From Strategy Simulations To Real-World Success: The MMS Journey of Three ASEAN Development Scholars

by Nanyang Business School | Jan 20, 2025 | MSc Marketing Science

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC MARKETING SCIENCE

From Strategy Simulations To Real-World Success: The MMS Journey of Three ASEAN Development Scholars

The world of marketing has never stood still, but the last few years have ushered in faster and greater change than ever before. New technologies like AI and big data are fundamentally reshaping how brands connect with audiences, challenging marketers to unlock insights, and craft consumer experiences in new ways.

For three of our current MSc Marketing Science (MMS) participants, this rapid change was the push they needed to level up their skills. Here, they share why they chose to go ‘back to school’, and how their experiences as MMS participants and ASEAN Development Scholars have helped them grow as marketers.

Thriving in the era of Marketing 5.0

After working in product marketing for three years, Anastasia Irene Handoyo realised that traditional ways of promoting product features were no longer enough.

“I noticed many international brands had successfully implemented AI, showcasing products in ways that went beyond simply highlighting their unique selling points or offering promotions,” she recalled.

“We’re entering the era of Marketing 5.0 – where marketing integrates AI and the Internet of Things into strategies that engage consumers and build brand loyalty.”

Inspired to keep up with this shift, Irene sought an MMS programme that would enhance her knowledge of innovative and technology-driven marketing strategies. “The MMS curriculum at Nanyang Business School (NBS) caught my attention because it goes beyond traditional marketing courses, covering advanced topics like AI and neuromarketing,” she said.

Like Irene, Quynh (Quincy) Vy found herself struggling to keep up with a rapidly changing landscape. “I encountered numerous challenges in various marketing roles that highlighted the need for deeper knowledge,” she explained. “At times, I felt unprepared for high-level tasks.”

Having worked for a Singaporean company before, Quincy was excited at the prospect of pursuing her MMS programme in Singapore.

“Singapore’s multicultural environment promised a rich learning experience and the chance to expand my international network,” she shared.

Phoosunthornphakdee Thanatchaporn (Ices)

For Thanatchaporn (Ices) Phoosunthornphakdee, the key to taking on industry changes lay in an interdisciplinary curriculum.

“To stay relevant, I needed to deepen my knowledge in many areas: consumer behaviour, technology, and even finance,” she said. “This attracted me to NBS, which offered an all-rounded MMS curriculum balancing theory and practical learning.”

The ASEAN Development Scholarship: A platform to pursue dreams

As citizens of different ASEAN countries, Irene, Quincy, and Ices found a pathway to pursue professional growth in the ASEAN Development Scholarship. This post-graduate scholarship is open to candidates from ASEAN member countries outside Singapore, and covers 100% or 40% of tuition fees.

Ices recalled her “total shock” when she got the news about clinching the scholarship. “I remember I was working, but I immediately called my parents and boyfriend to check whether I was dreaming!” she laughed. “Winning the scholarship has given me a platform to fully focus on personal growth and development.”

Beyond the freedom to focus on learning, Quincy especially appreciates the networking benefits she receives as an ASEAN Development Scholar.

“Being part of the ASEAN Scholar community means I get to connect with fellow scholars and industry professionals, creating a fantastic network to support my career goals,” she said. “It’s a chance for me to pursue my dreams with confidence.”

The scholarship application process can be challenging, with some applicants preparing for months in advance. When asked about how they approached their applications, all three scholars shared the same advice: be authentic and true to yourself.

“It’s so important to embrace who you are – your strengths and even your challenges make you special,” Quincy explained. “Sharing your story in a way that fits your major and the school culture is what really matters.”

To let her story shine through, Irene proofread and polished her essay meticulously.

“I outlined the unique strengths I bring to the table, using the STAR structure to effectively tell my story,” she said. “From September to January, I continuously revised it, seeking feedback from others to ensure my message was clear.”

An immersive learning experience

Irene, Quincy, and Ices have now completed their first trimester in the one-year MMS programme. So far, it has been an exciting journey – one filled with hands-on projects, close collaborations with course mates, and “unforgettable memories”.

“As someone with work experience, I appreciate how the programme has allowed me to revisit my existing marketing knowledge,” Quincy shared. “Most importantly, I’m learning how to logically connect every element of marketing to create meaningful and effective solutions. I’m excited to see where this knowledge will take me!”

Beyond textbook learning, the MMS curriculum is designed to immerse participants in real-world industry problems. One especially memorable experience for all three participants was the ‘Markstrat’ simulation in their Strategic Marketing module, which immersed them in the role of marketers making strategic decisions for their company.

“In a team of four, we operated like a real company and made weekly decisions on production, marketing, and sales,” Quincy described. “Each week, we eagerly awaited the results to see if our team was the most profitable company or had the highest share price index. It was a mix of excitement and nervousness every Thursday!”

This simulation gave them hands-on practice in performing thorough analysis and developing data-driven strategies – just like a real-world marketing manager. At the same time, collaborating with course mates was a fun experience that made it truly unforgettable.

“From the last position, our team rose to first place in the final week,” Ices recounted. “The experience of working hard with my team, eagerly awaiting the weekly results together, and celebrating our improvement is something I’ll always remember.”

Camaraderie across cultures

This spirit of camaraderie has created a supportive environment for MMS participants, both inside the classroom and out. Despite hailing from diverse cultures, Irene, Ices, and Quincy shared that they’ve found a welcoming home in the MMS community.

Fostered by initiatives like the ASEAN Development Scholarship – which attracts participants from across ASEAN – the current MMS cohort features a diverse mix of 17 nationalities. While Quincy initially felt daunted by being the only Vietnamese participant in her cohort, the friendships she has formed through group projects and after-class meals transcend language barriers.

“Some of my favourite memories come from long nights of pushing to meet deadlines together, yet filled with laughter and conversation,” she said. “It’s incredible how we’ve formed such strong friendships despite our different backgrounds. Sometimes I have to communicate with body language when I can’t find the right English word, but my friends understand me perfectly – how amazing is that?”

Besides the strong bonds with her peers, Ices also appreciates the warm support of the MMS professors.

“Some of the professors have gone the extra mile for us, like bringing mooncakes to class during the Mid-Autumn Festival and answering our questions late at night,” she shared. “These connections I’ve built have made my journey at NBS truly special.”

For participants keen to build their network, NBS offers rich opportunities to connect with alumni and industry professionals as well – from sharing sessions by companies to alumni networking events.

