“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform” – Diane Mariechild
Women play an extraordinary role in shaping the world, and the social, economical, cultural and political contributions of women should be celebrated every day. This International Women’s Day, let’s unite as one to celebrate women in all their diversities.
As part of the movement, we asked women from all walks of life to embrace their achievements and share their story.
You, too, can join in the movement on Facebook and Instagram to support fellow women and share why we should be celebrating #WomenLikeMe!
Tiffany: A Foodie, Listener & Craftaholic
Tiffany is a senior marketing associate who has been with Homage for over 3 years. She loves listening to stories, seeking random fun facts and exploring all things local, and in her free time, you can find her playing games with her grandparents or planning for her next big adventure on our sunny island.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A foodie, listener and craftaholic.
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Listen to your heart and go forth to where it leads you to.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
The road of life can be bumpy at times, but as long as you go forward with kindness, gratitude and courage, all will be fine.
Thurgadevi: A Mother, Nurse & Wife
Devi is a nurse manager with over 11 years of experience who decided to join the Homage family about a year ago.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A mother, nurse and wife.
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Have a ton of confidence in yourself. Amazing things happen when you distance yourself from negativity
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
In the end, no matter how much money we make and how successful we are in society’s eyes, what we have left are our family, friends and faith. Always prioritise our loved ones.
Karen: A Caregiver, Listener & Nature Enthusiast
Karen is a therapy assistant and professional caregiver at Homage, with over 20 years of caregiving experience in homes, hospitals and nursing homes. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, watching Korean dramas and going for nature walks whenever time allows.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A caregiver, listener & nature enthusiast
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Fulfil my dreams and goals whenever they surface, for regardless of health, wealth or age, illness and diseases can strike without warning!
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
Treat everyone like how you would like to be treated.
Jia Hui: An Athlete, Creative & Dog-lover
Jia Hui is a marketing associate at Homage and hopes to make this world a kinder place in any way she can. In her pockets of free time, you can find her dog-watching by the beach or snacking on ice cream and fries with her 80-year-young Grandma at home. Read the letter she wrote to Grandma!
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
An athlete, creative & dog-lover
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Take what others say with a pinch of salt. You’ll excel in anything as long as you’re passionate about it. Follow your heart and your own timeline.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
Always be kind, to others, and most importantly, to yourself.
Nina: An Adventurer, Listener & Teacher
Nina is Homage’s finance associate, responsible for the day to day book-keeping for both Singapore and Malaysia.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
An adventurer, listener and teacher
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Invest your time in people who want to see you do better.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
You are a fighter and you never give up.
Jamie: A Pet-lover, Foodie & Baker
Jamie is a supply operations associate at Homage, who not only helps with staffing but also supports our COVID-19 initiatives on the frontline.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A pet-lover, foodie, baker
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Be confident and love yourself. You’re more than your flaws. Your flaws are just temporary. What matters is that you make the best of yourself despite your limitations ❤️
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
It’s amazing to see how women grow to be more independent compared to the past. I would say to not think of yourself as secondary to men or anyone else around you.
You’re independent and strong. You are greater than you think. Live your best life and own it!
Christina: An Animal Lover, Mother & Artist
Christina Quah is an auditor-turned-professional caregiver who has been with Homage for almost 3 years. She often goes above and beyond, taking the time and effort to build heartwarming friendships with seniors on top of taking care of their needs. Find out why she made the career switch from auditor to caregiver here.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
An animal lover, mother and artist
What are some qualities that best describe you?
Passionate (I love what I do!), patient, and motherly
What advice will you give to your younger self?
To love myself, take care of my body, and to keep on learning
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
“If you can’t fly then run…
If you can’t run then walk…
If you can’t walk then crawl…
Whatever you do, keep moving forward”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Ai Lin: A Daughter, Giver & Animal Lover
Besides helping more families receive the care they need, Ai Lin is also a great artist and a fitness enthusiast.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A daughter, animal lover, and giver (I always love giving!)
What advice will you give to your younger self?
To not constantly fret about the future (which you cannot predict) and to always live in the present
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
Do not be afraid to be confrontational, and to stand up for what you believe in! And to always be open to new challenges
Jane: A Designer, Stress-painter & Cat Mom
Jane is a product designer by day and cat mom by night. She loves sketching in her free time and paints as an outlet to destress.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A designer, stress-painter, cat mom
What advice will you give to your younger self?
You don’t need all those things to make you an interesting person because YOU ARE ENOUGH.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
Not to be intimidated by glass ceilings and to see them as a challenge. Always strive to do better and be better.
Natasha: A Nurse, Mother & Avid Motorcycle Fan
Natasha is an enrolled nurse at Homage who loves caring for others. years. She enjoys watching movies, shopping and cooking in her free time, and is also a motorcyclist enthusiast!
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A nurse, mother and an avid motorcycle fan
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Life is never always entirely taught in school books. Instead, it is the mistakes and learning experiences that make you a better person for yourself, your family and the community.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
Never depend on people to give you support. You are your own fan and your own supporter and you are the only person who can bring yourself to greater heights for as long as you believe and strive for greatness.
Hui Lan: A Homemaker, Healthcare Professional & Daughter
Hui Lan is a Homage Caregiver who has delivered over 800 hours of care! Before moving to Singapore, she was an ICU nurse in Taiwan. Now she spends most of her time taking care of her loved ones at home and freelances as a professional caregiver to deliver care to more in the community.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A homemaker, healthcare professional and daughter
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Keep on learning and master more languages
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
Life is never smooth sailing, it has its ups and downs. But don’t be scared and don’t hesitate. You can only improve your life when you take the leap of faith.
