We launched AIM in January 2019, with the ambition to bring mentoring to the fore in Asia, raise the quality and standard in mentoring, expand the mentoring ecosystem and bring mentoring to all facets of the society. If we can mentor 10,000 people in Singapore and Asia every year - to reach out, to connect, to guide, to inspire, to empower - and then get these 10,000 to pay it forward as mentors, every year, for the next 100 years, imagine the kind of impact it will bring to our society, economy, communities, schools, home, the workplace.

With a structured mentoring training and certification program, tailored electives for improved mentoring outcomes, a proprietary talent matching system, a strong support system, and a holistic approach that addresses the Heart, Mind, Spirit with Self-Awareness and Self-Mastery as the foundation for mentoring, AIM has something unique and special to offer to Asia and the world. Our mission is to create an Asia-based people-powered mentoring movement to move people - to give forward, to transform, to harness the deep human potential and create social impact – bringing about a kinder, gentler, more inclusive, more just and sustainable world for all.

Since our launch in January and over the space of less than a year, we have achieved several noteworthy milestones:

• Launched a brand new website with an e-commerce powered CRM engine to run the organization in an effective and efficient way;

• Created a set of product and services offerings including mentor training and certification programs, as well as memberships offerings;

• Initiated partnership discussions across many sectors including technology, entrepreneurship, professionals, leadership and management, youth, the social sector and even sport, on our way to co-create and expand the mentoring ecosystem;

• Organized and conducted several mentor training programs, events and workshops to up the profile of mentoring, raise awareness of the AIM brand and expand the mentoring ecosystem;

• Initiated Learning Circles which are monthly dialogue sessions hosted by AIM to encourage peer learning and support in the area of mentoring;

• Grown the AIM community to over 1000 - with many who have signed up to be AIM mentors and mentees and who have embarked on their mentoring journeys with AIM.

With hard work, determination and foresight, a solid foundational platform for mentoring has been created at AIM.

We ended the year on a particularly high note, completing our first and the first-ever and very successful Certified Professional Mentor (CPM) training program for a group of 11 participants across a diverse range in age, experiences, and industries. They are now all on their mentoring practicum leading to professional certification. This group all shared a common desire and purpose: to contribute to other’s growth and success through mentoring, continuing development in themselves and a willingness to pay it forward as mentors as part of their legacy.

AIM to-date is a 100% volunteer-run, non-profit organization, which is both a blessing and a challenge. Although the consistency and the commitment of our volunteers has been an ongoing challenge in the initial stage, we now have in place a core team of experienced and like-minded members and advisors committed to the cause and contributing their time, energy and talent in a meaningful way to take the organization forward.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. We’ve come a long way since that initial CPM pilot late last year, and our soft launch event in January. Despite all the challenges faced, I’m very proud of how far we’ve come - and how much we’ve been able to achieve in such a short time - all with very limited resources.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of AIM, now with some experiences and learnings behind us, and based on what we’ve seen, what the market is telling us, and the partners coming on-board - it is beyond doubt that we have something that is relevant, valuable and quite timely.

There is so much to look forward to in 2020 and beyond - new partners coming on-board, new runs of the CPM program, and Learning Circles all mapped out - on our journey to realize the full potential of mentoring for Asia. This is our manifest destiny. I’m grateful for all of your support as a member of the AIM family.  Look forward to taking the next leg of this journey together. Do join us at our first networking event to usher in the new year.

Wishing you and your family a joyful and peaceful holiday season.

Sincerely,

Yen-Lu Chow

AIM Co-founder