“I’ve found NBS to be very supportive in connecting us with network opportunities,” Irene highlighted. “Engaging with industry professionals and attending networking events can give me deeper insights into a company’s goals and culture.”

Laying the foundation for success

After completing their MMS journey, Irene, Quincy, and Ices each have big dreams in mind. Irene hopes to pursue a career in Singapore, specialising in brand management or consulting, while Quincy aims to land a branding or digital marketing role in a multinational company. Meanwhile, Ices reveals that her long-term goal is to start her own business.

Whatever their next steps will be post-graduation, the three scholars believe they are gaining the right foundation to reach their goals.

“The MMS programme has given me a solid foundation in advanced marketing concepts, and the hands-on projects and real-world case studies have strengthened my strategic thinking skills,” said Irene. “The technical expertise, strategic insights, and industry exposure I’ve gained from the programme will position me to achieve my ambitions and make a meaningful impact as a marketer.”

Find out more about the Master of Science (MSc) in Marketing Science (MMS) here.

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Launching Sneakers, Managing Influencers: A Day In The Life Of A Brand Marketing Intern At Nike

by Nanyang Business School | Jan 20, 2025 | MSc Marketing Science

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC MARKETING SCIENCE

Launching Sneakers, Managing Influencers: A Day In The Life Of A Brand Marketing Intern At Nike

Not many of us can say that we’re working at our dream company, but AJ Sun certainly can. He began playing basketball at the age of 10, sparking a lifelong passion for sports – along with a growing collection of stylish sneakers. It’s no surprise that Nike – one of the world’s most recognised sportswear brands – was high on AJ’s list of dream companies to work for.

“I’ve grown up with this brand for pretty much my entire life,” AJ explained. “Getting the chance to work at Nike has been a dream come true for me.”

This opportunity came when he received an internship offer from Nike, soon after completing his MSc in Marketing Science (MMS) at Nanyang Business School (NBS). Five months into his role as a Brand Marketing Intern, he shares a look behind the scenes of this sportswear giant – and how his MMS experience has set him up for success.

A day in the life of a Brand Marketing Intern at Nike

As a basketball lover, AJ’s role in Nike was a stroke of serendipity – his internship centres on the company’s Jordan brand, created in collaboration with basketball superstar Michael Jordan. His Shanghai-based team manages brand marketing for Jordan streetwear, building the brand’s presence within the Greater China region.

AJ’s day-to-day tasks include product seeding – a strategy in which brands gift products to influencers in their niche.

“I manage our relationship with influencers, such as athletes and celebrities, by sending them products they can wear or use in their daily lives,” he shared. “When they enjoy our products, it enhances our brand image.”

When new products are in the pipeline, AJ is also involved in creating captivating product stories for the launch. Right now, he’s working on a campaign for an upcoming Jordan sneaker release this December.

“We work with other teams, such as the Retail team and the Brand Creative team, to come up with storytelling that connects with local communities,” AJ explained. “What innovative stories can we share to bring these sneakers to Chinese customers and let them understand our brand heritage?”

As a young person, AJ is able to bring fresh perspectives to the table. “One big problem that many brands face is not knowing how to engage with younger consumers,” he said. “So my team welcomes my opinions and insights, like ‘What do young people care about these days?’”

As a proud owner of many Nike shoes, AJ feels lucky to be a part of this journey. “In the past, I was always curious about what goes on behind the scenes,” he recalled. “Now I understand the hard work it takes, but I really enjoy learning and knowing all this backstory.”

Honing the art of communication

While marketing calls for effective communication with customers, AJ has learnt that strong workplace communication is just as important in a large company like Nike.

In early September, Nike organised a tour of China for four athletes from America’s National Basketball Association (NBA). It was the biggest event of the year for Nike’s Greater China Headquarters, with hundreds of employees across different teams preparing for the visit.

“The preparations started pretty much from the moment I joined Nike in June,” AJ shared.

“In that short period, I had to collaborate with so many different functions in the company: PR, retail marketing, brand creatives, and more. Communication was so important because we had to get everyone on the same page to ensure the tour ran smoothly.”

More communication challenges arose during the tour, when AJ was tasked to take care of some hip-hop dancers flown in from France. “My role was more like an agent – getting them from one place to another according to schedule, but also making sure they’re having a good time,” he explained. “I had to find ways to communicate that would bring them on board with our plans.”

Although not everything unfolded according to plan, AJ appreciates how much the experience has honed his adaptability. “I learnt that you sometimes have to go with the flow, even though it doesn’t follow the script,” he shared.

Learning in a multicultural classroom

Even before his stint at Nike, AJ’s experiences in NBS’ MSc Marketing Science programme had prepared him to communicate successfully with diverse people. His MMS cohort brought together professionals from all over the world, offering him the perfect training ground to become a well-rounded communicator.

In fact, this multicultural setting was a key reason that drew him to study in Singapore. Having grown up in Shanghai and completed his bachelor’s in New York, AJ wanted to challenge himself in a brand-new environment.

“Although New York is super diverse, I didn’t have many chances to interact with people of diverse Asian cultures,” he said.

“At NBS, I had course mates from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and more. This trained my ability to engage with different people and adjust my working style.”

The NBS curriculum features a multitude of hands-on group presentations and real-world projects, giving participants many opportunities to connect and build friendships. “The programme does a good job of bringing different people together, but it’s up to you to engage in class as well,” AJ advises. “Everyone’s nice, and you’ll definitely learn more by engaging with your course mates.”

A passport to success anywhere in the world

AJ’s post-Nike career path remains up in the air. While he plans to pursue marketing, he’s taking the time to explore his options across different cities.

“Which city do I want to explore in the next phase of my life? It really depends on where I’ll find the best opportunities,” he shared. “Singapore was a fresh challenge for me, and I want to take on new challenges in the future.”

For now, AJ remains focused on learning as much as possible during his time at Nike – leaving his next steps to destiny.

“If I give myself too much pressure and try to rush my decision, it might not lead to the best outcome,” – these are his words of wisdom. “There’s a timing for everything, and the next step will come when the time is right. Don’t stress too much – mental health is the most important thing.”

Wherever his next adventure takes him, AJ is confident that his MMS degree will open doors for him.

“NBS is a recognised institution around the world, and Singapore is well-known as a global city,” he concluded. “I’d definitely say that this degree gives me the ability to go anywhere in the world.”

