5 Top Jobs For Master In Marketing Graduates

5 Top Jobs For Master In Marketing Graduates

by | Jun 22, 2022 | MSc Marketing Science

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC MARKETING SCIENCE

5 Top Jobs For Master In Marketing Graduates

From leading digital marketing at L’Oréal to becoming a marketing manager at LVMH, here are five exciting jobs you could land after a Master in Marketing.

If you’re a young business savvy professional who wants to combine your creative side with an aptitude for data analysis, a Master in Marketing degree could be the perfect route.

In a business world that’s undergone vast digital transformation, Master in Marketing grads can expect to find a variety of fast-paced roles within the marketing and technology sphere.

Here are five exciting jobs you could land after a Master in Marketing:

1. Digital marketing officer

Becoming a digital marketing officer is likely to be high up your list if you’re interested in a career in marketing. The role involves combining managerial, organizational, and technical expertise to lead digital marketing strategies.

Yining Rong (pictured), Master of Science (MSc) in Marketing Science alum from Nanyang Technological University Singapore’s Nanyang Business School (NBS), leveraged her business master’s degree to land an internship in the digital marketing office at L’Oréal China.

This business school internship eventually led to Yining receiving a full-time job offer to become a digital marketing officer at L’Oréal. Her role involves working as an in-house consultant to help L’Oréal’s brand division form effective marketing campaigns and produce strategic marketing reports.

She initially applied for the internship after one of her business school peers posted the opportunity on a job-hunting group chat organised by the NBS Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO).

Yining adds that she’s using many of the skills gained from the one-year master’s degree in marketing at NBS, including data visualisation, marketing decision-making, and tailored selling strategies, to thrive in her digital marketing job.

“The MSc prepares you for whatever industry you’re entering,” she says.

2. Marketing consultant

Students looking to apply their communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills may consider a career as a marketing consultant.

Marketing consultants advise clients on effective advertising strategies to grow the customer base and boost sales.

Top firms hiring marketing consultants include Nielsen, Ipsos, and Digitas.

“The MSc in Marketing Science’s focus on both the scientific and consumer aspects of marketing ensures students can launch into technical consulting roles with confidence,” says Joyce Liao (pictured), deputy director of the NBS GSCDO.

The program offers courses in cutting-edge areas like AI and Robotics in Marketing and Consumer Psychology while teaching soft skills in the Integrated Marketing Communication course.

Joyce adds that the careers office helps students to build the skills required for specific roles and identify their strengths through coaching, workshops on areas like storytelling, and guest speaker events.

3. Product marketing manager

Working as a product marketing manager involves defining the messaging to promote specific products or services and helping to grow these products through research and analytics.

The NBS MSc in Marketing Science degree offers a course in Marketing Research, which helps students enhance their data-driven problem-solving skills and identify gaps in the market when launching a product.

“Lots of internet and e-commerce companies hire product managers and product operations managers,” Joyce notes.

Google, Shopee, and Grab are just a few big-name companies looking for top talent to fill marketing manager and product management related jobs in Singapore.

“Many companies have regional headquarters in Singapore, so things will happen here before going to other areas,” Joyce explains.

4. Brand manager

Master in Marketing programs can also help you forge a career in brand management, which involves using research and data to alter customers’ perceptions of a brand.

At NBS, students learn about the importance of building an exclusive brand image to raise customer curiosity.

MSc in Marketing Science students gain experience dealing with real business cases and clients from top companies like Coca-Cola and Unilever, applying their knowledge from the program to guide branding strategies.

“We made a presentation in front of [clients] and received feedback straightaway—I enjoyed these face-to-face interactions,” says Yining.

There are also opportunities to engage in video game marketing technology, which might even involve studying people’s eyeballs and visual patterns to learn how advertising campaigns should be designed.

5. Fashion marketing jobs

In a hugely competitive market, fashion firms are leading marketing trends. Top brands like Gucci, Chanel, and Zara use cutting-edge tech like virtual reality to bring their designs to a virtual audience.

MSc in Marketing Science students at NBS study the hottest marketing trends like neuromarketing, learning about multi-sensory marketing, and how to stimulate purchasing intentions through touch.

Master in Marketing grads with a penchant for fashion, analytics, and sales might opt for one of the many fashion marketing jobs, including roles like market research analyst, sales manager, or brand marketing manager at luxury fashion companies like LVMH or Burberry.

Whatever role students apply for, the NBS careers office connects them with employers and alumni at networking events to boost their job prospects.

96% of NBS specialized master’s degree grads land jobs within three months of graduation.

Many of the marketing jobs of the future don’t exist yet, so you’ll need more than just traditional marketing skills to succeed in a rapidly changing business world.

A Master in Marketing allows students to stay on top of an evolving market while building those all-important business fundamentals and a global network.

The article first appeared on BusinessBecause

Talk to us today to find out more about the MSc Marketing Science programme. Click here to book an appointment with us.

 

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Financial Engineering Jobs: 5 Skills Employers Want Today

Financial Engineering Jobs: 5 Skills Employers Want Today

by | Jun 22, 2022 | MSc Financial Engineering

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC FINANCIAL ENGINEERING

Financial Engineering Jobs: 5 Skills Employers Want Today

From understanding data to sharpened communication skills, find out what skills you need to land jobs in financial engineering and how a specialized master’s degree can help.

Financial engineering—the use of mathematical techniques to solve financial problems—is an exciting career route for ambitious business school grads, but the field is constantly evolving. 

Top companies like Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and Spotify are always on the look out for financial engineers to fill roles including quantitative engineer and program manager. 

For anyone dreaming of a career in financial engineering, you’ll need to strengthen more than just your numerical skills to impress employers and stay ahead in the business world.

Here are five skills that could help you find success when applying for financial engineering jobs, and how a master’s in financial engineering can enhance these skills.

