Opening Doors: KK’s Journey from Mentee to Mentor
Meet Kai Kiong, fondly known by many as KK. Today, KK (Class of ’95) is a prominent industry pharmacist, leading regulatory affairs and pharmacovigilance across the Asia-Pacific region. Beyond his professional roles, KK stays connected with the NUS Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, through preceptorship, internships, PECT and more recently, as a mentor of the INSPIRxE programme.
An Unexpected Journey
KK’s professional journey began after graduating from NUS Pharmacy in 1995. He completed his pre-registration training at APEX Pharmacy as part of its pioneer batch of pre-registration students. KK fondly recalled that one of the things that attracted him to complete his pre-reg training was the opportunity for a one-week attachment at XEPA-Soul Pattinson’s manufacturing site in Malacca. This would be one of KK’s earliest glimpses of the broader world of pharmacy beyond traditional practice.
KK at XEPA-Soul Pattinson, where he had a one-week attachment during his pre-registration training.
Before long, KK found himself working at and running an independent pharmacy. With ambitions of starting his own retail pharmacy one day, he sought to learn the basics, and even some tricks, of running a pharmacy and a business.
“Alas, that was not to be!” quipped KK.
KK had started an online venture with some friends, which unfortunately did not turn out as hoped. Nonetheless, he stayed resilient with a growth mindset. With his pharmacist license, he worked as a locum pharmacist while looking for his next opportunity. Eventually, KK found his way into the pharmaceutical industry, with regulatory affairs becoming his core area of expertise.
KK’s professional responsibilities have since expanded into pharmacovigilance and quality. Today, he leads regulatory affairs and pharmacovigilance across Asia Pacific, while also leading a technical operations project to establish Medison Pharma’s operations in China.
His story reminds us that life is not a linear path, and success can find us in various forms.
Infographic designed with the use of Canva and ChatGPT with the prompt ‘landscape mountain roadmap’.
Motivations as a Mentor
Beyond growing within his own professional journey, KK came to see success as less about personal achievements and more about creating opportunities and giving back. This belief has taken shape through KK’s continued involvement with the NUS Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he contributes through preceptorship, internships, PECT and mentoring of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences students. Drawing from his past experiences as a mentee, KK shares his perspective which shapes his guidance today.
As KK progressed in his career, he realised he had the ability to create opportunities for others, just as his mentors had for him.
Mentorship, a Two-Way Journey
For KK, offering these opportunities is especially meaningful in exposing students to the pharmaceutical industry, where career pathways may appear less visible than those in hospital or community practice. In fact, KK shared that industry pharmacy is far broader than many students might expect, with pharmacists contributing across a wide range of functions.
Whether as a mentor or preceptor, KK broadens students’ perspectives by encouraging them to explore their interests and make informed career decisions through meaningful, first-hand exposure, rather than relying solely on second-hand perceptions of the industry.
Furthermore, rather than steering students towards a particular path, he draws on his experiences to prompt deeper reflection and help them navigate decisions with greater clarity and confidence.
Nonetheless, mentorship is not a one-way exchange. In engaging with younger pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, KK found his own assumptions challenged, prompting him to reconsider what truly matters in a career, from purpose and work-life balance to workplace culture and leadership.
KK with PECT interns in Johnson & Johnson.
Growth and Principles
When asked, “Were there any mentors or preceptors who impacted you, and what advice has stayed with you till today?”, KK shared:
“I have been fortunate to learn from many teachers, bosses, colleagues, and senior pharmacists throughout my career, although not all of them carried the formal title of ‘mentor’. There are many who have influenced me along the way — the late Professor Lucy Wan, Professor Chan Lai Wah, Ms Loh Pei Juin and Mr Leng Yew Fei from APEX Pharmacy, Mr Ng Cheng Tiang and Mr Png Yong Koh, just to name a few.
KK with some of his mentors, Mr YK Png, Mr Sia Chong Hock and Mr Ng Cheng Tiang.
“In fact, some of the most important mentoring happens informally. It may be someone who takes the time to explain why a decision was made, gives you an opportunity that stretches you, tells you something you do not necessarily want to hear, or supports you when things do not go according to plan.”
From these experiences, several principles have stayed with KK and continue to shape both his career and the way he mentors others.
ChatGPT was used for the initial conceptualisation of this infographic.
Principle 1: Growth Before Certainty
One might assume that greater responsibility comes only when one is fully prepared. KK believes otherwise: you do not need to have all the answers before stepping up, and growth often begins when someone recognises your potential before you fully recognise it yourself.
Principle 2: Relationships Endure
Treat people well. In a close-knit pharmacy community, titles and organisations may change, but relationships often remain. The students, colleagues, or junior team members you meet today may one day become collaborators, leaders — or even your boss.
Principle 3: Stay Adaptable
KK’s own career has taught him to remain adaptable. Opportunities, disappointments, and unexpected changes are all part of the journey, and no single role or setback should define one’s professional identity. What matters is to keep learning, remain open to change and allow each experience to shape what comes next.
The Rewards of Paying it Forward
For KK, some of the most rewarding moments in mentorship are found in the simplest signs of growth — from seeing a previously quiet student gain the confidence to challenge an idea, hearing from a former intern several years later, or watching someone he once supervised become a leader and mentor to others. These moments remind him that the impact of mentorship is not always immediate; its influence may only reveal itself with time.
His sustained commitment to nurturing students has also been recognised formally with KK receiving the NUS Outstanding Preceptor Award in 2019.
KK receiving the NUS Outstanding Preceptor Award 2019 from Professor Christina Chai.
KK's Words of Wisdom
Before our interview ended, KK left readers with some advice for both mentors and mentees alike.
KK advised mentors that they should not feel like they should have all the answers. Being a good mentor does not mean merely telling mentees exactly what career to choose. Instead, KK recommended that mentors should first listen to their mentees and even ask questions to understand what matters most to them.
KK also noted that while mentors sharing their experiences and past mistakes is valuable, what worked before may not necessarily be right for someone starting their career today, given the differences in time and individual circumstances. As such, KK highlighted the importance of giving mentees the space to make their own decisions.
KK with PECT interns at the Singapore Pharmacy Council Pharmacist’s Pledge Affirmation Ceremony in 2022 and 2025.
In a similar vein, KK encouraged mentees to stay curious. A mentorship or even an internship is a safe opportunity to explore, so do not be afraid to ask questions. While mentors may open the door by sharing experiences and offering advice, it still requires effort from the mentee to walk through this door. This includes actively coming to conversations with questions and ideas, understanding why certain decisions are made, volunteering for something unfamiliar, speaking to people outside the function you were assigned to. The possibilities are truly endless!
Indeed, KK’s story is a reminder to stay connected with the people who have helped us along the way. After all, one day, we too may find ourselves in the position to open a door for someone else.
We would like to thank KK for generously sharing his inspiring career journey and his thoughtful approach to mentorship and preceptorship. Whether we see ourselves as mentors or mentees today, may we embrace the opportunity to learn from those before us and, in time, pay it forward for those who come after us.
Article by Amyra Zulraimi (Y4 Pharmacy), Jollene Ng Enxuan (Y4 Pharmacy) and Goh Siong Jean (Y3 Pharmacy).
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