Find out more about the Master of Science (MSc) in Marketing Science (MMS) here.

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How This Nanyang MBA SPAN Team Created a Sustainability Plan with Strategic Thinking

by Nanyang Business School | Jan 16, 2025 | Nanyang MBA

Nanyang MBA

How This Nanyang MBA SPAN Team Created a Sustainability Plan with Strategic Thinking

In business, you either sink or swim on the strength of your agility, adaptability, and strategic thinking. To prepare for this, participants of the Nanyang MBA programme at Nanyang Business School (NBS) go through a rigorous project known as Strategic Projects at Nanyang, or SPAN.

The SPAN project challenges Nanyang MBA participants to solve pressing issues in industries often unfamiliar to them, testing their ability to apply classroom knowledge to real-world business challenges.

One Nanyang MBA team embarked on this journey with Climate Smart Ventures (CSV), an advisory firm dedicated to advancing the energy transition in Asia. Teamwork, mentorship, and applying their MBA learnings successfully saw them through – but the path was filled with challenges.

A challenge of both scope and scale

CSV is deeply involved in sustainability projects across Asia, aiming to accelerate the transition from coal to clean energy in a managed and strategic manner.

As part of their efforts to identify new growth and investment opportunities in the “transition finance” or sustainable finance space, CSV sponsored a SPAN team to help execute a go-to-market strategy in the transition finance or sustainable finance space.

CSV asked the team’s participants – Ega Varian Soemarliu, Carolyn Cheong Chee Lee, Meta Yunita Pramasetio, Patel Shivam, and Totokawa Masato – to create a plan with clear KPIs, recommendations for new products and services, and an investment roadmap to support the proposed initiatives.

The challenge was immense due to the interdisciplinary nature of CSV’s goals and the magnitude of change required to implement any solution. The team had to integrate knowledge from domains like finance, energy, regulations, and sustainability.

Putting the team together

Goh Kia Hong, SPAN academic director, emphasised the importance of this capstone project for Nanyang MBA participants. “This hands-on experience allows participants to test their skills in a dynamic business environment,” he said. “Additionally, the programme’s focus on diversity within teams exposes participants to different perspectives.”

True to the SPAN programme’s emphasis on diversity, the Nanyang MBA team reflected its members’ variety of educational and professional backgrounds. “This enabled us to understand and learn things from each other’s perspective, knowledge, and experience,” Ega explained.

Each team member played a crucial role in the project:

Carolyn Cheong Chee Lee served as the team’s primary liaison with CSV, ensuring smooth communication and alignment with the client’s expectations.
Meta Yunita Pramasetio was instrumental in designing, editing, and formatting presentation decks, making complex information accessible and engaging.
Patel Shivam was the go-to person for crunching numbers and generating insightful data analyses that informed strategic decisions – an ideal role given his background in data analytics.
Totokawa Masato was the team’s “finance guy,” taking the lead in interpreting financial reports and drawing conclusions that guided the team’s recommendations.

Ega himself brought valuable insights from Indonesia’s pulp and paper sector. “I shared my experience in the manufacturing industry: why it relies on dirty energy sources to generate power, and the effort needed to shift to greener energy sources,” he said.

A cohesive team spirit drove the Nanyang MBA team from the start. “We have often worked together as a team – we understand each other’s personalities, strengths, and weaknesses,” Ega noted.

The team prioritised face-to-face meetings and often shared meals after discussions. When disagreements arose, they employed a democratic approach. “We listened to every opinion without judgement or interruption, then discussed pros and cons in detail,” Ega recalled. “If we couldn’t agree on things, we voted. Once a decision was made, everyone collaborated to make things happen.”

SPAN mentors: guidance and experience

While Ega had direct experience in the energy and sustainability sector, most of his teammates did not – a factor that surprisingly worked to their advantage.

“The clients are focusing on their business every day; they may not be able to look beyond their problem,” explained Mr. Goh. “Since the SPAN group approaches the company’s operations without preconceived notions, they can critically assess opportunities with an open mind.”

To help maximise their project’s impact, the team welcomed the mentorship of Professor Sharon Ng, a marketing expert and Deputy Dean at NBS.

“SPAN mentors offer insights from their own experience and provide practical examples and advice on navigating challenges,” explained Mr. Goh. “Mentors also offer a sounding board for ideas, ensuring that participants make meaningful progress.”

Ega praised Prof. Ng’s guidance, which proved particularly crucial at pivotal moments. “She reminded us about the importance of managing client’s expectations,” he recalled. “Before our final presentation, she said we need to be prepared if judges ask questions about our early proposals that clients repudiated.”

This foresight proved invaluable when the judges did indeed question the team’s earlier focus on Thailand, prompting them to defend their eventual pivot to Malaysia.

Recommending a solution

The team took a systematic and strategic approach to the problem. “We analysed potential countries and sectors as well as the client’s internal capabilities,” Ega explained. “We then recommended a country and a sector that presented a big opportunity for CSV.”

Initially, the team recommended focusing on Thailand’s transportation sector. However, after extensive discussions with CSV, they shifted their focus to Malaysia’s power generation sector.

CSV’s managing director consulted directly with the team through regular bi-weekly meetings. A dedicated WhatsApp group facilitated constant communication and swift decision-making. Carolyn was crucial in maintaining this communication flow, ensuring the team and client were aligned.

“We provided them with three go-to-market strategy proposals, based on CSV’s value proposition as a pure-play sustainability advisor offering end-to-end bundled solutions,” Ega said.

The team even went the extra mile, by developing “Partnership Prototypes” that helped CSV identify high-impact opportunities and game out actionable strategies and frameworks to pursue them.

“The SPAN collaboration [helped] us validate and deepen our own business case and entry strategy… into a completely new market,” the client later wrote in their assessment of the team’s performance. “It allowed us to identify low-hanging fruits for immediate engagement – allowing us to optimise our potential investment into this new market.”

Post-SPAN Reflections

For team member Meta Yunita Pramasetio, the SPAN project was a transformative experience. “SPAN was a steep learning curve for me,” she reflected. “Although I was initially unfamiliar with the client”s industry and project, this experience accelerated my learning and adaptability within a short timeframe.”

Ega pondered the broader implications of their SPAN experience. “How can consultants with limited knowledge and expertise develop solutions to clients’ complex problems?” he mused. He found the answer in critical thinking – asking the right questions, challenging assumptions, and identifying biases – and the ability to adapt to new circumstances with an open mind and a growth mindset.

