Get Set For A One-week Immersion In Global Business

Get Set For A One-week Immersion In Global Business

Graduate Studies Blog

One Week Immersion In Global Business

Once you enrol in the Nanyang Fellows MBA programme, you’ll need to start packing your bags and getting yourself into adventure mode. While the course will begin at our Singapore campus, midway through the programme, you will get the opportunity to travel abroad for a week-long eye-opening experience known as the Overseas Business Study Mission. 

Here’s why the Overseas Business Study Mission (BSM) is a valuable component of the Fellows journey.

  • Introduction to New Dynamics

Even though NBS faculty come from all over the world and every key industry, there’s a big difference between what you learn in the classroom and what you learn when you are thrown out of your regular comfort zone. The objective of being a part of the Fellows MBA is to gain a broad knowledge of both Asian and global business practices. On your BSM, you will get to apply whatever you’ve learnt to a foreign business scenario. Exposure to a new culture, society, politics and business dynamics will help you pack your dissertation with unique real-world knowledge.

  • An Intensive Case Study

Before you head off to your BSM, you and your faculty advisors will decide on a specific topic or issue to cover in your selected location. It will certainly be a subject that interests you and pertains to your career goals. When you reach your destination, you’ll study the relevant segments of business and industry there, including corporate and government entities. Topics for the case studies sometimes involve investigating and reporting on a potential new business or geographical area. The best way to gain insights is to let your critical thinking, understanding and appreciation of the fresh environment combine with what you’ve learnt from your coursework.

  • Previous Locations

Fellows candidates in the past have travelled to the Silicon Valley, New York, London, San Francisco, Athens, Toronto, Tokyo, Bangalore, Dublin, Brussels, Munich, Cambridge, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Sydney, Berlin and Copenhagen.

  • The Outcome

The BSM encourages independent research with an open mind and the analytical skills that you have acquired over the years at work and at NBS. You’ll need to spend your month wisely and speak to consumers, suppliers, company executives and others to get your data. Prior to completing the BSM programme, you will also be expected to present a written report to the company that you’d be working with there.

If you take a look at the Nanyang Fellows website, it will be clear that the course modules are challenging and go deep into every possible area that future business leaders should excel at. Still, we believe in giving our students an extra edge – hence, the carefully tailored BSM.

Challenge your current understanding of the world. Aim for greater insight into cultures, technology, people and global economics. Look at every aspect holistically. That’s what true leaders do!

Taking The Elevator To The Top Of The Career Ladder

Taking The Elevator To The Top Of The Career Ladder

Graduate Studies Blog

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Once you’ve completed your undergraduate education, a master’s degree or a job seems to be the logical path. But what about the next step, or rather leap, after some years in the workforce? A quick look around you would tell you that there are a number of MBA programmes on offer and that prospective employers love the MBA degree. But at this stage of your career, you can’t just apply to any MBA programme that you see – no matter how reputable the B-school is. What you need to do is choose a programme that is designed especially for candidates who have years of work experience.

Here’s why such a programme is worth applying to.

  • Mid-Career Knowhow

When you consider a specialised programme such as the Nanyang Fellows MBA programme, you’ll find out that it is a great fit for exceptional mid-career executives like yourself. In fact, the minimum work experience in this group of students is about eight years. Think about the varied work experiences that each student will bring to the classroom, as opposed to the average MBA programme where you and your classmates will barely have any career experience to share or benefit from. Imagine how much you’ve learnt every year on the job, in your field.

  • Global Exposure

While many MBA programmes like to include a study abroad component in their curriculum, it is important to understand how differently you’ll use the time abroad when you have all those years on your resume. Somebody who has spent more time working in the corporate or non profit world will let the Fellows programme Overseas Business Study Mission in the United States push him/her toward greater success as a global, C-level executive. The current career path would have already involved travel and building communication with global offices, but this is a major step up from that because you’d be going equipped with new skills and knowledge acquired from your courses.

  • Expert Mentors

Students admitted to the Fellows MBA programme study a range of topics including business negotiation, contemporary economic analysis and cultural intelligence. Instead of focusing on too much theory, the faculty aims to prepare you for the real world. This means that you will get the chance to have professors from both the academic arena and the industry, who can certainly become your mentors during the course. Your interaction with them will bring your closer to major companies in Singapore and abroad and give you an in-depth peak into how things work as you go higher up the company hierarchy.

