KPMG launches 10,000-hour youth mentoring programme in Singapore
The Singapore branch of professional service firm KPMG has partnered with the National Youth Council to mentor students and young professionals in preparation for the workforce of tomorrow.
As part of the Mentoring SG movement, KPMG has launched its “Discover. Experience. Enable” initiative, committing to 10,000 hours worth of corporate mentoring over twelve months in areas such as sustainability and artificial intelligence.
The programme of mentoring, job shadowing and learning exchanges for young Singaporeans between the ages of 19 and 28 aims to develop the soft skills of the next generation of leaders and help to address growing demand in green and digital jobs.
“The next generation will inherit an economy shaped by AI and the environment,” said KPMG’s People, Performance & Culture lead partner Shelley Chan. “We’re equipping tomorrow’s change-makers to lead at the nexus of innovation and sustainability, by cultivating versatile skill-sets that are valued across industries and essential to shaping a more resilient future.”
KPMG notes the almost 80 million increase in global green and digital jobs projected before the decade is out, in areas like AI, sustainability reporting, and ESG assurance, with the firm’s mentoring initiative designed to bridge the education-to-industry gap by developing professional skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making, which AI can’t replicate.
The consulting firm also says its mentoring approach is unlike traditional internship programmes, in that it’s cross-functional, with participants exposed to experts across audit, tax, deal advisory and consulting, as well as authentic, such that its mentors will share their diverse industry experiences, case studies, and challenges in navigating emerging technologies to achieve sustainable growth.
For example, the ‘experience’ component of the programme will see eligible applicants given the opportunity to join regular flash mentoring sessions with senior professionals or take part in one-day job experiences at KPMG offices to observe a ‘day in the life’ of consultants, tax specialists or sustainability experts, while three ‘shadowing’ cycles will also occur throughout the year.
Career stories and short video content highlighting how KPMG professionals contribute to sustainability, technology and innovation projects will also be published on the National Youth Council’s (NYC) ‘Discover On My Way’ portal, as well as shared with secondary school and higher learning guidance counsellors to broaden youth perspectives on potential career pathways.
Succeeding in the workforce
Coinciding with the launch, a recent KPMG survey of 1,000 young Singaporeans in conjunction with NYC and IPRS found that roughly one third cited communication and interpersonal skills along with adaptability as among the key traits they believed they would need to succeed in the workforce, while almost two thirds indicated they required more support for career planning.
“The youth of today are discerning in their pursuit of skills – not just chasing trends, but focusing on how these skills can be practically applied to create value in their professions,” stated Lee Sze Yeng, Singapore managing partner at KPMG. “The survey underscores the responsibility of institutions and mentors to guide and empower youths and equip them for the future of work.”