Mr. Goh wasn’t surprised by the team’s success. “In every module, they learn a lot of case studies in a classroom setting. But in SPAN, they get to put their knowledge into good use, and all the soft skills come into play – negotiation, addressing objections, conflict resolution, and project management,” he said.

“SPAN is where they really get their hands dirty, where the rubber meets the road.”

For Nanyang MBA participants, the SPAN capstone project offers a pivotal chance to apply the curriculum’s business thinking and insights to ongoing business challenges – the ideal beginning to a lifelong career driving change in their respective industries.

Ready to learn more about Nanyang’s MBA programme and SPAN? Find out more here.

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.

How Nanyang Business School’s SPAN Projects Drive ESG Change in APAC

by Nanyang Business School | Dec 17, 2024 | Nanyang Executive MBA, Nanyang Fellows MBA, Nanyang MBA, Nanyang Professional MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA NANYANG FELLOWS MBA NANYANG MBA NANYANG PROFESSIONAL MBA

How Nanyang Business School’s SPAN Projects Drive ESG Change in APAC

With ESG and environmental impact becoming top-of-mind issues for the business world, businesses are scrambling to solve their most intractable sustainability issues. Some turn to Nanyang Business School (NBS)’s sharpest minds by sponsoring a team through Strategy Projects at Nanyang (SPAN).

As future business leaders themselves, NBS’s MBA participants hit the ground running on sustainability issues. Through SPAN, MBA participants learn about real sustainability problems from businesses, and work to create real, workable solutions for their sponsors.

“The SPAN programme offers Nanyang Business School’s MBA participants the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real-world business challenges,” explains SPAN academic director Goh Kia Hong. “This hands-on experience is invaluable, allowing participants to test their skills in a dynamic business environment.”

SPAN and why sustainability matters to the Nanyang Business School

The SPAN capstone module at NBS is a collaborative effort between sponsor companies and MBA participants. They work in teams over four months to address their sponsors’ real-life industry challenges through innovative thinking.

Sustainability has become an increasing concern for SPAN’s sponsor companies, driven by regulatory pressure and a recognition of sustainability as a significant growth driver. Following this trend, more SPAN projects have zeroed in on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) themes, emphasising the Southeast Asian context.

“Many sponsor companies are at different stages of incorporating sustainability,” explains Kia Hong. “Some are at the very beginning stages, while others have already implemented sustainability programmes but are facing growth or market penetration challenges.”

Kia Hong emphasises that SPAN is designed to solve real-world issues rather than theoretical problems. “We look for real consulting projects,” he explains. “We are very clear to the sponsor: we want a real project that keeps executives awake at night.”

What SPAN teams provide to sponsors

Every SPAN project gives a sponsor company access to a diverse and experienced team of MBA participants, who contribute meaningful and strategic benefits to the job.

1. Bringing in diverse, outside-in perspectives

Each SPAN team is intentionally composed of members with varied professional and cultural experiences. “The programme’s focus on diversity within teams enhances participants’ exposure to different perspectives,” explains Kia Hong.

This diversity, along with team members’ outsider perspectives on the sponsor’s industry, helps to spark fresh insights into sponsors’ problems. “That’s the intent of any SPAN project,” explains Dr. Rachel Ooi, an associate professor at Nanyang Business School and a veteran SPAN mentor. “We want them to co-create – to challenge the client while solving the same problem and thinking differently.”

The results are often quite surprising to the sponsor company. A SPAN team mentored by Rachel recommended that their palm oil business sponsor engage with stakeholders in the broader ESG ecosystem – an idea that had not occurred to the sponsor before.

“The CEO and C-suite team said that these were amazing outside-in perspectives that they could never have done by themselves,” shares Rachel. She adds that the client remarked, “You have connected me with the ecosystem of ESG that I am not aware of.”

2. Challenging assumptions and offering alternative solutions

Sponsor companies often fail to grasp the complexity of the sustainability landscape beyond their immediate operations. “Because the clients are doing it every day, they may be stuck with what they are already doing and may not be able to look beyond their problem,” explains Kia Hong.

“Let’s say a client is providing a carbon tracking system to the cacao-growing industry and is looking at growing to other industries. But, when you go outside, the value chain can be very different!”

By asking questions that insiders might overlook, SPAN teams often challenge assumptions and stimulate creative problem-solving.

For instance, one team signed up to work with a sponsor selling sustainable products to the hospitality industry. Noticing the saturated market for green products, the team suggested a strategic shift: “Why don’t you pivot your business strategy to one where you provide sustainability consulting?” Kia Hong recalls. “There will always be somebody who can sell a cheaper, more sustainable product. And then, you’re not giving value.”

Not every recommendation is positive; sometimes, difficult truths must be shared. “We tell the students: be honest!” says Kia Hong. “We cannot tell them only what they want to hear. They are actually quite impressed by the fact that we say no.”

3. Integrating technology to improve ESG performance

Emerging technologies designed to integrate sustainability data from various systems are increasingly driving improvements in ESG performance. SPAN teams actively engage with these technologies as part of their curriculum, and are thus well-equipped to advise sponsors on how to use them effectively.

SPAN teams work on a wide range of projects that combine technology and sustainability. Many sponsors’ SPAN projects frequently seek assistance integrating new technologies into their operations.

“Some of the past sustainability-related industry projects we have undertaken include digital transformation and decarbonisation strategy for the real estate industry in Southeast Asia; applying AI and foresight methodology to scenario analysis for the Philippine power industry; and a market study on hydrogen as a sustainable energy source,” Kia Hong explains.

What SPAN teams learn from the experience

The Nanyang Business School’s SPAN capstone module resonates with graduates long after they leave the programme. It not only fast-tracks their leadership and management training, but also gives them a deeper understanding of ESG principles and their application in real-world business settings.

It’s almost inevitable that SPAN programme members become sustainability advocates in their chosen careers.

“As more companies recognise the importance of sustainability, Nanyang Business School’s MBA graduates are well-positioned to drive ESG initiatives,” Kia Hong concludes. “Their experience from SPAN will enable them to advocate for impactful ESG policies, develop sustainable business models, and contribute to their organisations’ long-term success.”

Looking to make a difference? Find out more about the SPAN programme and learn about the Nanyang Business School’s capstone projects.

