the condition during a talk on the “silent disease”.
Another talk on Traditional Chinese Medicine, held on 2 March, introduced 24 participants to hormone balance and digestive health for women.
EMPOWERED TO EXCEL
In celebration of IWD, Mapletree employees were provided with a curated list of LinkedIn courses. Topics included leadership strategies, creating an inclusive culture and coping with imposter syndrome.
WALKING THE TALK
On 5 March, 68 participants donned purple gear in support of IWD for a mass walk from Mapletree Business City to Reflections at Keppel Bay. Along the way, they enjoyed the picturesque sights and nature of Berlayer Creek Boardwalk and Bukit Chermin Boardwalk.
A SHOW OF CREATIVITY
From 2 to 3 March, a walkway at Mapletree Business City became a lively bazaar featuring four women-led businesses. From baked goodies and intricate enamel pins to house plants, it was a chance to support female entrepreneurship.
