NANYANG MBA

Humans of MBA – Series 5

From Tech to Business: The Transformative Power of an NTU MBA

After gaining valuable experience in the technology sector for almost four years, @pranjal26_ recognised the need to broaden his skillset by incorporating a business dimension to his expertise. Pranjal sought an MBA programme at NTU not only to pursue expanded roles in their career but also to benefit from the diverse perspectives and international exposure offered by the program’s multicultural cohort.

Why did you choose to do MBA:

Having worked in the technology sector for nearly four years, I had significant exposure to large-scale industry solutions. While I liked the nature of my work, I wanted to assume more expansive roles in the future and thus felt that adding a business layer to my skillset was the natural next step. Additionally, I wanted international exposure which the Nanyang MBA offered, as our cohort has people from different backgrounds and nationalities, which also has intrinsically shaped my perspective as well.

Cultural Fascination, Professional Ambition: Embracing Singapore’s Culture and Innovation

Johannes studied abroad in Singapore during their bachelor’s degree and was impressed with the culture, innovation, and lifestyle. He decided to pursue a career in Singapore and believes the Nanyang MBA programme is the ideal way to achieve this goal. The programme offers a comprehensive curriculum that can be tailored to individual interests. Johannes chose courses from the Banking & Finance and Sustainability track to build his profile in two areas of personal interest and develop skills relevant to the Singaporean economy.

Why did you choose to do MBA:

I stayed in Singapore for an exchange semester during my bachelor’s studies. Growing up in a small German town, I was fascinated by Singapore’s cultural diversity, level of innovation, and lifestyle. Since then, I have been determined to come back and build my career in this unique and exciting environment.

The Nanyang MBA is the ideal stepping stone to do so. It provides me with a curriculum I can tailor to my interests. I enrolled into courses from the Banking & Finance and Sustainability tracks. This way, I can build my profile in two areas of personal interest and equip myself with skills highly relevant for the Singaporean economy.

Charting New Territories: Meta’s MBA Voyage to Strategic Vision

Nanyang MBA participant @pmetayunita has viewed obtaining an MBA as a personal goal since her undergraduate days. Meta’s experience in the audit industry was enjoyable but made her realise she wanted to develop a broader perspective and strategic thinking.

Why did you choose to do MBA:

I have seen MBA as a goal since I was an undergrad student. I knew I would want to explore broader perspectives and I did think that MBA would be a fun way to do so!

I spent quite some time in audit industry, which was a fun and exciting experience. Yet, it also made me realise that I want to see things from above – developing a broader perspective and more strategic thinking. The MBA programme exposes the candidates to a more comprehensive view I did not consider. The exposure to many industries and backgrounds, including the interactions with the cohort from different cultures and work experience, opens my horizon and teaches me to work better with various people.

I think it is safe to say that MBA will equip me with this new skillset that will further my personal and professional development.

Diverse Cohort, Bright Futures: Aishwarya’s MBA Quest for Holistic Expertise

@aishwarya_sunil_ spent four years in a tech company and gained technical knowledge but wanted to move into a more strategic role. To achieve this, she decided to pursue an MBA to acquire business acumen. She enrolled in the Nanyang MBA programme, with a diverse cohort for exposure to different cultures, career paths, and networking opportunities.

Why did you choose to do MBA:

After spending four years at a leading global tech firm, I gained an in-depth understanding of the technical aspects of the tech industry. However, I became increasingly interested in the business side of things and realized that to progress in my career, I needed to acquire a deeper understanding of business operations, management, and strategy.

Pursuing an MBA was the logical next step for me to develop the business acumen required to pivot from a technical role to a more strategic position in the technology industry.

In addition, I was excited about the prospect of attending a highly ranked business school with a diverse cohort, as this would offer me exposure to different cultures and career paths while providing ample networking opportunities with professionals from various industries.

Back to Asia: Aaron’s Decision to Pursue an MBA in Singapore’s Thriving Business Hub

@aarontingg pursued an MBA as the next step in his career after working as a financial analyst with a background in business. He wanted to move away from crunching numbers and gain knowledge in management. Aaron chose an MBA over a CFA for its versatility in various business and management fields. He decided to pursue his studies in Singapore due to its balance of traditional and modern values and its status as a hub for global businesses

Why did you choose to do MBA:

Pursuing an MBA felt like a natural progression for me in my career. With a background in business, and having worked as a financial analyst, I knew I needed to add to my self-development with some further education in management as the core focus. I wanted to migrate away from my boxy Excel home, and from crunching numbers to pulling levers within a business.

Hence, torn between a CFA or an MBA, I decided to go with the latter as an MBA adds versatility through a wide variety of business and management knowledge, which are crucial to spearhead any corporation.

Furthermore, having spent more than a decade overseas in Canada, I felt it was the right time to head back east to Asia to further my studies. With Singapore being a strong hub for global businesses and having a fine balance of traditional and modern values (and of course being close to home!), it was an easy decision for me to make.

Beyond Boundaries: Leveraging Nanyang MBA for HR and Business Success

Working as an HR assistant manager made @reywoone realize that optimising human resources requires a deep understanding of the industry and business landscape. Pursuing an MBA programme can enhance her business acumen and help her make HR decisions that align with organizational goals.

Why did you choose to do MBA:

As an HR assistant manager, I encountered multi-faceted scenarios where a myriad of business-related factors significant impacted HR decision-making. I realised that optimising human resources is not a homogeneous or simplistic approach; instead, it mandates a profound comprehension of the industry and business landscape.

Pursuing an MBA programme is an opportunity to refine and enhance my business acumen, enabling me to effectively navigate the complexities of the corporate world and strategically steer HR decisions towards organisational goals.

The role of an HR business partner entails engaging and effectively communicating with a broad spectrum of individuals from varied backgrounds. Through Nanyang MBA programme, I immersed myself in a diverse and inclusive environment, allowing me to forge connections with individuals hailing from disparate cultures and industries. In an era where diversity and inclusion form integral pillars of sustainable business practices, my experience at Nanyang MBA has thoroughly prepared me to collaborate harmoniously with multi-faceted teams, harnessing their unique perspectives to drive organisational success.

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.