About Nanyang Business School

A premier business school within a leading technological university, Nanyang Business School (NBS) is the nexus of world-class innovation, research, and business education. At NBS, we inspire innovation through interdisciplinary exploration, cultivate culturally adept leadership, and champion sustainability-driven transformation.

Learn more about our graduate programmes here: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/business/admissions/graduate-studies

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Beyond the Hype: Generative AI’s Impact on Policy, Education and People

by Nanyang Business School | Dec 10, 2024 | Nanyang MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

Nanyang MBA

Beyond the Hype: Generative AI’s Impact on Policy, Education and People

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is reshaping how we work and think. And a heavy helping of hype has followed: an endless rotation of pundits continues to sing the technology’s praises online.

But, in reality, it’s too early to see clearly beyond the chatter. Like any generation caught in the middle of disruptive technology, we can only wait and see how the benefits of GenAI measure up against its risks.

To understand GenAI’s promise and potential pitfalls, we talked with Prof. Goh Kim Huat, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) at Nanyang Business School (NBS), who develops clinical AI algorithms when he’s not overseeing NBS’s MBA programmes.

AI’s impact – fast and slow

Prof. Goh is an old hand at AI: “I started doing analytics and AI work about 20 years ago,” he recalled. “Back then, it wasn’t called AI; it was called computer science, statistics or even econometrics.”

In Prof. Goh’s graduate school days, the large language models (LLMs) behind today’s GenAI didn’t exist. It was only in the late 2010s when transformer-based deep learning architecture made LLMs possible, leading to the 2020s’ generative AI boom.

GenAI is so new, it’s still not yet made a decisive impact on the way we work and think. “Change takes time to percolate through industries,” he explained.

Prof. Goh suggests we’ll see a phased impact of GenAI on the business world. Currently, AI automates existing business processes, focusing on incremental efficiency improvements without fundamentally transforming business operations.

“[AI will] start to change business models – you’ll start to see industries get progressively disrupted, or new industries emerge,” Prof. Goh explained, citing image protection software Nightshade and companies that provide data labelling services as examples of the latter. “Industry-level impact will take much longer because new technology often has indirect effects.”

And as GenAI increasingly takes over the cognitive labour previously reserved for humans, existing industries will find their business models disrupted.

“I tried using AI for programming in Python, and it generated excellent code, which could have a big impact on firms that rely on offshore programming,” Prof. Goh recalled. “Low-end programming jobs, I think, will be greatly impacted.”

GenAI’s human impact

Lost jobs are just the first in a long line of unpredictable impacts that GenAI will have on people.

“Humans live in the short term, whereas companies and economies operate in the mid to long term,” explained Prof. Goh. “When a person loses a job, one or two years of unemployment is a very long time, but from an economic standpoint, a temporary increase in job losses may be seen as beneficial for the country if the nation is able to reskill and redeploy structurally displaced individuals to other job roles.”

As with any new tech, the ethics of GenAI remain a work in progress – regulators, educators, and ethicists will have their hands full in the next few years responding to GenAI’s impact on labour and other intractable moral dilemmas:

Protecting creator rights: AI-driven changes are blurring the boundaries of creative ownership and payment. “If creators can’t protect their work, there’s no motivation to create, so the market will fail eventually,” explained Prof. Goh.
Deepfakes and trust: Scammers increasingly use AI-generated “deepfakes” to scam their victims out of their hard-earned cash. “Over time, this technology might create a generation that struggles with trust because they can’t tell if images or videos are real.”
Inequality: If AI becomes another form of capital – or a finite resource that produces value in an economy – Prof. Goh believes the technology could exacerbate income inequality over time. “If you only have certain individuals or companies with access to AI, that will affect wealth distribution across people, nations, and geographic locations,” he explained.

To ensure AI delivers on its potential, regulators must walk a fine line between fostering innovation and addressing potential risks – something he’s witnessed in his work with regulators from Singapore and abroad.

“Policymakers must balance how tightly they want to govern AI,” Prof. Goh explained. “For example, if you get too strict (for example, not allowing data to be used in LLMs because it could be shared), then you will not be able to use the technology.”

The right regulatory balance allows experimentation while ensuring ethical use and mitigating potential harms. Prof. Goh observed that Singapore – its pragmatic reputation aside – generally adopts a pro-technology stance. “Many tech innovations in Singapore, we allow to a point. We clamp down only when we see some problems,” he explained.

For issues like deepfakes, Prof. Goh prefers education over regulation to tackle the problem. “Regulation is going to be very difficult, especially with open access to the technology,” he explained. “We’re generally proactive about regulation in Singapore, but education may be the most important tool here—helping people understand that what they see may not be true.”

Addressing the cognitive offloading problem

Educators must strike a different balance between teaching GenAI as an essential future technology and ensuring it becomes a tool, not a crutch.

“We wouldn’t say, ‘Don’t use AI because it impedes learning’,” Prof. Goh said. “It’s like telling people to stop using Google and go back to libraries – it won’t work. But I think the idea that ChatGPT can solve everything is just naive.”

Prof. Goh raises concerns about cognitive offloading to AI and its effect on developing critical thinking skills as AI becomes more prevalent in business.

Before GenAI, students learned inductive reasoning on their own. However, today’s students and workers often delegate analysis to an AI chatbot. “It reduces our need for inductive thinking,” Prof. Goh explained. And just as muscles weaken without exercise, cognitive skills can weaken when not regularly used. “If one hasn’t been trained in the basics and then forced to use AI, the mind may not fully develop,” Prof. Goh explained.

Prof. Goh suggests a two-part solution to allow AI in coursework without the risk of detrimental cognitive offloading. “First, you must teach the fundamentals of individual thinking, the general principles,” he explained. “Then, build on GenAI’s capability to say, ‘This can now be done much faster.’”

Building a long-term AI curriculum

As NBS’s Associate Dean, Prof. Goh is helping NBS situate GenAI in the curriculum and align the technology with the school’s goals. “A lot of our primary research in AI is done through CCDS, the College of Computing and Data Science, where they focus on foundational AI research,” Prof. Goh explained. “At NBS, my colleagues and I conduct applied AI research.”

Universities must stay ahead of the curve on GenAI’s emergence as a transformative trend, but not too far ahead; when the hype eventually dies down, nobody wants to be left with a degree in a stagnant technology (MS in the Metaverse, anyone?).