​1. Understand advanced math to land jobs in financial engineering

It’ll come as no surprise that those wanting to secure a financial engineering job will need to have a strong grasp of advanced mathematics.

Almost every role within financial engineering—including market analyst or financial specialist—will require you to use advanced numerical skills like statistics and numerical analysis when solving financial problems.

This is why master’s in financial engineering programs need to place an emphasis on helping students hone advanced quantitative skills, explains Charlie Charoenwong, academic director of the one-year Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MFE) at Nanyang Technological University Singapore’s Nanyang Business School (NBS).

In NBS master’s in financial engineering programme, students learn advanced maths within courses like Calculus & Linear Algebra and Linear Financial Models. Both courses enable students to use computer software when applying their skills to real-world financial problems.

In NBS master’s in financial engineering programme, students learn advanced maths within courses like Calculus & Linear Algebra and Linear Financial Models. Both courses enable students to use computer software when applying their skills to real-world financial problems.

2. Financial engineering demands knowledge of programming theory

In today’s financial world, it’s not enough to understand traditional finance and math-based skills—Master in Financial Engineering grads need to be proficient in data modeling and be able to create algorithms using programming languages. 

“Python has become really popular in the finance industry in the past five years,” says Charlie.

The NBS MFE degree incorporates programming languages like Python and C++ into the curriculum to equip students for their future financial engineering jobs.

NBS also facilitates a speaker series, where industry professionals are invited to explain real-life examples of how programming languages are used to represent complex data, and what it’s like to work in financial engineering. 

Students can dive deeper into industry trends by taking elective courses in topics such as machine learning.

3. Financial engineering employers want strong presentation and communication skills

It’s great to be armed with the technical expertise that financial engineering jobs demand, but you’ll also need those all-important soft skills to impress employers.

“We’ve seen in conversations with hiring managers that verbal and written communication skills are something they look out for in their hires,” explains Min Chan, responsible for graduate studies career development at NBS.

To help students learn how to better position themselves and present their ideas, the NBS Graduate Studies Career Development Office facilitates workshops on networking, personal branding, and storytelling. The careers team also organizes recruitment and alumni events.

“We prepare students for a range of jobs within the financial sector,” says Min Chan. These roles could be anything from being a risk manager or trading analyst to hedge fund manager or enterprise management consultant.

“We prepare students for a range of jobs within the financial sector,” says Min Chan. These roles could be anything from being a risk manager or trading analyst to hedge fund manager or enterprise management consultant.

Hands-on and collaborative learning opportunities at NBS enable students to fine-tune their communication and presentation skills. For instance, in the trading-simulation competition, students can create and pitch an investment product. 

The MFE program also offers students the chance to participate in an exchange with the program’s partner Carnegie Mellon University in the US, which offers an opportunity to network with US students and employers.

4. Critical thinking and analytical skills are key for careers in financial engineering

Professionals working in demanding financial engineering jobs need to confidently identify patterns within large data sets.

Critical thinking skills are therefore crucial when identifying financial problems and providing effective solutions, Charlie explains. “Within a dynamic market, it’s important to make intelligent data-driven decisions efficiently. Otherwise, opportunities can slip through the gaps.” 

In the NBS master’s in financial engineering program, students enhance their critical thinking skills through courses like Trading Analytics & Processes and Financial Risk Management, learning how to think outside the box when modelling financial and trade-related risks.

5. Stay ahead of tech trends to stand out to financial engineering employers

Staying ahead of changing tech and digital trends is vital for those looking to launch a high-flying financial engineering career.

“Areas like crypto/digital currencies have implications for financial engineering since they can reduce processing times,” says Charlie.

The MFE program offers a course in Programming Web Languages in Finance, Charlie explains, which touches on how Bitcoin and Blockchain works. This course could be helpful for those looking to work in banks or security.

There are also areas like quantum computing to consider too. “The lightning speed of computing provided by the quantum computers will revolutionize computation which is the core of applications in financial engineering,” Charlie adds.

To help students keep abreast of these trends, NBS regularly invites experts in the field of quantum computing to speak to master’s in financial engineering students about this growing area.

A specialized master’s degree can help you to land financial engineering jobs as it provides the opportunity for you to hone these skills and connect with industry leaders at networking events.

The article first appeared on BusinessBecause

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How to Succeed at Strategy Projects At Nanyang (SPAN)

How to Succeed at Strategy Projects At Nanyang (SPAN)

by | May 24, 2022 | Nanyang Professional MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

NANYANG PROFESSIONAL MBA

How to Succeed at Strategy Projects At Nanyang (SPAN)

6 minute read.

Strategy Projects at Nanyang (SPAN), a highlight of the Nanyang Professional MBA (PMBA), provides participants a unique opportunity to put classroom learnings into action and stretch themselves in diverse industries as they work in groups on a real-life consulting project for a sponsor company. Our PMBA Class of 2022 recently concluded SPAN. We invited a few groups to share their insights on this enriching experience.

 

Ziyi’s Group

Be clear about the project scope

Wang Ziyi’s group jumped at the chance to work on a sustainability-related issue with Johnson Controls, a global, diversified technology firm and provider of integrated smart green building systems and solutions. The project involved market research to help Johnson Controls understand what sustainability means to different customers as well as how their customers view sustainability ROI.

One of the major learnings of the experience came early on – the need to clearly define the project scope. “We realised that it is important to understand who the decision-makers are and align with their expectations before kicking off any work. We spent a few weeks pinning down the project scope with our sponsor,” said Ziyi, an exercise that provided valuable insight into the thinking process of senior management.

This clarity paid off when all their efforts came together in a well-received final presentation, and Ziyi can already see how the SPAN experience will benefit her career moving forward. “As my own company is now exploring new areas for sustainability, the knowledge I gained on this project will definitely help.”

