Graduate Studies Blog

NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA

Transforming Entrepreneurship With NTU’s Nanyang Executive MBA

Entrepreneurs are known to thrive on the fire in their bellies to power their businesses. However, an increasing number of them are joining the NTU EMBA programme to learn the skills needed to power their entrepreneurial ventures to the next level. Three entrepreneurs share their Nanyang Executive MBA journey.

“The next wave of digital transformation success stories will be in the manufacturing sector.”

Pascal Delvenne, Belgian, EMBA Class of 2020
Founder and Managing Director,
Klear

While there is a lot of media buzz around digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), the dilemma facing most companies is how they can get started on this journey. “We all hear about digitalisation and transformation. But many companies in the manufacturing sector need clear strategies to integrate technology into their business operations. Most often, they do not know where to begin,” shares Pascal Delvenne, founder of a digital transformation consultancy, Klear.

As a digital transformation consultant, Pascal encountered many companies in the traditional manufacturing sectors that are still grappling to find practical ways to transform their businesses. “As I wanted to advise these companies on the most cost-effective way to bring about change in their operations, I needed to learn and understand the concepts myself,” he shares.

That is when Pascal decided to enrol in the Nanyang Executive MBA (EMBA) programme. “Not many people know this but Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) is the seventh-largest publisher of original research in AI. I chose to join the NTU programme because I wanted to learn how formalised research can become the foundation for applications in real-life business scenarios,” he adds.

Pascal feels that the EMBA journey was a rewarding experience as an entrepreneur. The Nanyang EMBA curriculum includes unique courses that explore how technologies such as automation, AI, and robotics can be integrated into business operations. “I was particularly interested in understanding all the emerging developments around automation so I could apply them as business transformation strategies for our clients. Moreover, the NTU Nanyang EMBA provides a unique Asian perspective that is highly coveted and appreciated by most of our international clients.

“If we do not embrace change, we will be left behind.”

Gabriel Lam, Singaporean, EMBA Class of 2021
Entrepreneur and Chief Operating Officer,
Shalom International Movers Pte Ltd

Gabriel is a strong advocate of life-long learning. As the COO of a logistics company, he knows the challenges faced by traditional businesses. He has been working in the family’s logistics business since 2007 and has seen the industry change dramatically since then.

“Traditional businesses like ours are facing new challenges from modern technology-driven enterprises. Businesses like ours need to embrace technology transformation to stand out from our competition,” says Gabriel.

Apart from adopting new technology for his business, Gabriel has been a change agent in his company by setting an example as a life-long learner. “I believe that if I want my employees to embrace technological innovation and be open to change, then I have to demonstrate my strong commitment to lifelong learning and lead by example,” he shares.

In line with his ideology of upskilling himself, Gabriel chose to join the NTU Nanyang EMBA programme. He was particularly drawn to the programme as it offered an opportunity to interact with accomplished senior leaders with diverse professional profiles and cultural backgrounds.

“I chose the Nanyang EMBA programme because of the unique profile of the cohort. The class is made up of business owners and senior leaders. To me, it offered an avenue to share valuable experiences and learn from my peers,” Gabriel says.

Such peer interactions during the course helped him gain insights into how other senior leaders across the industry are adopting and implementing new strategies. “The peer interactions were a great window into the thinking of some of the finest senior managers. We have made modifications to the recruitment process at my company, Shalom International, based on some of the insights shared by a classmate who is a senior HR professional,” Gabriel shares.

He hopes to continue his company’s digital transformation journey.

“Knowledge enhancement is the key to maintaining a competitive advantage.”

Chris Lim, Malaysian, EMBA Class of 2021
Director/General Manager
Industrial Water Engineers (M) Sdn Bhd

To survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive business environment, small business owners need more than just grit and gumption. Having run a wastewater treatment company for over 20 years, Chris Lim felt the need to learn more about the latest business processes especially in terms of finance and digital transformation, to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

“We didn’t have a lot of knowledge of business elements such as digitisation. We felt the need to keep ourselves abreast with the latest technology to maintain our competitiveness in the industry. Learning more about the business applications of AI and digital transformation was a key goal.”

After looking at a few alternatives, Chris chose the Nanyang EMBA programme as it was very business-oriented and close to his entrepreneurial needs. NTU’s reputation as one of Singapore’s leading higher education institutions with world-class infrastructure and pedagogy played a major role in his decision.

Finance and digital transformation, besides leadership skills, have been some of Chris’ biggest takeaways from the programme. “The EMBA programme provided me with a comprehensive overview of the latest best practices, particularly in the areas of digital transformation and finance. This will definitely prove invaluable when dealing with global customers in the future.”

He looks forward to sharing some of his newfound knowledge to help his employees approach business problems from different perspectives. “I would recommend this programme to fellow entrepreneurs looking to refine their business approach,” Chris concludes.

The Nanyang Executive MBA is a part-time 13-months programme that is designed for senior leaders aspiring to innovate and transform the way they lead. The programme aims to embrace the connection between business, technology, and innovation to deliver a relevant curriculum to business leaders to excel in global environments and adapt to each new wave of digital change.