“We need to ensure that it’s sustainable: it can’t be too applied to the point where it’s just a ‘flavour of the year’,” explained Prof. Goh. “We need to have something enduring over a long period of time.”

However, long-term trends look favourable for GenAI. “Over the last two years, many universities worldwide have created courses dedicated to AI. This usually signals a paradigm shift,” concluded Prof. Goh. “When entire colleges are created around GenAI, it will be here for a long time – this is a global trend.”

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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Balancing people, planet, and profit: How sustainability drives businesses, with accountants leading the charge

by Nanyang Business School | Dec 10, 2024 | Nanyang Executive MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA

Balancing people, planet, and profit: How sustainability drives businesses, with accountants leading the charge

The clock is literally ticking on climate change. We have less than five years before global temperatures reach a point of no return of 1.5°C of warming, beyond which global warming becomes irreversible.

This deadline is pushing governments to meet global environmental targets by 2030 to address rising temperatures from climate change and reverse massive biodiversity loss.

Businesses must now go beyond counting their profits to measuring the impact of their operations on the environment. They’re on the clock, too – under pressure from both consumers and regulators to commit to sustainability in practice, not just in name.

Green accounting, or sustainability accounting, has increasingly become central to companies’ operations. With sustainability accounting on the rise, accounting personnel must take on a larger leadership role in helping businesses meet their sustainability targets.

In a recent NBS Knowledge Lab seminar – and in ensuing conversations – Goh Kia Hong, senior lecturer at Nanyang Business School’s Accounting division, and Anne Liew Mei Hong (Nanyang Executive MBA ‘25), chief financial officer at Chuan Hup Holdings Limited, highlighted the benefits of sustainability reporting for businesses, and detailed how accountants can lead the charge.

Sustainability reporting and accountants’ evolving roles

The United Nations defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

In this context, green accounting measures the environmental costs and benefits of economic activities, aiming to maintain environmental sustainability and meeting corporate social responsibilities.

Governments have made sustainability a legal obligation for businesses in their jurisdictions. For instance, Singapore now mandates SGX-listed companies to report Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, in line with global standards like the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

To accurately report on this expanded view of a company’s business activity, accountants must go beyond their traditional focus on financial data to “tracking, reporting, and verifying non-financial data related to ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors,” Anne says.

“Only the accountant has visibility into the entire ecosystem,” she adds. This puts them “in the best position to find a balance between complying with sustainability and achieving profit goals.”

Kia Hong understands that this new role might stretch accountants’ current comfort levels. “Integration of non-financial data – especially related to environmental and social impact – can be complex,” he says. “Accountants need to adapt to new methodologies, terminologies, and regulatory frameworks.”

Overcoming data collection challenges

Accurate metrics are the foundation of effective green accounting. “Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of data is crucial in sustainability reporting, and it is also the most challenging part,” says Anne.

While global reporting frameworks like the ISSB provide accounting professionals with a reporting template to follow, Kia Hong notes that collecting accurate metrics is often easier said than done. For one, he notes that “accountants have limited expertise in environmental metrics such as carbon emissions and energy use.”

He also recognises that there is a “lack of standardised methods for collecting non-financial data.” For example, “qualitative factors like employee well-being or societal impact” are difficult to measure.

Despite these challenges, Kia Hong suggests several methods for improving data accuracy: accountants should rely on “verified, reliable data sources” and apply “clear methodologies, such as the GHG Protocol for emissions.”

He adds that “collaborating with experts in environmental science and engineering” and “leveraging digital tools such as data analytics, AI, and IoT (Internet of things) systems to automate and verify data collection processes” can improve the reliability of sustainability metrics.

For Kia Hong, accurate reporting promotes an ethical approach that “builds trust with stakeholders and reduces long-term risks,” minimising the temptation to resort to superficial claims (greenwashing) or silence (greenhushing).

“Accountants play a crucial role in ensuring transparent, honest reporting by adhering to clear standards, such as those set by the ISSB, and emphasising the importance of accuracy in disclosures,” he points out.

Aligning sustainability with corporate strategy

Anne notes that accountants are in an “ideal position to communicate sustainability performance to stakeholders (management, the board, auditors, and shareholders).”

This indicates a duty to advocate for closer alignment between corporate strategy and sustainability – for instance, by integrating sustainability goals into the company’s core business objectives and strategic plans, “to make sustainability a driver of business performance rather than a side project,” as Anne puts it.

Anne also recommends “linking sustainability strategy to value creation for stakeholders such as increased brand reputation, improved customer loyalty, better employee retention, and improved investor confidence.” An Oxford University meta-study supports this observation, finding that 80% of respondents saw stock price performance positively influenced by good sustainability practices.

Anne also proposes that “individual departmental KPIs should include sustainability reporting elements.” She adds that this can incentivise employees at all levels to prioritise sustainability in daily tasks and decision making, embedding sustainability in operational practices over the long term.”

Building a culture of sustainability

Anne stresses that sustainability is not solely the responsibility of the accounting department but requires a “concerted effort across the board – from stakeholders, the board of directors, and vendors.”

“Everyone plays a role, but I think accountants can be the project leaders in the data collection process,” she says. “The role of accountants is to marry this data into a business perspective – showing its implications on cost, revenue, and risk.”

Training and education can help foster a broader understanding of sustainability principles across different departments. Training achieves several goals at once: “creating awareness, building internal capacity, and building more support and consensus across different departments in the organisation,” Anne points out.

What is most important, Anne notes, is that “at the end of the day, the entire organisation needs to align with the same vision to achieve the goals set by the company.”

Anne also advocates for implementing specialised accounting software that integrates with existing ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems and supply chain data sources. This is “to facilitate data collection while improving traceability and accuracy” – enabling more effective monitoring and reporting of sustainability performance.

The future of green accounting

For Kia Hong, tomorrow’s accountants will need to adjust to a future that “will increasingly blend financial and non-financial reporting, which requires them to expand their roles in ESG, climate risk assessment, and integrated reporting.”

In brief, they’ll need to rise above a limited reporting-only role to “become strategic advisors, helping businesses navigate sustainability challenges while remaining financially viable…. as standards become more widespread, the role of accountants will evolve towards ensuring holistic accountability – encompassing environmental, social, and economic dimensions.”

As accountants upskill and diversify their skill sets, they will be able to serve more organisations integrating sustainability into their operations – and do their part to race against the clock and meet sustainability goals.

