The MBA education is an essential phase of one’s career journey. For some, it is a chance to learn something new and prepare for a career change, while for others, it is a springboard to lead an organisation.
With the new academic year in full swing, BIZBeat speaks to three MBA first-year candidates — Daniel John Byrnes, Elaine Ong and Francesca Tankiang. They share their reasons for enrolling in The NUS MBA and expectations of their first semester.
Q: Why an MBA?
Daniel: Apart from a strong belief in lifelong learning, I joined the MBA programme for two reasons. First, I have a Bachelor’s degree mainly unrelated to my current career path. So I want to build a strong foundation with a highly versatile skill set that will give me flexibility in future choices around my career. And second, I relocated to Singapore for work two years ago, and with limited travel at the moment due to COVID-19, it seems like an ideal time to upskill.
Having been with my current employer for more than ten years, it can sometimes feel like being inside a bubble. During my MBA, I want to see outside of my organisation and learn about other industries. I want to attain a set of highly transferable skills that I can use in any role or industry I choose to work in.
Elaine: I joined my family business last year as my father’s successor after a successful career in technology. We are in the property development business, which spans across Southeast Asia. As I prepared to take over the business in Timor-Leste, I realised there are knowledge gaps that I need to address.
I believe NUS Business School will provide me with the rocket fuel to be successful in this role. The strong core curriculum and specialisation in Real Estate will arm me with skills to achieve my aspiration. In addition, the calibre and diversity of the students at NUS promise robust discussions where I would be exposed to different perspectives and ideas. More importantly, NUS has a reputation for producing solid and ethical leaders, and I believe that this programme would be invaluable in shaping the leader I desire to become.
Francesca: Although I grew up in Asia, I spent nearly half my life studying and working in the United States. I wanted to move back to Asia as I was excited by the region’s opportunities, so I made the move. NUS was an obvious choice for me because of its strong Asian focus and emphasis on experiential learning opportunities, both of which would give me relevant experience and direct insight into the region’s business climate.
Post-MBA, I want to work in marketing analytics for a regional e-commerce company. Through the MBA programme, I hope to learn more about marketing strategies in the digital world and techniques for conducting business in Asia. I also want to expand my network in the Asia Pacific region. I aim to capitalise on NUS’ experiential learning opportunities and gain practical experience to transition into my desired role and launch the next phase of my career in Asia.
