Prof Daniel Lee, Associate Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) of CUHK and his mentee Pavithra Daulagala

For some, graduating from college could be exciting, for it represents a new journey in life. Still, for some others, it could be daunting because it means that there are uncertainties.

Mentee Pavithra Daulagala admits that she is of the latter because, as a fourth-year PhD student in Virology at The University of Hong Kong, the unknown future requires well preparations to succeed. Being mentored by Professor Daniel Lee, Pavithra believes it was the most treasurable experience she could gain before she entered the job market.

With many opportunities lying before her, Pavithra thanks her mentor for narrowing down the possible paths suitable for her future development. Her mentor's experience is valuable and could become a role model for her. Through the Mentorship Scheme, she gained clarity and inspiration for what a bright future lies before her. 

Mr Raymond Yuan, Vice-President, Group CEO's Office of Nan Fung Group (middle) and his mentees Jacky Ng (left) and Cyrus Kam (right)

Mentee Jacky set out on his mentorship journey in 2021, hoping to equip himself with the right mindset and skill to face the ever-changing environment of the industry. 

As a final year student at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology studying Biotechnology and Business, Jacky thinks HKLSS Mentorship Scheme allowed him to learn from the best. His mentor, a former McKinsey & Company consultant, shared his path of turning from an “engineer nerd” to a consultant with solid business acumen. In addition, Raymond shared with Jacky tips for breaking into the consulting sector, which is the area that interested Jacky in his future development. Besides, Raymond asked Jacky to participate in case competitions to put his consulting methodology learned from school into practice. Most of all, his insights and sharing opened Jacky's mind and showed him the quality of becoming a future leader.

Dr Alan Wong, Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences of HKU and his mentee Angela Lee

Whilst studying a BSc (Hons) in Medical Laboratory Science, Angela initially aspired to become a recognized Medical Laboratory Technologist after graduation. However, although she had a keen interest in scientific research, explicitly molecular biology and microbiology, she was too obscure about her future career. Therefore, Angela decided to join the HKLSS Mentorship Scheme in 2022 to gain exposure and seek advice from field experts. 

Dr Alan Wong, a molecular biology researcher, helped solve her career dilemma and offered her a lab attachment opportunity during the summer. The 3-week working experience focusing on basic molecular cloning furthered her knowledge about CRISPR gene editing. She also learned various essential soft skills, such as visual presentations. Angela thought these were opportunities that she had never been exposed to before. Not only has Angela gained tremendous interest in molecular biology research, but this mentorship experience has also significantly impacted her career.

Dr Wolf Cheung, Senior Scientist of Bio-Cancer Treatment and
his mentees Tammy Pham and Noreen Chui (from left to right)

The biggest reward for mentee Noreen was to be able to know how scientists are working in the industry. 

During her visit to Bio-Cancer Treatment (BCT) company, where her mentor works, Noreen grasped every chance to raise questions related to pharmaceutical research. She was glad they were all answered, allowing her to understand better the commercial practice and the challenges of cancer drug development. 

Being participated in the same Scheme for the second year, Noreen has gained valuable insights, particularly in looking into the outcomes of the pre-clinical research at the industry level. In addition, the experience allowed her to learn deeply about clinical trials.  

Dr Wilson Wong, CEO and Founder of Novus Life Sciences and
his mentee Magarlinda Chen

Mentee Magarlinda set herself a high goal in polar research. She experienced well the challenges and frustrations she faced. But HKLSS Mentorship Scheme, as she regards, helped boost her confidence in achieving her goal. Dr Wilson Wong shared the industry trend and his life experience through regular meetings. As a result, Magarlinda has gradually built her confidence and started to equip herself with the knowledge to achieve her goals. 

Magarlinda learned three things from her mentor: first, she develops courage in believing in her ability; second, she must prepare well for the changing industry environment; and finally, she has to do her best in all circumstances. 

Both Magarlinda and Dr Wong think that the goal-setting guidelines of the Scheme allowed them to create a framework to meet expectations. In addition, working as an intern at Dr Wong's company gave Magarlinda first-hand experience and an understanding of how experiments worked in a real-life laboratory setting. In a nutshell, this Scheme has prepared Magarlinda to become more outreaching and determined to fulfil her dream.