The Nanyang suite of MBA programmes can help prepare finance executives for this sustainability-focused finance regime. The period of study spans between 12 months to 2 years, depending on the chosen programme.

The programmes emphasise developing culturally aware, impactful leaders who grasp the synergy between business, technology, and innovation, empowering them to thrive in international environments and navigate continuous digital transformation.

Learn more about the Nanyang MBA programmes here.

Download the Nanyang Executive MBA brochure

Click here to learn more about the Nanyang Executive MBA programme or contact us at execmba@ntu.edu.sg.

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Thought Leadership

Rethinking Marketing Education for a Sustainable Future

by Nanyang Business School | Dec 10, 2024 | MSc Marketing Science

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC MARKETING SCIENCE

Rethinking Marketing Education for a Sustainable Future

Sustainability is often preached, but inconsistently practised in the corporate world. Different stakeholders pursue misaligned goals: while governments require companies to implement globally-adopted sustainability practices, consumers often hesitate at paying more for green products.

Businesses are stuck in the middle. How can they market “net-zero” products, while generating sales despite the higher perceived cost?

This fundamental question drives Nanyang Business School’s new marketing module for Master of Science (MSc) in Marketing Science (MMS) participants, “Marketing Sustainability”. Developed and taught by Asst Prof Charlene Chen, the module is designed to foster sustainability principles in emerging marketing professionals.

“It’s a forward-looking course – it’s about encouraging our students to use a marketing toolkit towards pushing the sustainability movement forward,” Prof. Charlene explains. “With the right training, we’ll have more champions of sustainability in marketing, and more effective champions of sustainability as well.”

New module bridges gap between marketing and sustainability

Companies, consumers, activists, and governments define sustainability based on their own short-term considerations – thus, what it means to create long-term value through sustainability can be interpreted in widely divergent ways.

Prof. Charlene’s real-world approach to sustainability recognises the importance of the bottom line. “A company can only be a force for good if it is solvent,” she explains. “If the company goes under, it loses the opportunity to make a big difference in the world.”

Prof. Charlene uses the “triple bottom line” as a useful lens to understand how competing parties can make common cause on sustainability. “You need to balance three things,” she explains:

Planet – “Doing good and protecting our planet;”
People – “We need to take care of the people who work for us;” and
Profit – “As much as we care about the planet, you should also care that the company needs to be financially sustainable.”

There’s no contradiction in the “triple P” framework: Prof. Charlene explains that “once you balance people and planet, very often, you can make a profit!” The stats bear this out: a Morgan Stanley survey found that over 80% of companies see potential financial opportunities from their sustainability strategies over the next five years.

Fighting the sustainability premium

Despite these encouraging findings, many businesses are reluctant to commit to sustainable practices and products – much less make sustainability a key marketing message. For starters, businesses watching their bottom line are wary about the additional cost required.

“Doing R&D, changing up your production line, or working with different suppliers add to costs, not only in terms of money but in terms of added work,” Prof. Charlene explains.

For their part, consumers do not respond all the same way to a sustainability-centred marketing message. Hype aside, “green products” are still a hard sell as sustainable products are seen as pricier overall. “That is the ‘sustainability premium’,” Prof. Charlene tells us. “Why should I spend more money to pay for them as a consumer?”

The green message hasn’t yet reached everyone; a 2022 Singapore Environment Council (SEC) study found that one in two consumers will avoid choosing products with sustainable packaging if it costs more.

“We cannot assume that all our consumers are sustainability conscious,” Prof. Charlene says. “That’s why the value proposition cannot just be ‘the product is sustainable’.”

Marketing beyond the sustainability value proposition

What other value propositions does Prof. Charlene suggest? First, “find an additional value proposition over and beyond sustainability.”

Saying “we’re a net zero product” isn’t compelling enough as a sales message. You need to dig deeper: “Adding a value proposition above and beyond ‘greener’ may help push the products more effectively to consumers,” Prof. Charlene says. “It may not be directly relevant to being green, but relate to properties that consumers still value.”

She cites AlterPacks as an example, a company that makes robust, reusable, and biodegradable food containers made from food waste. Alterpacks’ containers are “actually a lot pricier than what [clients] are using,” Prof. Charlene says. “[Alterpacks CEO Karen Cheah] managed to convince buyers because they are hardier than the usual containers. They are more heat resistant. They are more durable. They can be used several times before they are composted.”

Second: tell a compelling sustainability story. “People are visual – they want to see where their impact is on their purchase,” Prof. Charlene explains.

“For example, some stores tell you that they use ocean plastic in the manufacture of their products. They’ll have a concrete demonstration in-store to show you how much ocean plastics you are using by buying a swimsuit, for example.”

Relationships and persuasion to drive sustainable change

A lot of the work in marketing sustainability is understanding how to persuade people: “communicating what sustainability is to them in layman’s terms, and not use too much jargon because people get switched off,” Prof. Charlene says.

Students learn the importance of “converting multiple stakeholders within the organisation to become more green… it’s not just about convincing consumers,” she tells us; future corporate leaders “need to be able to use relationships to convince people why sustainability is the right agenda to pursue.”

This is what Prof. Charlene tries to achieve in her new Marketing Sustainability Class. Persuasion is the foundation of exercises like the change management simulation, where MMS students will apply real world tools used in change management such as conduct town halls, send emails, and organise training sessions to convince various organisational stakeholders to become more sustainable,” she explains.

A multi-stakeholder approach also informs the module’s sustainability communication exercises. “A big challenge in sustainability is how do you communicate to the layman? Nobody is going to pore through all your sustainability reporting,” Prof. Charlene tells us.

In this exercise, students must create content that explains sustainability concepts in a clear, concise, and engaging manner “using graphics, even using influencers and social media to spread bite-size messages in ways that people can understand,” Prof. Charlene explains. “That helps them communicate simply, clearly, and in a way that’s interesting and appealing.”

Teaching marketing sustainability for tomorrow’s CMOs

Prof. Charlene will start teaching “Marketing Sustainability” to MMS students in November 2024: “They are going to become marketing leaders in the future, and some of them already have some experience,” Prof. Charlene says.

“I am glad that I am able to be in a position to educate the next level of leadership – I am very privileged to be able to inspire and hopefully train a few CMOs along the way. If they manage to make a positive difference in the world. I’ll be super proud of them.”

Find out more about the Master of Science (MSc) in Marketing Science (MMS) here.