 

Cayden’s Group

Always keep an open mind

Be ready to take up any challenges, even if you are unfamiliar with the topic or industry, advises Cayden Pang, whose group delved into the study of human behaviour on their project for the Southeast Asia Life & Health business unit of SCOR, the world’s fourth largest reinsurer. The goal was to investigate customers’ perceptions and inherent biases when disclosing their medical and lifestyle information during the purchase of life or health insurance.

While they applied a substantial amount of business knowledge and skills from all the PMBA courses they had attended, the courses on Cultural Intelligence, Marketing, and MarTech proved particularly helpful in understanding what drives human behaviour and decision-making. Being exposed to new concepts and applications within the industry also meant that the learning opportunities were constant. “By challenging ourselves, it was possible to build on our competencies and achieve great results even without prior knowledge or experience in the subject matter.” As a testament to this, SCOR went on to publish an industry white paper based on the group’s research work, a truly rewarding outcome.

 

Sherice’s Group

Make the most of mentor support

Sherice Wang and her teammates were engaged to do market research for Mobile Industrial Robots, a leading manufacturer of collaborative mobile robots, in preparation for a go-to-market plan for expansion into the hospitality segment. “None of our team had any prior experience of consulting or dealing with autonomous robots, so it was challenging at times to understand the pain points that the industry is facing,” shared Sherice. However, coming from unrelated industries trained the team to think out of the box and enabled them to gain invaluable experience that is not easily available in their routine jobs.

“Our mentor, AJ Boelens, was a great help. With his wealth of experience in the consulting industry, he was able to guide us on the consulting process and assist whenever we encountered a roadblock.” In preparation for the final presentation, the group appreciated the presentation warm-up with other mentors that NBS arranged. “This cross-mentor presentation and feedback session gave us fresh perspectives and raised questions that we had not thought of, which allowed us to further enhance our presentation.”

 

Wahidin’s Group

Foster positive team dynamics

SPAN provides an amazing opportunity to learn from each other, be it for career or personal growth.

Having five members of different nationalities – Canadian, Chinese, Indonesian, South Korean and Singaporean – from diverse industries, including automotive, semiconductors and pharmaceutical, contributed greatly to discussions in Wahidin’s group. They were tasked with recommending go-to-market strategies for Pureland Global Venture, a med-tech venture capital company, for business model innovation in the Singapore market and beyond. “We all got to share our own unique perspectives. At the same time, despite our differences, we were able to learn from each other’s skills and experiences.”

As with all of the groups, time management was an ever-present challenge, having to manage SPAN alongside full-time jobs, ongoing PMBA classes and assignments, and family commitments. So being able to get along in harmony and have an element of fun can make all the difference, Wahidin believes. “I think it is important to not underestimate the value of fun. Our group’s fun nature and atmosphere made the late-night meetings much more enjoyable as we tackled problems and adversities together.”

 

Deepa’s Group

Be prepared for the unexpected

Deepa’s group worked with NVC International, a company specialising in lighting solutions with a strong brand presence in China. Their role was to develop a strategic business model for the company to become a leading solutions provider for B2B and B2C consumer and commercial segments in Vietnam’s Tier-1 cities.

The group got to experience how a company approaches entry into an emerging market, collaborating closely with NVCI’s small Vietnam team to learn more about their products and the challenges faced. Having a Vietnamese in their group was a great plus in providing first-hand knowledge and insights, and is one example of how they leveraged each other’s strengths. Just a few weeks before their final presentation came their biggest challenge – an unexpected expansion of the project scope. “Though it was a curveball, we took it in our stride, working doubly hard within a short span of time to propose additional strategies. It’s important to be nimble and agile, adapting to the customer along the way,” Deepa learnt.

For future participants, Deepa adds: “SPAN is a really great learning experience and the team bonding was something I never expected. So, look forward to the camaraderie, and go in with an open mind because there’s so much to learn and contribute.”

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MSc Marketing Science Graduate Thrives in the Post-Pandemic World – with Dream Job in Tech

MSc Marketing Science Graduate Thrives in the Post-Pandemic World – with Dream Job in Tech

by | May 11, 2022 | MSc Marketing Science

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC MARKETING SCIENCE

MSc Marketing Science Graduate Thrives in the Post-Pandemic World – with Dream Job in Tech

Right at the height of the global pandemic in July 2020, Aayushi Vyas embarked on Nanyang Technological University Singapore’s (NTU Singapore) Master of Science in Marketing Science (MMS) programme.

It was a time of great uncertainty. But today, she looks back on her learning journey with pride as it has led her to her dream career.

From Intern to Full-time Specialist

During the MMS programme, Aayushi received frequent updates on career opportunities from the NBS Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO), which helps masters degree candidates to secure highly coveted positions.

In April 2021, GSCDO notified Aayushi about a digital marketing intern role at ServiceNow, a global tech firm with key innovations in digital workflow management.

Aayushi says, “I had previously been in Yahoo for over three years. The ServiceNow role seemed like the perfect step forward. It would involve creating and optimising ads on multiple platforms like LinkedIn, Google, and Facebook.”

Looking back, she felt that it was her honest and open attitude, passion for digital marketing, and highly collaborative spirit that helped her clinch the role.

During the six-month internship at ServiceNow’s Singapore branch, Aayushi explored the major platforms and gained a more holistic view of digital marketing.

She also got involved in two big projects, which led her to secure a full-time online marketing specialist role in ServiceNow’s branch in Bengaluru.

“In the first project, I utilised my past work experiences and the skills from the MMS programme. In the second, which was more of a project management role, I learnt on the job.

Both projects gave me the opportunity to prove myself and show the company tangible ways to ‘up’ its digital game. I believe this was how I managed to land my current full-time role in Bengaluru,” Aayushi says.

She Loves Her Job

Talking about her current role as an online marketing specialist, Aayushi says that she really enjoys the autonomy at work.

She explains, “I have lots of room to manage and explore things on my own. Not many companies offer the liberty to test and try out ideas, both big and small. Experimentation is necessary in marketing, and it’s exciting to be able to do that every day now.”