  • Small Class Setting

The Fellows programme is very selective. We invest a lot of time and effort to make sure that every candidate is a good fit for the programme. When we are done with the selection process, we end up with a small, exclusive group of about 25 students. That basically translates to lots of attention and interaction for you.

  • Robust Alumni Network

The Nanyang Business School’s alumni come from all over the world and they do not hesitate to reach out to each other. Whether they organise events, come down for a talk or talk to you one-on-one, they are available and well accomplished in their fields. Even after you graduate from the programme, you’ll find yourself with help, advice and friends from the network. And then you will be surprised when the future students start looking up to you too.

Does all this sound like the right key to get your elevator to the top? Then why not explore some more here: http://www.nbs.ntu.edu.sg/Graduate/Nanyang_Fellows_MBA/Pages/FAQs.aspx?

Building A Better Work Culture

Building A Better Work Culture

Graduate Studies Blog

A great work culture is the secret to a successful organisation. And that culture depends on how happy and productive your employees are. Your management skills are key to making employees relish the thought of showing up for work that they enjoy on most days. Armed with your Nanyang Fellows MBA experience, you’ll know how to make things even better than they already are at work.

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Here are some pointers.

  • Get Rid of Toxic People:

Every person you hire will be a part of your work environment. That means that they can either add to it positively or bring in negatives that ruin it. So you can’t let the bad seeds spoil your team. Daily performance is correlated with good attitudes in the workplace. If you find somebody putting others down or not contributing to teamwork, you need to act. It’s hard to tell people that they are about to be unemployed, but there is too much at stake to ignore the matter. Hire well. Make sure that you and the other interviewers know exactly what you want from the candidate and what you don’t want. Still, sometimes people will surprise you.

  • Create a Comfortable Work Space:

Cleanliness shouldn’t be limited to your home. A workspace is conducive to productivity if it is clean, well lit, organised and comfortable. Take a look at the furniture; is it somewhere you’d like to sit all day? Or will it give the user a backache to nurse? Invest in your team or employees’ well being. For example, bad light can lead to eyestrain and headaches. That, in turn, can bring down productivity levels. Also, consider dedicating a space for employees to take a break. It could be a small room with beanbags for quick naps or maybe a ping-pong table for a de-stressing game between meetings. Just ensure that those working at that time aren’t disturbed and trust everybody to use their time well.

  • Foster Relationship Building:

Cubicles or cabins or an open structure shouldn’t affect collaboration between your employees. Introducing regular events like Pizza Night or an Evening at the Bar is sure to give folks an opportunity for conversation. You could even throw in a short, informative speech to update everybody about the things happening at work. Even then, don’t try to control the entire event and let them talk because that is how they’ll loosen up and let their ideas flow. There are way too many situations of colleagues being so formal with each other that they are too scared of criticism to share their ideas and feedback openly.

  • Connect One-on-one:

It’s easy to communicate by office email and phones. But don’t forget to spend some quality one-on-one time with your team. Just as they need your feedback about how they are doing, you need their inputs as well. Taking both sides into account is how your work culture ends up making everybody happy. So talk and listen. Never forget to say thank you when recognition is deserved as appreciation creates enthusiasm. Once individuals are enthusiastic about their work, they’ll work harder and strive to create an impact – which helps the company progress.

  • Set Clear Roles and Expectations:

A good manager communicates clearly. Employees always know what is expected of them and have their roles clearly defined. You need to explain each team member’s role and the responsibilities that come with it. Connect that to other team member’s roles and the company goals and objectives and strategy. If there seems to be a problem, sit down and explain so that all aspects of the role can be realigned or understood better. For instance, is A focusing too much on meeting his own sales target and ignoring the big picture?

As every company grows older, communication forms the backbone of running a business productively. Imagine trying to get every employee to agree with every decision when you’re double in number or size. You certainly can’t create a process for everything from scratch. That’s where an effective work culture comes in. When it’s good, new entrants will learn how things are done, by just being a part of the team.

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Unlock Your Potential With A Mid-Career Academic Programme

Unlock Your Potential With A Mid-Career Academic Programme

Graduate Studies Blog

Some years into your career is a great time to carefully assess how an academic degree can bring you closer to your goals. Whether you are looking at a bigger salary or a more senior role at the workplace, an elite MBA can give you what it takes to get there.

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Here’s why you should consider investing in a mid-career academic programme like the Nanyang Fellows MBA programme at the Nanyang Business School.

