By Harriet Santhana
For many professionals, the greatest obstacle to career progression is not a lack of opportunity, it is the quiet voice of self-doubt that questions whether they are truly ready for the next step.
For Sandra, that voice was familiar.
Although she had built a stable career at Lenovo after joining the company in 2019 as an Inside Sales Support Representative, she often found herself wondering whether she was capable of pursuing bigger ambitions. Behind every aspiration was an invisible barrier she had unknowingly built herself.
“The biggest challenge for me was always the glass ceiling that I put on myself,” Sandra recalled. “I always had aspirations–I wanted to do this, I wanted to do that–but there was always self-doubt. I kept asking myself, ‘Can I do this? Am I good enough?'”
Today, Sandra serves as a senior Inside Sales Representative at Lenovo, is a licensed Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, and continues to invest in empowering other women through professional communities. Looking back, she credits much of that transformation to a willingness to step outside her comfort zone, and to the guidance she received through TalentCorp’s Elevate Your Career Mentee Programme.
Her story is one of more than career progression. It is a reminder that women’s empowerment often begins long before a promotion or leadership title. It begins with believing that growth is possible.
Taking the Leap Into the Unknown
When Sandra transitioned from a non-sales role into sales in 2022, the move represented one of the biggest career decisions she had ever made.
Having spent more than three years supporting Lenovo’s sales team through pre-sales and post-sales operations, she was suddenly entering a customer-facing role despite having no previous sales experience.
The opportunity was exciting, but it was also intimidating.
“I had mixed feelings,” she said. “There was excitement, but also fear and uncertainty because I didn’t have any sales experience before. I wasn’t sure whether I could really do it.”
It was during this period of transition that she discovered TalentCorp’s Elevate Your Career Mentee Programme.
Rather than viewing the programme as a shortcut to success, Sandra saw it as an opportunity to gain clarity. She hoped that guidance from an experienced mentor would help her better understand her new career path while giving her the confidence to navigate unfamiliar territory.
What she found was far more transformative than she had anticipated.
A Mentor Who Asked the Right Questions
From the outset, she and her mentor established that the relationship would be a collaborative one. Rather than simply receiving advice, Sandra understood that meaningful growth required her own commitment and willingness to participate actively throughout the programme.
“It was a two-way interaction,” she explained. “My mentor didn’t just tell me what to do. She guided me and provided valuable advice on my career path. She also asked a lot of questions.”
Instead of prescribing solutions, her mentor challenged her with thought-provoking questions.
What was truly holding her back?
What did she believe her greatest challenge was?
Where did she see herself in the years ahead?
Those questions became turning points.
“The answers were already there,” Sandra said. “I just never thought about them until someone asked me those questions.”
The reflective approach encouraged her to look inward rather than constantly searching for external validation. Instead of focusing on limitations, she began recognising her own strengths, ambitions, and ability to overcome challenges.
For Sandra, that shift in mindset became one of the programme’s greatest gifts.
Visualising Success Before It Happens
Among the many lessons she gained from the programme, one exercise has remained with her long after the mentoring sessions ended: creating a vision board.
Her mentor encouraged her to map out both her current situation and the future she wanted to build over the next three to five years.
Using images, keywords and personal aspirations, she created a visual reminder of the goals she wanted to achieve and displayed it somewhere she would see every day.
“It serves as a daily reminder of what my end goal is,” she said.
While simple in concept, the exercise fundamentally changed how she approached personal and professional development.
Rather than becoming consumed by day-to-day challenges, Sandra learned to keep her long-term aspirations in sight. Every decision became part of a larger journey rather than an isolated task.
It reinforced an important lesson: meaningful career growth is rarely accidental. It begins with intentional planning, followed by consistent action.
Growth Happens Through Action
Each session built upon the previous one.
Together, they identified specific challenges, developed practical action plans, reviewed progress and refined strategies as new situations emerged.
The personalised nature of the mentoring experience made every conversation directly relevant to her career journey.
Equally valuable was the opportunity to receive guidance from someone completely outside her existing professional network.
“Hearing advice from an experienced leader who was essentially a stranger gave me a completely fresh perspective,” she said.
Without preconceived notions or organisational biases, her mentor was able to challenge assumptions she had unknowingly accepted about herself and her career.
The experience strengthened not only her resilience, but also her confidence in making important career decisions.
Instead of allowing uncertainty to dictate her choices, Elizabeth learned to approach new opportunities with greater curiosity and self-belief.