Aayushi often taps onto the skills she gained from the MMS modules.

For example, the Digital Marketing module helped her “understand the mix of organic and paid components that goes into building a strong digital marketing strategy,” she explains.

And to build better ad copy that “speaks directly to the consumer”, she says, she recalls principles from the Integrated Marketing Communications and Branding modules.

Her role also requires her to develop creative marketing assets. “The Consumer Neuroscience & Neuromarketing module gave me such great insights that I can now discern assets that cut through the noise and reach our target customers more effectively for higher engagement,” she says.

She adds that a crucial soft skill she honed through the MMS programme is confidence.

“I’m someone who takes a while to settle into a new environment or openly express myself. I found a safe space in the MMS programme to train myself to become a more self-assured, adaptable person,” she says. “The MMS programme offered a stage – through presentations, class participation, and group projects – where I could continuously sharpen my ability in various interactions.”

Tips for Prospective MMS Candidates

Aayushi has two tips for students embarking on the MMS programme.

First, she says, be open to making connections and sharing knowledge.

“This is how we grow and how we help others to grow. I’ve learnt so much by reaching out to the people around me, from professors to peers,” she says.

Second, keep learning with an open mind.

“The programme won’t last forever,” she gently reminds. “Make the best use of this short period in your life to widen your perspectives as much as possible: stay curious, bring your ideas to the table to be tested, and explore all that you can.”

Find out how Aayushi adapted to studying in NTU here.

Talk to us today to find out more about the MSc Marketing Science programme. Click here to book an appointment with us.

 

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MBA Jobs: How Business School Prepares You For Innovative Industries

MBA Jobs: How Business School Prepares You For Innovative Industries

by | Apr 27, 2022 | Nanyang MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

NANYANG MBA

MBA Jobs: How Business School Prepares You For Innovative Industries

The network and career guidance you’ll access during an MBA could help you launch a career in innovative industries like fintech and e-commerce.

Fintech, artificial intelligence, green energy, ecommerce—innovative industries like these provide ample opportunities for ambitious professionals.

Landing a role and thriving in one of these sectors can be tricky, but an MBA could help you make the transition by helping you build a diverse network and future-proof skillet.

BusinessBecause caught up with two MBA graduates who moved into forward-looking industries after business school to find out how the Nanyang Business School MBA helped them pivot their careers.

You’ll network with professionals from innovative industries

Being able to build a far-reaching network is one of the key benefits you’ll get from an MBA. Networking is especially crucial if you want to enter a burgeoning industry when you graduate.

Within emerging innovative industries, companies tend to be younger and recruitment pathways less established. Fortunately, connecting with professionals who are working in the space can help you get your foot in the door.

This is how Karim Bugglé (pictured), a 2018 graduate from the Double Degree Master’s program at Nanyang Business School and the University of St.Gallen, broke into the world of fintech.

This is a common route for MBA graduates at Nanyang. According to the school’s latest careers report, 20% of alumni enter the tech space, and a further 19% enter financial services. In 2021, Nanyang was ranked as the best school in Asia for engineering and technology by Times Higher Education.

During his MBA, Karim connected with a Nanyang alum working with digital wealth management platform, StashAway, and managed to secure a business intelligence and data analytics internship with the firm. At the time, the company comprised just 20 employees, so Karim was able to make an impact quickly.

At the end of the internship, Karim was offered a full-time role with the Singapore-based company, working on KPI reporting and a mix of strategy projects. Today, he’s StashAway’s group head of strategic development. “The internship was a really good way for me to step into the corporate world in Singapore,” he explains.

Besides alumni connections, Karim’s post-MBA network extends to his peers and professors. Even today, he regularly keeps in touch with his network to discuss new developments and opportunities.

You’ll develop crucial communication skills

In innovative industries like fintech, technological change happens rapidly and technical skills can quickly become obsolete. So you’ll need a solid base of ‘soft’ skills to fall back on.

According to Laura Denise Lutao (pictured), a Nanyang MBA graduate who works as a sales performance specialist with food delivery platform, Foodpanda, communication is one of the most important skills you need to thrive at an innovative company.

Because Foodpanda attracts employees from around the world, being able to communicate with people from different cultural and industry backgrounds has proved crucial for Laura.

Throughout the MBA, she had opportunities to develop her communication skills by working with a diverse range of peers, which she said helped her develop as a cross-cultural communicator.

In the Nanyang MBA, a capstone module in Leading People Globally exposes students to areas such as leadership, cultural intelligence, talent management, and negotiation, helping students hone their soft skills.

“That’s one of the most important skills I’ve acquired from the MBA,” she says. “What helped me is having experience in being culturally intelligent in terms of communicating with people from different backgrounds.”

As well as the diverse cohort, students at Nanyang also get to interact with academics from diverse backgrounds due to the interdisciplinary curriculum, which allows students to take courses from departments across the university.

Presenting to key stakeholders is another skill Laura was able to hone during her MBA. Prior to the program, she produced reports, but rarely presented or recommended them.

“One thing we often did during the MBA was to present in front of the cohort, using both quantitative and qualitative data,” she says.

You’ll get tailored career advice

As well as helping Laura hone her communication skills, the Nanyang MBA gave her access to career support that helped her break into Singapore’s vibrant tech scene.

After graduation, over half (54%) of MBAs break into Singapore’s jobs market. The Nanyang MBA curriculum supports them by balancing Asian-specific insights with a global outlook.

MBA career offices typically have connections with employers across a broad range of sectors, and can help you with everything from working out your personal brand to tailoring your resume for a new industry. 

“The careers team got in touch with alumni and circulated our resumes,” Laura explains, “then companies started reaching out to us for interviews.”

Karim, too, connected with the careers team during his time at Nanyang. The Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO) offers one-to-one career coaching to every student, collaborating with them on a post-MBA career roadmap.

