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"The real learning often begins after the theory — when I experiment with an idea, put it into practice, review the effectiveness, and calibrate from the experience," she tells us.
What if L&D’s biggest opportunities are hiding in the moments we usually overlook? For Jeslin Lim (pictured above), learning is most powerful when it has somewhere to go. Rather than stopping at theory, she believes people learn by applying ideas to real problems, experimenting with them, reviewing what works and adjusting along the way.
Lim is Head of People & Culture at Cycle & Carriage Singapore, with more than 15 years of experience across talent, leadership development and organisational effectiveness. A community builder and advocate for lifelong learning, she is passionate about helping people unlock growth by making the invisible visible – from leadership blind spots to emerging opportunities in AI.
At Learning & Development Asia 2026 – Singapore, Lim will explore whether the biggest opportunity for L&D lies beyond creating better programmes, calling on L&D and HR teams to identify the specific moments where performance matters and consider what they can do now that they could not do before.
Ahead of the session, Lim shares with Emily Chong-Gupta that her aim is to “uncover the moments where possibilities move the needle.”
Q Which L&D principle has most influenced how you help others or yourself learn best?
Personally, I think learning is most powerful when it has somewhere to go. Throughout my career, I've tended to ask:
- What problem am I trying to solve?
- How can I apply what I'm learning to that problem?
Whenever I attend a conference or workshop, I find myself thinking: how could I apply this for my organisation?
The real learning often begins after the theory — when I experiment with an idea, put it into practice, review the effectiveness, and calibrate from the experience.
That is also how I like to help others learn: connect learning to something that matters, create the opportunity to try it, and then learn from what happens practically.
Q Who has been a mentor or coach to you personally, and what is a timeless lesson they taught you?
I have been fortunate to have mentors, coaches and bosses who were incredibly generous with their teaching over the years.
The business leaders I partnered with, have been generous with their time to bring me into their way of thinking about business and people.
Those moments are never written in any management textbooks, conferences, or workshops.
One lesson I've carried with me is: don't set invisible barriers for myself.
The job can be as interesting as I want it to be — or as boring as I want it to be. One business leader will always challenge me “How can we do it differently this year?”
That mindset has encouraged me to scan the external landscape, look for possibilities and challenge the status-quo.
Q What is an unexpected or interesting skill you have picked up that colleagues may not know about?
I learnt Aikido in my younger days! I was honestly terrible at it in the beginning. During my second lesson, I ended up with such a bad bruise on my foot that I couldn't wear covered shoes for a week. And I still went back the following week.
There was something about turning up, practising and being completely comfortable with being a beginner that stayed with me. Aikido gave me focus, discipline and a sense of calm—especially on days when circumstances were trying. That's my philosophy for life, too. No matter how experienced we are, there will always be new situations, skills and chapters where we are beginners again — and that's okay.
We try, struggle, learn, adjust and become better.
Q In fewer than 10 words, what is your number one motto for helping people and teams grow?
Play the cards you're dealt. Find the possibilities.
Q A quick preview of your session at Learning & Development Asia: What is the one key takeaway you hope attendees will gain?
In my session, I would be exploring three questions:
- What if the biggest opportunity for L&D isn't creating better programmes?
- What if we could move from broad to specific moments where performance matters?
- What could L&D practitioners do now that we couldn’t do before?
The takeaway for participants? Uncover the moments where possibilities move the needle.
I want to attend the conference: If you're keen to attend this closed-door conference, kindly register your interest here. For speaking opportunities, please write in to Emily Chong-Gupta. We look forward to welcoming you!
I want to sponsor: Engage in meaningful dialogue through dedicated speaking slots, roundtable discussions, and at your booths! If your organisation provides any talent solutions and products that you'd like to showcase, you’ll fit right into this event. To learn how you can sponsor, please reach out to a member of our team now!
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