Graduate Studies Blog
NANYANG MBA
Women in Focus: The Nanyang MBA Experience
Jessica Han: APEC Scholar, growth strategist, entrepreneur
As a former Growth Strategy Manager for ByteDance, the company behind social media juggernaut TikTok, Jessica Han is no stranger to the fast-paced world of tech companies in Southeast Asia. From offices in Beijing and Singapore, Jessica worked closely with manufacturers, brands, and content creators to effectively launch products on the platform and make them go viral.
However, after three years in ByteDance, Jessica felt she had a solid enough foundation in digital marketing and growth strategies to help launch the next phase of her career. “I’ve always planned to start my own business,” she shares. “Getting an MBA is a good way to quickly develop the skills I need to set my plans into motion.”
Given her Biomedical Engineering background, Jessica felt she needed a firmer footing in accounting and finance. She applied to different business schools and was even accepted into a leading school in the United States. However, Jessica set her sights on Singapore: specifically, the Nanyang Business School MBA programme, as its curriculum and core courses appealed to the no-nonsense aspiring entrepreneur. “The curriculum was unlike a traditional finance or business school,” she explains.
Aside from accounting and finance, Nanyang MBA’s curriculum covers all aspects critical to managing a company, such as governance, talent management, and supply chain management. “The core courses gave me a systematic way of thinking, which helped me a lot in starting my own business,” she adds.
Nanyang MBA students also benefit from Nanyang Technological University (NTU)’s rich heritage in technology and innovation, which is embedded into the Nanyang MBA curriculum. Core courses provide MBA participants with the necessary foundation in information technology (IT) to become effective leaders in the new digital economy.
Jessica made an indelible mark on her cohort by becoming the APEC Scholar for the Class of 2023. The APEC Scholarship is open to nationals from APEC member economies—covering the entire cost of the one-year full-time Nanyang MBA programme. Awarded to only one MBA candidate annually, this highly exclusive scholarship is a life-changing opportunity.
As her cohort’s APEC Scholar, Jessica gained the financial freedom to start her business while completing her Nanyang MBA. “It gave me an extra sum of money, which helped speed up starting my own business,” she says.
Thanks to the APEC Scholarship, Jessica can now funnel all her income and savings into growing her business. Parlaying her knowledge of digital marketing and growth strategies, Jessica continues to work with manufacturers in China and content creators all over the world to market up-and-coming products on various social media platforms.
Balancing MBA studies and entrepreneurship can be a formidable challenge, given the Nanyang MBA programme’s academic rigour. Assignments and discussions with classmates keep Jessica busy, as well as internships and networking opportunities. However, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Audrey Yip: Social innovator, sustainability leader
Starting her career in public relations, Audrey Yip later found her true calling in sustainable design and social innovation. Today, she uses design thinking and cross-disciplinary methods to develop innovative solutions for pressing social issues. “I like working with organisations that do good things for society,” she says.
After years of working in the public sector in Hong Kong, Audrey started her own company, The Urbanist Limited, in 2018. The consultancy firm focuses on inclusive and universal design, allowing Audrey to take on public design, stakeholder engagement, and community development projects with the Hong Kong government.
One of the firm’s more impactful projects is designing and defining the user requirements for sustainable waste management, prompting municipalities in Hong Kong to replace their waste collection bins and implement a solid waste charging scheme. While working on these public design projects, Audrey realised she wanted to learn more about sustainability.
A simple Google search led Audrey to Nanyang MBA’s sustainability track. Nanyang Business School is one of the first business schools in Asia to launch a Sustainability and Innovation track in its MBA programme, and Audrey is one of its pioneer MBA participants.
Even after eight years working in the sustainability business, Audrey admits she still has a long way to go. “The more I learn about sustainability in Singapore, the less I think I know about sustainability,” she says.
The courses under Nanyang MBA’s sustainability track aren’t just informative, they are also practical and actionable—approaches Audrey can immediately apply to her business operations. While she’s internalising new frameworks and tools for designing sustainable products, Audrey is also learning about sustainability reporting, energy systems, sustainable finance, and responsible marketing.
The programme offers enough flexibility that Audrey can complete her Nanyang MBA while running her design consultancy firm, overseeing operations from a distance with the help of her business partner and other colleagues.
In the near future, Audrey wants to parlay the knowledge she gained from Nanyang MBA’s sustainability track into expanding her business, introducing her brand of inclusive and universal design to Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia.
Meta Yunita Pramasetio: Assurance professional, mental health advocate
At 25 years old, Meta Yunita Pramasetio is one of the youngest candidates in the Nanyang MBA programme, specialising in Banking and Finance. She wanted to pursue an MBA education immediately after graduation; however, a college professor advised her to gain work experience before jumping headlong into more studies.
Meta worked as a Senior Assurance Associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Indonesia, leading a team auditing a healthcare services provider. After three years of working, Meta felt it was time to return to school.
“Singapore was one of my dream places for education—it’s a more international place, so I find it interesting to study here,” she says. Her determination landed her in the 12-month Nanyang MBA programme, which appealed to the young professional as it would allow her to “get back to work as soon as possible.”
With students from different nationalities and professional backgrounds, Nanyang MBA opens the floor for unique insights and diverse perspectives. Adjusting her working style to suit her colleagues from all walks of life was a challenge at first, “but I think that’s when the real learning begins,” she adds.
After experiencing the high-pressure world of finance first-hand, Meta now advocates for healthy work-life balance and mental wellness—an advocacy that will accompany her through the Nanyang MBA programme and any future leadership roles. “People tend to sacrifice their health and well-being for education and career advancement,” she says.
Meta’s advocacy reflects her own approach to her MBA studies and career development. “If I want to influence people, then change must start with me—not necessarily to set a standard, but to show people that it is achievable,” shares Meta. As part of her daily practice, she proactively carves time for creative breaks, remains mindful of working long hours, and strives to maintain a pleasant working environment with her fellow MBA participants.
Since starting the Nanyang MBA, Meta has explored possibilities outside the accounting and assurance world. Currently, Meta is taking her internship at Sustainao, a sustainability consultancy firm in Singapore. “I don’t have a fixed career path—I’m still exploring and open to opportunities,” she says.
Whether or not Meta continues a career in banking and finance, one thing is certain: the Nanyang MBA has given her fundamental business management skills, competencies, and global perspectives to make bold career choices in Asia and beyond. This practicality and flexibility help Nanyang MBA graduates stand out from the rest.
Nanyang MBA
The Nanyang MBA is a flexible 12-month or 18-month programme designed to fuel your growth into a future-ready leader equipped with the skills needed to excel in a global, digital environment. The programme aims to develop impactful, culturally adept leaders who embrace the connection between business, technology, and innovation to excel in global environments and adapt to each new wave of digital change.