At the same time, recruitment fairs, networking opportunities, and workshops support students in following this roadmap.

Through conversations with sector consultants, students can also get to grips with what innovative industries are looking for in their hires, and how the skills they’ve developed in their careers so far could be transferred. 

A lack of industry experience doesn’t matter if you can show your target company you’re agile, Karim discovered.

“Not having all the hard skills isn’t a problem, but [at StashAway] we expect people to have analytical abilities and a hunger to learn,” he says.

Although both Laura and Karim emphasize that breaking into a growing sector can be tricky, both think it’s worth the effort.

“I’m so keen to stay in tech now because of the pace that it’s going at,” Laura concludes. “There are a lot of opportunities and companies are always looking for good candidates.”

“There are a lot of opportunities and companies are always looking for good candidates.”


This article first appeared on BUSINESSBECAUSE.

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.

 

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Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity with a Marketing Science Masters Degree

Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity with a Marketing Science Masters Degree

by | Apr 26, 2022 | MSc Marketing Science

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC MARKETING SCIENCE

Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity with a Marketing Science Masters Degree

After completing her bachelor’s degree in 2020, Anastasya Silvian was uncertain about her next step as the pandemic was rearing its ugly head and affecting the job market.

Yet this did not deter the indomitable then-fresh graduate, who decided she would take control of her options.

“I wanted to try and turn the crisis into an opportunity,” she says. “Donning my thinking cap, I thought: What if I embarked on a different path from most fresh graduates? Instead of looking for a job, I could pursue further education, which would differentiate me from others in the marketing field.”

She spent some time researching her options before deciding on Nanyang Technological University Singapore’s (NTU Singapore) Master of Science in Marketing Science (MMS) programme offered at Nanyang Business School.

“NTU Singapore needs no introduction. It is well-established in Asia and Singapore is close to my home country,” the Indonesian explains. “Studying in Singapore and at NTU would allow me to take my skills to the next level in a safe, quality, and international environment.”

Joining a Tech Firm

Fast-forward to two years later, and the pandemic had opened up an avenue of opportunity for Anastasya.

She pursued her masters degree during the time of uncertainty,  and recently graduated from the MMS programme just as the world is opening up. In the same month of graduation, Anastasya was hired by Tokopedia, one of Indonesia’s largest tech and e-commerce firms.

Anastasya says, “I’m an associate in the events team at Tokopedia. The ‘live’ shopping industry is new to me, but I’ve learnt so much from the MMS programme, which prepared me to clinch my current role and perform my job confidently.”

She cites the projects, experiences, and diverse modules in the programme as key to helping her ace her job interview and showcase her wide range of skills.

Her favourite part of the job? Having the opportunity to create ‘live’ shopping events in one of the biggest marketplaces in the world.

“I play a huge part from planning to executing the events, so witnessing them materialise is extremely rewarding,” says Anastasya. “The Tokopedia environment is also very fast-paced and flexible, which exposes me to many things. I’m learning a lot every day.”

Combining Analytical and Creative Skills

Anastasya says that her role in Tokopedia requires her to combine both data and creative skills.

“Developing an event requires creativity. We need to make it as attractive as possible. We also need to evaluate the best types of events to execute based on available data and circumstances,” she says.

Needless to say, Anastasya honed both skills in the MMS programme.

Providing examples, she notes Marketing Analytics and Finance for Marketing as modules that “cover the data side of marketing”. Meanwhile, modules such as Advertising and Promotion and Branding impart creative skills. She also credits the Neuromarketing and AR/VR, AI and Robotics in Marketing​ modules for showing her, in depth, the future of marketing.

“I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to have both analytical and creative skills in the marketing industry,” she says. “In the MMS programme, we learnt that the industry is ever-changing. With all that training to think differently, especially through the projects, I’m now adept at ensuring my Tokopedia events always have something new to offer. Still, while creativity is prominent in marketing, data or research plays an equally significant role in decision-making. I apply data skills gained from the MMS programme in my evaluation of my events’ performance. ‘Live’ shopping is an industry that produces a lot of data too. There is much to learn and experiment within the data area.”

Another takeaway from the MMS programme, Anastasya adds, is its focus on the consumer.

“Every MMS module highlights the importance of understanding the consumer – his or her wants, needs, and contexts,” she says. “The consumer makes or breaks a marketing effort. I never forget this learning point and I’m always planning for consumer-first events.” 

Entrepreneurial Aspirations

Anastasya’s long-term goal is to be an entrepreneur. “I feel that through this role, I can pursue my interests, own something, and contribute to the community,” she says.

She believes that marketing will equip her with the right skills to achieve her dream.

“The MMS programme really showed me the possibilities of marketing,” she says. “It’s also practical. If you’re thinking of applying to this programme, go for it. There is no better place than this programme to explore the many aspects of effective marketing.”

Talk to us today to find out more about the MSc Marketing Science programme. Click here to book an appointment with us.

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Financial Engineering Masters – Opening doors to career opportunities

Financial Engineering Masters – Opening doors to career opportunities

by | Apr 22, 2022 | MSc Financial Engineering

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC FINANCIAL ENGINEERING

Financial Engineering Masters – Opening doors to career opportunities

Aspiring towards a career in financial risk management and derivatives valuation, Lin Li-Wei decided to embark on the Nanyang Technological University Singapore’s (NTU Singapore) Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MFE) programme.

“I realised how important programming and advanced math, and statistics skills would be if I want to thrive in my chosen domain,” says Li-Wei, who began the programme in 2021. “I had applied to programmes in the United Kingdom and Singapore and received offers from universities in both countries. In the end, I chose NTU Singapore because of its academic rigour and modules on derivatives pricing and advanced computational methods. I also wanted to work in a vibrant financial hub like Singapore.”

To prepare for the technical part of the admissions interview, Li-Wei studied mathematical topics like calculus, algebra, and Ordinary Differential Equation. During the interview, he also talked about his professional experience and the projects he had worked on.