From Self-Doubt to Bigger Opportunity
The impact of that mindset shift became evident sooner than Sandra expected.
When she first accepted her sales role, she told herself she would spend two years testing whether the position was the right fit.
Instead, something remarkable happened.
Within just one year, she was promoted into a senior position.
The achievement surprised even her.
“I didn’t expect to be promoted to a senior role in my second year,” she admitted.
Looking back, Elizabeth believes the mentoring programme played an important role in preparing her for increased responsibilities.
It wasn’t simply because she had acquired new skills.
Instead, she developed something even more valuable: confidence.
“I think with the right mindset and determination, I’ll be able to take on greater responsibilities.”
Today, she approaches career progression differently from when she first entered sales.
She constantly pushes herself beyond perceived limits, embraces continuous learning and remains adaptable in an environment where change is inevitable.
“Changes happen everywhere—in every organisation,” she said. “Being adaptable and resilient helps position yourself for continuous learning and new opportunities.”
Her perspective has also expanded beyond completing individual tasks.
Earlier in her career, success meant meeting deadlines and finishing assigned work.
Today, every project begins with a broader question.
How does this contribute to the organisation?
How does it affect stakeholders?
How can different teams be aligned to achieve a common objective?
“I think more from the bigger perspective now,” Sandra explained. “It’s not just about completing the task anymore. It’s about understanding how it impacts the business and contributes towards achieving the company’s goals.”
That shift, from task execution to strategic thinking, marks the evolution of a professional who is no longer simply performing a role, but actively contributing to organisational success.
Understanding People to Become a Better Leader
Curious about the connection between human mind and behaviour, she pursued another milestone in her personal development by becoming a licensed Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner.
For Sandra, the decision was driven by more than professional advancement.
“I’ve always been curious about how the human mind and behaviour are connected,” she said. “On top of that, as an introvert, I wanted to understand how to interact with people better, especially in the workplace.”
The training introduced her to a deeper understanding of how people think, communicate and respond differently depending on their personalities and experiences. More importantly, it reinforced the importance of empathy as a leadership skill.
Rather than approaching every conversation the same way, Sandra learned to adapt her communication style according to the individual and the situation.
“I learned how to converse with people with empathy by putting myself in another person’s shoes while still maintaining professionalism,” she explained. “It also helped me understand different perspectives, not just from my own point of view, but from what the other person may be thinking.”
Those lessons have become invaluable in her day-to-day work.
Whether collaborating across departments, working with customers, or engaging stakeholders, Sandra believes effective communication begins with understanding people before seeking to be understood.
“Everyone is wired differently,” she said. “So I have different approaches for different stakeholders and different situations.”
The result has been smoother collaboration, stronger professional relationships, and greater influence across teams.
Continuing the Journey of Growth
For Sandra, growth does not stop with a new role or achievement. She continues to actively invest in expanding her skills, knowledge and network.
Outside of Lenovo, she contributes as an exco member of Women in Tech Malaysia , which is a dynamic and inclusive community dedicated to fostering empowerment, diversity, and innovation within the technology sector. She also regularly participates in seminars, workshops, exhibitions and online learning opportunities to gain new insights and strengthen her professional capabilities.
Looking ahead, Sandra hopes to continue growing into a role where she can become a trusted advisor, subject matter expert and contributor to larger, more complex projects that create meaningful business value.
Redefining What Leadership Means
Before joining the programme, she felt she had remained in her comfort zone for too long and that her career progression had become stagnant. The mentorship experience helped her gain clarity, confidence, and a new perspective on how she could navigate her career journey.
She encourages professionals, especially those considering their next career step, to approach mentorship with an open mind and a willingness to take ownership of their growth.
“The programme provides valuable guidance and opportunities for self-reflection,” she said. “However, meaningful growth comes from adopting a growth mindset.”
For Sandra, the greatest lesson has been that opportunities rarely arrive when people feel completely ready. Sometimes, growth requires taking the leap first and learning along the way.
Her own transition from a non-sales role into sales is proof of that belief.
What began as an uncertain career move became the foundation for a new chapter, one where she continues to grow as a professional, leader and advocate for women’s empowerment.
Through TalentCorp’s Elevate Your Career Mentee Programme, Sandra discovered that breaking barriers is not always about overcoming external challenges. Sometimes, it begins by challenging the limitations we place on ourselves.
