“My advice for mothers in the SRC is to be kind to yourself. You don’t have to be perfect. Love is enough.”

Ms Elsie Tan is no stranger to the Red Cross House. The long-serving Personal Assistant to the Secretary General reflects on a quarter-century of meaningful work, personal growth, and being a working mom.

Getting Personal

I've been with the Singapore Red Cross for 25 years as a Personal Assistant to the Secretary General. Growing up, I didn't have specific career dreams, so after Secretarial school, I naturally transitioned into a secretarial job.

A good PA needs excellent organisational skills, time management, and the ability to multitask. Before joining SRC, I worked as a personal assistant to the executive director at the Singapore Manufacturers Association — my first job after graduation. While the roles were similar, I wanted to do something more meaningful. Joining SRC felt like a better fit because, here, I am able to help people and serve the community.

A Balancing Act

I always wanted to be a mother because I love children! When I first gave birth to my son, balancing work and motherhood wasn't easy. I focused on being fully present whenever I was at home, and over time, the balancing act became easier.

Now my son is 27, and life has gotten much simpler. We love traveling together and also bond over simple activities like watching television shows and movies, going for walks, and cycling. He has also volunteered with the Red Cross. When he was young, I brought him along for volunteering opportunities with SRC—you could say he spent quite some time in the Red Cross House too!

Mother of the House

It's an honor to be called a "mother of SRC." Over these 25 years, I've seen many colleagues, like Charis and Eileen, grow from executives into confident leaders. I'm very proud of their success — I even witnessed Eileen getting married and having children! 

SRC has indeed grown tremendously over the years — becoming stronger, larger, and even more committed to caring for communities both at home and abroad.

I treasure the trust given to me at SRC as the PA to the Secretary General, and being part of the work here is deeply meaningful. I've seen people directly impacted by our work, including my own mother. More than 20 years ago, she had a stroke. At that time, our flat had no lift landing on our floor, and we had to go down two floors to reach the elevator. This was especially difficult because my mother was on the heavier side. Fortunately, with help from our Medical Chaperone and Transportation (MCT) colleagues, we were able to get by. We never would have managed on our own!

From Mother To Another

My advice for mothers at SRC is to be kind to yourself. You don't have to be perfect—love is enough. To all the mothers in SRC: you're doing an amazing job and you're stronger than you think! Happy Mother's Day!