Prior to the interview, Li-Wei reached out to alumni for advice, which he describes as “one of the most helpful and useful steps” during his application process.

Rewarding Challenges, Inspiring People, Plentiful Opportunities

“The MFE journey is extremely challenging yet fulfilling,” Li-Wei says.

A crucial skill he has gained is time management. “It’s not just about tackling the coursework. It’s also about spending time on job searches and internships,” he says. “I’ve burnt the midnight oil countless times. However, I can guarantee that as an MFE student, you will grow exponentially, where every moment can be a reflective one to explore your strengths and interests.”

Li-Wei treasures the people he has met through the programme. He says they are “the most hardworking, diverse, and dynamic personalities” he has ever met. “They keep me energised,” he says. “When working with my course mates in our many group projects, I get to experience fresh perspectives all the time.”

The MFE programme has also exposed Li-Wei to the wide array of opportunities in the field. “I’m confident that the knowledge gained from the programme will be highly specialised and sought after,” he says. “I’ve familiarised myself with digital banking, commodities trading, advanced risk management, and pricing functions such as xVA, which have all been eye-opening. Also, since Singapore is a major financial hub, there is an entire ecosystem dedicated to managing global capital flows, including opportunities from trading to risk management.”

An Internship with a Big Four Firm

In January 2022, Li-Wei started his internship at Ernst & Young (EY), Singapore as a derivatives valuation intern.

In his role, he conducts valuation on various financial instruments ranging from FX derivatives such as forward and cross-currency swaps to interest rate swaps. He also applies value adjustments such as CVA/DVA.

Li-Wei explains: “Financial instruments are getting increasingly complex alongside more sophisticated banking regulations. These make the evaluation of banks’ balance sheets a daunting task. Here is where valuation specialists like me come into the picture. We use financial engineering techniques to build credit risk models and derivatives valuation models as well as support the assurance team.”

The internship, he adds, has been a great way for him to directly apply his learning. “The EY stint certainly allows me to test my understanding of financial instruments and exercise my quantitative skills gained from the MFE programme.”

Support from the Career Development Office

“I have to say that the support I received from NTU’s Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO) is priceless. In fact, GSCDO is what makes Nanyang Business School so distinctive in NTU. I don’t think there is any career development office like it,” he says.

The mock interviews, career consultations, workshops, and events are “just some examples of the tremendous amount of resources offered by GSCDO,” he adds.

He has attended several workshops to hone his skills for every stage of the job application process while broadening his horizons at career events.

“GSCDO has showed me that finance is not only about banking,” he says. “There are also other exciting sectors demanding quality finance specialists. Along the way, I get to network and explore different career possibilities. The proof of the pudding: the mock Interviews I had with GSCDO helped me to ace my interview and land my internship with EY.”

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Entering the Hot Field of Healthtech with the MSc Business Analytics

Entering the Hot Field of Healthtech with the MSc Business Analytics

by | Apr 22, 2022 | MSc Business Analytics

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC BUSINESS ANALYTICS

Entering the Hot Field of Healthtech with the MSc Business Analytics

On her way to a mid-career switch, Ong Pei Yu is all charged up and rearing to go.

Prior to being a graduate student in the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programme at Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Nanyang Business School, Pei Yu had over 10 years of experience in a Big Four accounting firm.

There, she was part of a team that digitalised tax computation, which led her to discover her interest in data science and the potential of the field. This motivated her to embark on NTU’s MSBA programme.

She is currently a data science intern at Neurowyzr, a Singapore-based healthtech start-up that specialises in tapping AI and analytics to advance neuroscience.

Start-up vs. Big Four Firm

“I had to adjust my mindset at the beginning of the internship, as I had come from a Big Four firm,” says Pei Yu.

“In a start-up, there is flexibility and openness, where the company regularly encourages us to discuss our areas of interest. In a Big Four firm, it is established and structured, so I focused on my core job scope,” she says. “Also, there is more on-the-job learning in a start-up, while I was engaged mostly in technical training in the Big Four firm.”

Pei Yu’s scope of work at Neurowyzr comprises the full life cycle of data management and analytics: from acquiring data and evaluating it to developing data systems and strategies that optimise statistical efficiency and quality.

“I have a lot of autonomy to run projects independently. It’s definitely rewarding coming up with the solutions to challenges encountered along the way!” she says excitedly.

While healthtech is a new domain for Pei Yu and the learning curve is steep, the journey has also been enjoyable for her. “It’s incredibly enlightening to learn about cognitive health and mental health from the neuroscience team,” she says. “I can’t wait to witness how the work we do improves people’s lives.”

Clinching the Opportunity

Pei Yu applied for the data science internship position through CareerFit, NTU’s one-stop career portal. She was soon shortlisted for an interview with Neurowyzr’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

“The interview went well,” Pei Yu says. “We discussed my MSBA projects and past career experiences. The CTO also shared about what the company does and his personal career journey.”

Pei Yu has a tip for students keen on internships: “Find out as much as you can about the role, what it entails, and the skillsets required. All this can help you determine if you will be a good fit,” she says.

In her current role, Pei Yu is actively using several skills she gained from the MSBA programme. She mentions that the “Analytics Strategy” and “Analytics and Machine Learning” modules are directly relevant to one of Neurowyzr’s data science projects, in which she is currently helping to develop a proof of concept (POC).

“’Analytics Strategy’ taught me to design a POC framework. ‘Analytics and Machine Learning’ imparted concepts on various machine learning models and the Python coding to train these different models,” she explains. “These have been useful in my understanding of how machine learning is applied to real-world contexts as I assist in scoping the project.”

In addition, Pei Yu notes that she uses the object-oriented programming techniques from the “Advanced Programming” module and web development skills from the “Programming Essentials” module in a product development project. “I can understand the written code and edit it, which makes the work process more efficient,” she says.

