NANYANG FELLOWS MBA

How the Nanyang Fellows MBA Reshaped Three Public Policy Professionals’ Careers

At a time when a year’s worth of historic events can unfold in the space of a week, public-sector officials are under heightened pressure to demonstrate agile leadership and a solid grasp of business strategy.

Individual moments of realisation convinced Muchamad Musyafa, Laarni Gandarosa, and Polapat Naphavaranonth to pursue the Nanyang Fellows MBA at Nanyang Business School (NBS). Seeking to broaden their influence on their respective countries’ national policy, they found the necessary insights and experience through their Nanyang Fellows MBA experience.

We asked these alumni to reflect on their time in the programme and explain its positive impact on their careers. 

Pivoting at the Right Time, to the Right Place

Each of our three alums encountered situations that highlighted the need for further upskilling within their chosen fields.

Laarni Gandarosa, a career foreign service officer for the Philippine government, saw in the Nanyang Fellows MBA a chance to fulfill her dream of studying abroad before turning 30. “I wanted to learn something new – away from the traditional world of diplomacy, but relevant enough to make me competitive in the foreign service if I chose to stay in my diplomatic career later on,” she explained.

Muchamad Musyafa, on the other hand, was a technical manager at GMF AeroAsia, an Indonesian aircraft maintenance company. He had an “a-ha” moment while managing a challenging aircraft recovery project.

“The critical importance of strategic leadership and a broader understanding of global business dynamics made it clear to me that pursuing an MBA was the natural next step to enhance my impact,” he recalled.

For Polapat Naphavaranonth, a longtime executive at the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), reaching the mid-point of his career motivated him to test his capabilities through the Nanyang Fellows MBA.

“Being at a career crossroads and seeking another level of achievement, I knew I had to take that first step out of my comfort zone,” he explained. “But, the big question on my mind was: How?”

Singapore and the Nanyang Fellows MBA: The Logical Choice

Launched in 1998, the Nanyang Fellows MBA aims to elevate and transform Southeast Asia’s public sector. Every year, a small cohort joins a programme that tackles the latest business and technology insights, as well as contemporary public policy issues.

Musyafa, for one, chose the Nanyang Fellows MBA for its blend of leadership and public policy, which is perfect for his goals at Nabitu, a Sharia-compliant P2P crowdfunding platform.

“The programme’s focus on fostering national transformation and public sector innovation resonated with my goal of supporting Indonesia’s financial inclusion and ethical investment priorities,” he explained.

For Polapat, signing up was a no-brainer. “I was offered a full scholarship for the Nanyang Fellows MBA Programme under the ASEAN Scholarship scheme,” he explained. This perk is offered only to ASEAN citizens committed to contributing to the wider regional community.

For Laarni, Singapore’s familiarity to her was a major motivator for signing up. “Singapore is my second home,” she shared. “Nanyang Technological University is a top 50 school in the world, and being part of it was a great opportunity that I did not want to miss.” 

One Year to Change One’s Career Trajectory

Programme participants can take the Nanyang Fellows MBA full-time over one year or part-time over two years, which is ideal for public-sector executives who must balance studies with career obligations.

“The full-time format allowed me to fully dedicate myself to the programme without the distractions of a full-time job,” Musyafa explained. His wife provided crucial support during his stint at the MBA. “She was also pursuing her PhD during the same period, which created a unique dynamic where we were both deeply immersed in our respective academic pursuits,” he recalled.

For Laarni, the duration of the one-year programme made complete sense. “I did not want to be away from work that long, and I wanted a whole new learning experience,” she shared. “I had never taken a business course during my undergraduate years, so the MBA programme posed a steep learning curve. Although the programme was academically rigorous, I managed my studies by working closely with my classmates.”

What They Took Away from Their “Adaptive MBA”

Polapat entered the programme with two master’s degrees already under his belt. Compared to those previous programmes, “the Nanyang Fellows MBA didn’t feel like a traditional MBA programme,” he said.

“It’s not just about studying accounting, marketing, personnel management, or economics,” he recalled. “Instead, the Nanyang Fellows MBA is an adaptive MBA – the programme provides new and emerging courses that haven’t been offered elsewhere.”

For instance, the Cultural Intelligence module helped him collaborate more closely with investors and other Thailand BOI stakeholders. “We’ve historically paid little attention to the cultural distinctions between different investor groups,” he recalled. “I now use my cultural intelligence learning as a best practice to help foster a better understanding of cultural differences.”

Musyafa, for his part, uses insights from the Business Negotiation module to craft win-win solutions. “It’s been indispensable in my role at Nabitu,” he shared.

“When negotiating funding terms with project owners, I applied these principles so that agreements meet both our ethical standards and the financial objectives of all parties involved,” he explained. “This not only fostered stronger relationships, but also enhanced trust and collaboration, which are critical in the fintech industry.” 

Learning Outside the Classroom

Programme participants quickly learned that classroom discussions made up only a fraction of the Nanyang Fellows MBA experience.

“A standout moment was a leadership talk by Mr. Lim Siong Guan,” Musyafa recalled. “His emphasis on leading with vision, purpose, and values deeply resonated with me and has greatly influenced my approach to leadership at Nabitu.”

Polapat, for his part, made the most out of all available learning experiences outside the classroom. A Business Study Mission (BSM) took Polapat to the Middle East. “We learned how countries that embedded a strong risk culture into their policy frameworks tend to become viable hotbeds for technological innovation,” he recalled.

The capstone SPAN project connected Polapat’s team with Sport Singapore (SportSG), a government agency that develops the country’s sports ecosystem. Like his BSM, the SPAN project put lessons from other countries to work in a Southeast Asia setting.

“We researched cultural mindsets in countries like the United States, Australia, and Canada to identify potential policy frameworks that could help our client bring sports activities into the limelight,” he recalled.

The Challenge Is Worth the Rewards

As our alums discovered firsthand, the Nanyang Fellows MBA is an effective launchpad for influential leadership in a fast-paced world. For those ready to make the jump, the journey can be both demanding and deeply rewarding.

Polapat encourages future candidates to make full use of the facilities at NBS. “The campus has excellent resources, like well-equipped libraries, career fairs, and even startup incubators,” he explained. “These resources can enhance their learning experience significantly, and it’s an opportunity they shouldn’t miss.”

Musyafa shares similar advice. “The programme is rich with opportunities that can greatly enhance your personal and professional growth. But the key here is to actively engage and make the most of them,” he said.

For one, he advises future candidates to take advantage of the programme’s unique offerings, such as the international segments at Tsinghua University and UC Berkeley. “These are rare opportunities to gain global insights, so prepare well to maximise your learning,” he added.

Musyafa also reminds future aspirants: “While the journey is undoubtedly challenging, it is also immensely rewarding. With dedication and an open heart, you can make the most of this exceptional experience.”

To learn more about the Nanyang Fellows MBA, click here.