  • Flexibility:

Once you find yourself in a classroom full of other candidates with varied experiences unlike yours, you’ll know that things will not always be done the way you want them to be done. For example, in your current workplace, you have probably developed a method that your team follows. You like getting things done that way and no other way. But an intensive MBA programme at this stage will throw you out of your comfort zone. Working with your fellow students, you’ll learn how to accommodate new ways of thinking and new processes after years of following a rigid pattern. In fact, the result will be a more versatile you with your newfound know-how.

  • Confidence Boost:

Do you run the show at meetings? Could you call yourself a good communicator? Well, you must have some degree of soft skills already with your years in the workforce, but an MBA in the middle of your career will give you the opportunity to improve them and learn new ones too. One of your goals will be to make sure that you make the most out of every connection that you make during the 12-month programme. While top B-schools like NBS have strong alumni network and links with bigwigs in the industry, it is up to you to use these associations effectively. A few weeks into the programme will be enough to get you into networking action as you gain more confidence.

  • Entrepreneurship:

Having what seems to be a great idea is important. But starting your own business venture is rarely easy. Finding investors who like your idea and getting things organised can be a long, painful process. Fortunately, taking a break to focus on academics can give you benefits like professional feedback and practice – before you go ahead and set things up for real. An MBA programme can be your platform to get opinions and advice from experts from a number of fields including your faculty members and classmates.

  • Career Progression:

Many people join mid-career programmes because they feel like they’re stuck in a rut. When it begins to feel like the same old work every day with no chance of a promotion or excitement, career development needs focus. The global industry is evolving rapidly and a well-designed MBA curriculum is the answer to keeping up to date on changing practices and trends. A lot has happened between your last academic programme and current job. You can’t afford to be too comfortable in the old and tested waters.

Once you earn your MBA, prospective employers will appreciate your commitment to your professional development. Dedication, hard work and leadership skills combined with your new qualification make it clear that you care about learning and developing new skills in order to have an impact on business. And that is the kind of leader that the industry needs!

5 Powerful Habits of Successful Leaders

5 Powerful Habits of Successful Leaders

Graduate Studies Blog

Successful leaders are the ones who can get the most out of the people they lead. If you can keep your team highly motivated and engaged in their work with no negatives such as unwanted stress, your company will benefit. A happy employee is a productive employee.

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Here are some habits that successful leaders have.

  1. They Create a Culture to Fit the Company’s Vision

Every company has a vision but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have your own. So create a vision that translates to what a great leader you could be. Next, communicate that vision to your organisation and your employees. Once they are inspired to achieve that vision, let them know what you expect from their individual roles. Employ your management skills to build the perfect work culture to fit your vision. Encourage trust, openness, fun and creativity. Let everybody share new ideas. Remember, you need to reach your goals together. So figure out the best way to do that.

  1. They Follow and Communicate Positive Values

Personal characteristics including honesty, integrity, objectivity and independent thinking are present in thriving leaders. You need to demonstrate these positive values at all times. When people you work with realise that you take your values seriously, they will reciprocate. Keep your eyes and ears open for any conflict in values because they can affect your organisation badly. For example, an employee who believes in using dishonest means to finish reports as fast as possible can ruin the work culture and deliver substandard work. So talk to everybody and find out how things are going at their level. Be there for them so that they are there for you.

  1. They Set the Bar High

Great leaders challenge themselves. They have clear goals that they usually exceed. When your employees see you meeting and surpassing goal after goal, they’ll know that you mean serious business. Along with being motivated, they’ll push themselves to do their best on the job too. You can help them set realistic goals while allowing them to make decisions about how it is done.

  1. They Handle Pressure Well

Tough times can drive some people into negative behaviour such as self-doubt and anger. Bad things will happen and you have to deal with them. Being the leader, it’s your job to keep calm and let others look up to you especially when they need you. That means that you should learn how to assess situations and take action while you keep the employees in the loop. Never leave them in the dark and never lose your confidence.

  1. They Believe that Success is Achieved Together

A simple thank you can act as a major motivator. Celebrate your employees’ achievements. Be personal and consider sending them an email or dropping by their office so that they know you don’t take good work for granted. Share credit with them if your projects get noticed. These behind the scenes people are important to your company.

A leader has a deep, long-lasting influence on the people he leads. If you lead well, your team will do great things for your company. Be positive. Build a rapport. Show them the way to success.

Check out the impressive list of Nanyang Fellows MBA alumni who have become top leaders in their respective fields!