Making the Most of the Internship

Pei Yu believes that being a good data scientist requires strong technical skills to execute projects well and good communication skills to explain the logic and outcome of data models in layman’s terms for better team collaboration. “NTU’s MSBA has trained me in both these hard and soft skills,” she says.

To maximise the opportunities in the internship, Pei Yu is staying open to any challenge that comes her way and is eager to expose herself to all kinds of projects.

“I’m really glad that I get to be involved in scoping projects right from the start. I get a 360-degree view, from the business objective to the data collection and data modelling,” she says. “Experiencing the entire cycle of things, I’m sure that there will be many opportunities to hone both my technical and communication skills to become a more effective data scientist.”

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Find Out How Our Graduate Studies Career Development Office Connects Students with Their Employers of Choice

Find Out How Our Graduate Studies Career Development Office Connects Students with Their Employers of Choice

by | Apr 7, 2022 | MSc Accountancy, MSc Business Analytics, MSc Financial Engineering, MSc Marketing Science

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC ACCOUNTANCY, MSC BUSINESS ANALYTICS, MSC FINANCIAL ENGINEERING, MSC MARKETING SCIENCE

96% of Nanyang Business School’s Specialised Masters Degree Graduates Secure a Satisfying Job Within 3 Months from Graduation. Find Out How Our Graduate Studies Career Development Office Connects Students with Their Employers of Choice

In your life as a student enrolled in a specialised masters programme at Nanyang Business School (NBS), your schedule is typically packed with lectures, class projects, team meetings, and assignments.

Where would you find the time to search for that perfect job that promises to transform your career upon graduation?

At NBS, 96% of our specialised masters degree graduates secure a satisfying job within three months of graduation, with the help of career advisors from the NBS Graduate Studies Career Development Office (GSCDO). Constantly encouraging and listening to our graduate students, our career advisers dedicate their time tirelessly, helping students refine career goals and connecting them with networks in the industry.

Associate Professor Ivy Kwan, Assistant Dean (Graduate Career Services), explains the partnership between the careers office and every graduate student, and how GSCDO provides career guidance that is relevant, personal, backed by industry knowledge, and supported by extensive professional networks.

​Embark on a Customised Career Journey with a High-Touch Strategy

“Every student is different, with unique requirements, experience, passion, and strengths. To give students the best start in their professional lives, our dedicated team of career advisors craft a bespoke career journey with each of them,” says Prof Kwan.

“Every student is different, with unique requirements, experience, passion, and strengths. To give students the best start in their professional lives, our dedicated team of career advisors craft a bespoke career journey with each of them,” says Prof Kwan.

Career advisors at GSCDO adopt a high-touch strategy when customising students’ career journeys. Apart from regular communication and one-on-one sessions to determine each student’s aspiration, they also organise employer talks, alumni events, career workshops, and employment fairs across a wide range of industries – up to 70 of these activities per year.

“We continue to offer many of these events in a face-to-face or hybrid format, as nothing beats the effectiveness of an in-person exchange,” Prof Kwan assures. “With safe distancing measures in place, the show can go on.”

This high-touch model allows you to collaborate closely with our career advisors to clinch your dream job.

Interact with Career Advisors from Industry

What distinguishes GSCDO from other general career offices is that our career advisors are handpicked from industry, bringing with them deep industry experience. It is a professional career centre that has been specially set up for students from NBS’s masters programmes because “we know the importance of your unique aspirations, which is at the forefront of your decision to join a master’s degree programme,” says Prof Kwan.

Our career advisers have been down the same career-seeking journey, and they understand the nuances of every student’s career search and struggles. Their knowledge and experience are instrumental in delivering high employment rates across the various NBS specialised masters programmes.

“While you may have some idea of the roles you want to pursue upon graduation, with more specific insights from our career advisors, you can further define your career goals. Such insights are possible because our career advisors have been in hiring positions and bring with them networks and industry insights that are spot-on and relevant.”

Join an Ecosystem of Industry and Alumni Networks and Resources

To successfully place students in their dream careers, GSCDO keeps a pulse on industry trends while career advisors cultivate and grow relationships with business leaders and hiring managers.

This enables NBS to connect graduate students with key decision-makers and such industry relations are often global. “For instance, some of our students have expressed interest to start or continue their career trajectory in China,” Prof Kwan says. “To support them, we have career advisors who are well-connected with employers from the country. In addition to industry, we pay attention to the geographical markets which our graduate students may be interested in.”

Interaction with industry players is also not limited to just access through GSCDO and their career advisors. With a network of over 50,000 alumni, many of whom are in leadership or managerial positions across multiple industries and localities, graduate students have an extensive matrix of contacts to tap on.

Many of our alumni remain connected with NBS after graduation, offering alumni talks, informal mentorships, and internship opportunities to existing students. GSCDO facilitates access to the pool of NBS alumni as an additional resource to propel you towards your career destination.

Are you Ready to Make a Career Leap?

Embarking on a graduate programme is investing in yourself, especially if you have a desire to launch or transform your career.

For this reason, it is crucial to consider the types and level of support from a school’s career office when choosing a programme.

“Deciding on which specialised master’s degree programme to invest in need not be a complex process. Ask yourself: ‘What are my main motivations for choosing a programme? What level of support is offered by the school’s career office?’ After gaining clarity and deciding, commit to making the best use of the career resources that are available to you,” says Prof Kwan.

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Moving the Needle on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Moving the Needle on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

by | Mar 17, 2022 | Nanyang Executive MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA

Moving the Needle on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

A Nanyang EMBA Alumnus’s Perspective

Singapore businesses have made notable strides in creating greater inclusivity and building opportunities for women and minorities. This success can be attributed to professionals like Nanyang Business School (NBS) EMBA programme participant Joyce Chen.

Currently the Asia-Pacific Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Leader at Cummins Inc., Joyce’s work advances a specific area of corporate sustainability: attracting and retaining talent that reflects Singapore’s diversity; and ensuring that an employee’s multi-faceted identity does not hinder career growth within the company.

