Mentoring for Impact: Shaping Global-Ready Talent through Sustainability and Innovation
Written by: Dr. Zhang Qianning
CEO & Co-Founder, Power Facade
It has been a very meaningful experience mentoring students from local universities such as SMU and NUS through the SMC GRMP programme. Coming from a background in architecture and building science, and currently building a deep-tech startup focused on renewable energy, I have been deeply engaged in the field of sustainable design and low-carbon development. This has allowed me to share both academic insights and real-world industry experience with students who are interested in similar areas. Mentoring students through the SMC GRMP programme has been a highly rewarding experience for me, particularly in three aspects.
First, working with students from a similar background has enabled meaningful professional exchange. For instance, I mentored a student from Malaysia who also studied architecture. She shared valuable insights into the local construction industry in Malaysia, while I introduced broader perspectives on the evolution of the global built environment and real estate sector over the past two decades. This created a two-way learning experience, combining professional guidance with mutual knowledge exchange.
Second, mentoring students from different disciplines has been equally inspiring. Several of them have strong entrepreneurial ambitions, ranging from cultural and creative brands to health-related businesses. Some of these students selected me as their mentor because of my background as a startup founder. I was able to share first-hand experiences and lessons learned from the startup journey. At the same time, I gained a deeper understanding of the diversity of aspirations among today’s students.
Third, I am particularly impressed by the long-term thinking demonstrated by students in the programme. Even when they feel uncertain in the present, it often stems from their efforts to plan thoughtfully for their future, rather than focusing solely on immediate academic results. This reflects the value of the SMC GRMP programme in fostering a “global-ready” mindset and encouraging long-term career planning.
Dr. Zhang has received the SMC Mentor Contribution Award (Silver) in recognition of her outstanding mentorship and contribution.
I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing to work alongside SMC in shaping the next generation—by sharing applied experience in sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and advancing its vision of building globally ready leaders. I see mentorship as a platform for both guidance and exchange, where experience, perspective, and ambition come together to prepare young talent for leadership in a rapidly evolving world.
About Author
Dr. Zhang Qianning is a sustainability specialist with extensive international experience, having lived, studied, and worked across mainland China, Hong Kong, Germany, and the United States, and is currently based in Singapore. Trained as an architect, she specializes in sustainable building design and has focused on renewable energy and low-carbon development throughout her career. She holds a Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore and was a visiting scholar at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), where she worked on net-zero buildings.
Dr. Zhang is currently building a deep-tech startup focused on advanced building technoligies. She is passionate about translating research into real-world sustainable solutions, and her work bridges academia and industry, enabling her to provide both technical insight and practical guidance as a mentor.
Media Contact:
Singapore Mentorship Committee (SMC)
Email: singaporementorshipcommittee@gmail.com
Website: https://www.smcmentorship.org/