Brenda Tan, Emotional Agility & Wellness Coach and founder of Heart Of Shou, has been a guiding light in the realm of emotional wellness and intrapersonal leadership.
With over a decade of experience working across corporate, educational, and community spaces, Brenda focuses on helping individuals—particularly mid-career professionals and women—rediscover purpose, navigate transitions, and cultivate emotional strength.
In this SG60 Showcase, Brenda shares her journey from coaching one-on-one clients to leading impactful wellness experiences in nature. Her unique approach bridges the wisdom of ancient practices with modern leadership development, positioning her as a powerful contributor to Singapore’s future-ready society.
Read on for insights into her work, philosophy, and vision for a more compassionate Singapore.
Highlights
Championing Preventive Mental Wellness Through Forest Bathing
Q: Describe a specific initiative or program you’ve led that has contributed to Singapore’s development in the past 5 years.
A: Over the past two years, I’ve co-led guided forest bathing experiences rooted in the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku. These sessions go beyond nature walks—each is designed to activate the senses, promote self-reflection, and reduce stress.
We’ve worked with everyday citizens, corporate teams, and mentoring groups, all experiencing improved sleep, mental clarity, and emotional resilience. Forest bathing has become a growing part of Singapore’s wellness ecosystem, aligning with national strategies like Healthier SG by promoting proactive mental well-being and community bonding.
Human-Centered Coaching for a Thriving Future
Q: What unique perspective or expertise do you bring that is particularly relevant to Singapore’s next chapter of growth?
A: I advocate on a crucial yet often underestimated dimension of national progress: inner development. In a society driven by speed, performance, and innovation, I focus on building the emotional and psychological foundation that enables people to thrive, and not just function.
My work supports midlife professionals, entrepreneurs, and those facing career or life transitions. Through emotional clarity, resilience training, and intuitive self-leadership, I help individuals gain clarity, recover from setbacks, and rediscover their sense of purpose.
This inner work is not soft work. It is the soil from which innovation, adaptability, compassionate and authentic leadership grow. As Singapore enters its next chapter marked by demographic shifts, global uncertainties, and rapid technological change, our ability to stay grounded, emotionally agile, and deeply connected becomes a national asset.
By helping people add more life to their years through intentional living, we don’t just uplift individual well-being, we strengthen community bonds, workplace cultures, and our collective resilience as a nation.
Quiet Impact, Deep Reach: Touching Thousands Through Inner Clarity
Q: How many Singaporean professionals have you trained or influenced through your work?
A: Between 5,000 to 8,000 individuals across training and speaking engagements, and coaching programs.
Q: Which key Singapore-based organisations have you worked with recently?
A: I have had the opportunity to receive training and speaking engagements with MINDEF, the National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University, Singapore Business Federation (IDEAS Project), Careers Connect (WSQ), Ingeus, and the Secretary Association of Administrative Professionals to name a few.
Whether I’m working with career transitioners or rising leaders I focus on creating space for inner clarity, inner authority and emotional resilience to help employees to feel seen, grounded, and purposeful.
The outcomes that bring me the deepest sense of fulfillment are often the quietest, yet most profound. It is when someone shares “Because of what you said, I finally made peace with something I have been carrying for years,” or “I now lead with more heart and it has changed how my team responds.”
Those moments of internal shift, emotional clarity, renewed courage, and reconnection are gold to me .
Empowering with Soulful Strategy
Q: What sets you apart from other speakers/trainers in your field?
A: I blend corporate experience with emotional wellness, spiritual insight, and intuitive practices like dreamwork. My programs create space for deep transformation, beyond just productivity or communication skills.
I create safe, reflective spaces where professionals and leaders can reconnect with their inner compass, uncover hidden patterns, and lead with renewed clarity, compassion and purpose.
I combine frameworks like Colored Brain Communication, emotional agility training, and Dream analysis and Symbolic Reflection Therapy that taps deep into our unconscious, with coaching techniques that guide individuals towards transformation.
In an age where performance often comes at the cost of well-being, I help people re-align with what truly matters, transforming how they live, work, and lead.
Q: How do you stay current and continuously evolve your craft?
A: I’m committed to lifelong learning through certifications, mentorship, and cross-industry research. I balance academic learning with inner work, reflective practice, dreamwork, and global thought leadership. This dual approach ensures my programs evolve with both science and soul.
A Voice of Emotional Wisdom in Singapore’s Future
Brenda Tan’s work is more than coaching. It is a movement toward inner resilience and collective well-being. As Singapore builds future-ready systems, leaders like Brenda remind us that emotional strength and human connection are the foundations of long-term progress. Her voice is one to watch as Singapore deepens its commitment to holistic growth.
Highlights
This article is part of the SG60 Showcase series—highlighting voices and visionaries building Singapore’s future. Stay tuned for more.
Read the Chinese article here, or listen to the podcast here.