DEI is presently a global hot button. News headlines have increasingly sensitised the populace to gender and race discussions. At the same time, diversity has become a boardroom issue: a McKinsey report found that companies with higher racial and gender diversity were up to 35% more likely to enjoy above-industry-average financial returns.

These factors have made DEI a business imperative, a prerequisite for leaders seeking to grow and sustain the businesses they run. As Joyce puts it, “the business case for DEI is becoming mainstream.”

How Joyce made a meaningful career shift to focus on DEI

Before assuming her current role, Joyce spent 12 years in Cummins working across corporate talent management and business projects. Her career took a unique turn after her second child was born. Joyce recalls thinking: “How can I continue growing my career yet still play my role as a parent?”

She found the answer through a Cummins Women’s Conference on gender inclusion, which Joyce attended not long after returning from maternity leave. “I was blown away by the sharing and empowerment that came up, so much so that there was a recognition to pay it forward,” she tells us.

Joyce subsequently co-founded a women’s network within Cummins Singapore, “creating awareness of the business case for gender equality and also inviting our fellow females to lean in and share their voices.” By 2019, Joyce had become a DEI leader in Cummins: “My journey has been unique,” she explains. “It just so happened that things fell into place and my experience is a testament of Cummins’ values regarding diversity & inclusion.”

Day-to-day DEI challenges

Today, Joyce oversees Cummins’ regional DEI strategy and engagement: “On the strategy side, I help to ensure that we have a scope for the particular year, and that we are able to measure progress and drive continuous sustainable changes.”

One goal on her to-do list is a 1:1 male to female ratio in the workforce, representative of the macro environment.

“If your representation is homogeneous, you are not fully leveraging the insights and knowledge of the underserved markets.”

Joyce Chen, EMBA Class of 2022
Asia Pacific Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader
Cummins Inc.

In terms of engagement, Joyce works with senior leaders to move the needle on corporate DEI. “One important fabric of inclusion is to build psychological safety,” she explains. By enabling sponsorship of employee resource groups (ERGs), Joyce creates an environment where both management and rank-and-file feel comfortable to make DEI concerns their own.

For Joyce, getting management buy-in is absolutely essential to her work. “Making sure that your managers feel connected to the initiatives is important,” she explains. “We are setting the tone from the top, ensuring that our systemic efforts progress in the communities that we operate in.”

Encouraging empathy, dancing with resistance

Beyond hard numbers, Joyce also works to increase managers’ empathy and recognise their own unconscious biases.

“We all need to hold ourselves accountable, to recognise our own blind spots. When you evaluate your employees’ development and performance, are you pausing to truly understand their journey?”

It’s not always smooth sailing; many managers (even rank-and-file workers) may oppose DEI for reasons of their own. “To enable inclusion, you need to face resistance. And it’s like negotiation,” Joyce explains. This calls for dancing with resistance, “to figure out the right frequency at which to engage the other party.”

Joyce believes that employees and executives, whatever their stand on DEI, deserve to be engaged on the basis of their individual lived experience, cultural values, and preconceived notions: “We invite employees to voice out and share their experiences.”

Personal payoff

Joyce has pioneered ERGs in Cummins Singapore to encourage these encounters. The ERG activities were derived from the concept of lean in circles, popularised by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.

“In the [ERG], we want to bring like-minded, underrepresented talent together,” explains Joyce. “We have a safe space to share our experiences, to come together and understand common concerns; or think about business solutions that will further help underrepresented groups.”

ERGs were some of Joyce’s first DEI initiatives within her career with Cummins – and in the long run, they’ve proven to be the most personally rewarding. “I continue to mentor diverse individuals, especially my colleagues who have succeeded me in the ERGs and fellow female aspiring talent,” Joyce says.

Many of these mentees have subsequently risen through the ranks; the ERGs’ collective encouragement helped them overcome impostor syndrome and eventually claim the roles that suited their strengths.

“It keeps me feeling encouraged – seeing them go on through the journey and succeed in their new roles, it reinforces the work I am doing,” Joyce says.

Building a foundation for more effective DEI practice

Joyce’s ongoing participation in the Nanyang Business School’s Executive MBA (EMBA) programme is a natural outcome of her mission to expand the space for DEI in Singapore.

Skills learned in the EMBA are helping Joyce improve leadership buy-in for DEI initiatives within Cummins. “[They’ve] helped me be more confident, to get my leaders on board,” Joyce tells us. “I’m able to better speak in their frequency, think about how to design strategies, and work through solutions.”

Joyce hopes to see more women consider the EMBA as the programme offers a ‘safe environment to learn difficult things’.

The EMBA’s staggered schedule also gives her the flexibility required as a working mother. “There’s a period where it’s two weeks of lessons, and then we’ll break for two months before the next segment starts,” Joyce explains. “I can plan ahead of time to manage my commitments. And when it comes to the two weeks of classes, I’m able to focus and learn.”

While Joyce believes the EMBA programme has put her “in a better position for the next stage in [her] career,” she knows from experience that many women executives might hesitate to break out of their comfort zones or prioritise existing commitments over their own need for upward career mobility. Joyce concludes by sharing this piece of advice: “It can feel scary. But I encourage them to take the first step.”

For business leaders interested to grow in Asia, with a global outlook on high-level issues such as sustainability, digitalisation, and economics, the Nanyang EMBA can help you realise your vision.

The Nanyang Executive MBA is a part-time 13-month programme designed for senior leaders aspiring to transform the way they lead, delivering a dynamic curriculum that bridges business, technology, and innovation for businesses to excel in global environments and adapt to each new wave of digital change.

To find out more, visit our website or contact us at execmba@ntu.edu.sg to schedule a 1-to-1 discussion on your postgraduate aspirations.

Register here for a chat: https://bit.ly/NanyangEMBAchat.

 

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