Clarice: A Caregiver, Therapist & Listener
Clarice is a certified speech therapist who is passionate about transitioning the elderly back to home and community settings where they are most comfortable. She has over 5 years of experience working with adults and the elderly in various care settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation settings, homes and nursing homes, and believes in working closely with family and caregivers to improve the quality of life of seniors.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A caregiver, therapist and listener
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes your way. No responsibility is beneath you.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
Take the next step forward; get out of your comfort zone to learn new skills. This will not only help yourself but also others in such a fast-paced environment.
Gillian: An Ocean-lover, Reformer & Enabler
Gillian is the CEO and co-founder of Homage and a loving daughter. After working in New York City and Silicon Valley for a decade, she decided to leave everything behind and return to Singapore to spend more time with Mum and set up Homage.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
An ocean-lover, reformer and enabler.
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Your age is not the best determinant of what you can create and achieve. Also start building ventures sooner rather than later.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
It’s never as bad as you think it is, it’s never as good as you think it is. This applies whether you’re a woman or a man, so how you see and shape your odds is up to you. Own and be proud of your achievements and strengths. You’re entitled to be great and imperfect. Embrace your very human imperfections with a brave and growth mindset.
Lily: A Wife, Mother & Nurse
Lily Teh is an experienced nurse with over 30 years under her belt, and also a Care Specialist at Homage. Her typical workday revolves around visiting homes to conduct care assessments for a better understanding of the care needs. Learn more about her accidental stumble into nursing and how it led her to a lifetime of care here.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A wife, mother and nurse
What are some qualities that best describe you?
Confident, creative, passionate, nurturing, and a keen eye for detail
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Knowledge through education and life experiences is an invaluable asset. Life is a constant struggle and a path of lifelong learning. Every difficulty faced and storms overcome will bring you a step closer to being the person you strive to become. Seize every opportunity that comes your way!
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
- Always be passionate about what you do.
- Be confident in your own skillset. Take pride in what you do and do what it takes to achieve what you want, even if it means taking the path less travelled.
- Life is a canvas of our painting. How we hold our brush is how we live, love, laugh, and pass on to our generations. Our canvas reflects our chapter of life – paint it the way you want your children and grandchildren to see you.
- Health is wealth. Value life, love, family, good habits and health. Spend quality time at work and home, give your 100% in everything you do, and always stay positive.
Most importantly, enjoy the process. The good work we put in daily gives patients and their families solace and comfort, knowing that they are in good and caring hands. So, no matter how difficult the day can get, never forget the reason you became a nurse.
Often, I get inspired by my patients; through their lessons in life, sharing the best ‘remedies’, etc. We cry together, laugh together, share moments of life and death together, holding their hands till their last breath – this embodies the spirit of nursing.
When you are a nurse, you touch a life or a life touches you every day in one way or another. That is why I always believe that we, as nurses, truly are the “Heart of Healthcare”, the “Angel of Touch and Torch” (as we touch – our patients, children, loved ones – and give guidance, in our course of caring where they feel being loved and cared for), in many ways an “Avenue of Compassion, Care and Love”.
I treasure every moment of my caregiving in various ways, forms and places. A happy nurse will remain caring, loving and compassionate with a sincere passion for giving, always.
The journey as a woman with multiple roles is not easy, but I can assure you that it is worth more than a million!
Nora: A Traveller, Caregiver & Baker
After leaving her shipping job of 26 years, Nora joined Homage as a professional caregiver as the flexible schedule allowed her to care for her dad with prostate cancer, while also helping others in the community. She particularly enjoys chatting with people, cooking, baking and travelling. Learn more about Nora’s caregiving story here.
Fun fact: Nora is highly multilingual and speaks fluent English and Malay, a fair bit of German, as well as some Mandarin and Hokkien!
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A traveller, caregiver and baker
What advice will you give to your younger self?
If I could turn back time, I would love to start the meaningful journey as a Professional Caregiver much earlier.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
We are gifted. God has chosen the strongest women to be caregivers. In caregiving, we touch the lives of others and others’ touch our lives every day. Life is indeed more beautiful and meaningful by spreading more love and care.
Jemima: A Dog Groomer, Nurse, & Part-time Student
Jemima, or Jem for short, worked full-time at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital before becoming a Homage nurse. She loves talking and getting to know her patients and believes that interaction is key to providing companionship and helping to educate and understand people. Nursing aside, Jemima is also a dog groomer and an animal lover, and she cares for a senior dog of her own.
What are the 3 roles that best describe you?
A dog groomer, nurse, and part-time student
What advice will you give to your younger self?
Be worried for nothing as everything happens in God’s time.
What words of encouragement would you say to women who are in the same roles as yourself?
Even with passion and empathy in this field, it is normal to feel burned-out every now and then.
When you encounter days where you feel unappreciated and demoralized, take a break from nursing. You will be surprised how these breaks doing non-nursing related things might make you start to miss nursing once more.
Don’t be afraid to feel accomplished through the comfort that you have brought to your patient or the part you had in their improvement. These feelings are oftentimes the ones that make you continue giving your best.
P.s. Stay tuned for next week’s features of women of Homage!
Join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram and together, let’s celebrate #WomenLikeMe!
Check out more of our International Women’s Day resources here.