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MSc Marketing Science

Exploring beyond India: Lessons from our Indian Alumni’s Transformative Nanyang MBA Experience

by Nanyang Business School | Dec 6, 2024 | Nanyang MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

Nanyang MBA

Exploring beyond India: Lessons from our Indian Alumni’s Transformative Nanyang MBA Experience

The only good thing about glass ceilings is that they can be broken. Two of our Indian Nanyang MBA alumni – Pradnya Sabale and Apoorva Jain – have proved this decisively.

Both Pradnya and Apoorva shared a desire to exceed their limits and achieve new heights in their respective careers. They were drawn to Nanyang Business School (NBS) for its prestigious global reputation, strategic Singapore location, and extensive networking opportunities that could help them achieve a career liftoff.

We asked Pradnya and Apoorva to share the Nanyang MBA’s unexpected lessons, and how these learnings have shaped their respective professional and personal growth trajectories.

Putting your career on the fast track

Before the Nanyang MBA, Apoorva was working as an information security auditor at a Big Four accounting firm. While the role was complex, “everything was process-oriented with strict rules and no decision-making capabilities,” she explains.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard but gave Apoorva space to rethink. “My education and background were purely technical,” she explains. “I wanted to pivot into a management role where I could make my own decisions, gain business knowledge, and influence strategy.”

For her part, Pradnya was working as an R&D engineer at a Japanese semiconductor equipment manufacturing company. “Being the youngest in the department, I felt a glass ceiling, especially as a foreign woman,” she explains. “I knew a management degree would be the fastest way to achieve my career goals.”

Diversity matters for in-depth learning

Pradnya found that NBS – specifically the Nanyang MBA – aligned perfectly with her goals for professional growth and skill enhancement.

Her work on diversity initiatives helped her realise what she had to gain if her class was diverse, and an MBA in Singapore could deliver this better compared to what B-schools in India or Japan could offer. “That was a key factor in my decision – I wanted to experience a different culture,” she explains.

Apoorva, for her part, was won over by NBS’s supportive programme management team. “They were very kind and helpful, which made me feel at ease because I knew there would be someone to guide me and answer my questions patiently,” she recalls.

The alumni were also impressed by NBS’s high rankings and strong international reputation. “I carefully reviewed the programmes of various universities, and NTU’s leadership courses, along with the capstone module, really caught my eye,” Pradnya explains. “Compared to some European universities, I felt NTU’s programme offered exactly what I wanted to learn.”

Learning from both theory and practice

Both Apoorva and Pradnya selected the strategy and innovation track of the Nanyang MBA. Apoorva appreciated its emphasis on practical, real-world knowledge rather than purely theoretical concepts, and Pradnya chose it because the specialisation aligned with her interest in strategy.

The Nanyang MBA prepares participants to “innovate, lead, and transform” through a combination of theoretical depth and practical application. Apooorva and Pradnya undertook modules that demonstrated the Nanyang MBA’s blend of theory and practice.

The Strategic Transformation module appealed to Pradnya’s consultancy experience. “It was taught by a McKinsey veteran who shared his own experience,” she says, adding that she intends to revisit the module’s insights “after two or three years – by then, what he taught will still be relevant.”

Apoorva appreciated the CQ (Cultural Intelligence) module and its lessons on direct and indirect communication. “I learned how to pick up cultural cues and avoid being embarrassed when interacting with people from different backgrounds,” she explains.

Both Apoorva and Pradnya appreciated the Competitive Strategy module’s real-world applicability. “It was taught beautifully, using different examples to explain the competitive landscape,” Pradnya recalls of her experience. Apoorva appreciates how the module demonstrated these companies’ abilities to stay relevant in the market and beat their competition.

A safe space to learn vital business lessons

The Nanyang MBA provided Pradnya and Apoorva with a “safe space” to test and refine ideas without the restrictions of a corporate hierarchy. “If you wanted to challenge something, brush up on anything, or even quarrel about a topic, this was the place to do it,” Pradnya recalls. “That environment helped polish our principles and values.”

Apoorva threw herself into NBS’s extracurricular activities. “It was important not to limit my learning to the classroom, but to take advantage of the different opportunities that Nanyang MBA offered,” she explains. “I didn’t want to restrict my learning to what the professors were teaching.”

Throughout her MBA journey, Apoorva served as an NBS brand ambassador and competed in a number of international case competitions. She shares that the former built her confidence in public speaking and networking. The latter was a particularly memorable experience: “Presenting to senior judges, including Big Four partners and CEOs, refined my thought process,” Apoorva shares.

A real career game-changer

With the lessons of the Nanyang MBA filling their sails, both Pradnya and Apoorva have been able to advance their careers.

Pradnya was able to pivot from a role as an R&D engineer in Japan to a strategy and management consultant role in India. “Going through the MBA is a transformational journey,” she shares. “Initially, I knew about three career paths after an MBA, but by the time I finished, I knew hundreds.”

Apoorva leveraged her SPAN capstone project experience to secure an internship and subsequent full-time role at Johnson Controls. Later, she transitioned to Marriott Singapore’s Information Security Partnerships team, where her MBA skills now help her drive strategic initiatives and cross-regional collaborations.

“It’s about building partnerships with different Marriott hotels and driving initiatives and programs,” she tells us. “I work with over 800 hotels in the APAC region, driving information security awareness campaigns and leading conferences from an information security perspective.”

Sage advice for Indian MBA aspirants

Pradnya and Apoorva have some advice for other Indian executives who want to follow in their footsteps.

Pradnya cautions Indian students to ditch the mindset that an MBA is mainly for getting a higher salary or changing career direction. “If you come with an open mindset, you’ll come away with a lot of connections,” she advises. “These will help you throughout your career, not just for your first job.”

For applicants from a tech background without prior business knowledge,”An MBA can be a game changer – offering numerous opportunities to hone your skills, develop your personality, and become a better business leader,” Apoorva concludes. “The learning and experience you gain from the Nanyang MBA will be something you cherish throughout your life.”

Learn more about the Nanyang MBA programme here.

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.

The Causeway Connection: How Our Malaysian Nanyang MBA Alumni Achieved Their Career Goals

by Nanyang Business School | Dec 6, 2024 | Nanyang MBA

Graduate Studies Blog

Nanyang MBA

The Causeway Connection: How Our Malaysian Nanyang MBA Alumni Achieved Their Career Goals

It’s common to find Malaysians pivoting their careers across the Causeway. But these Malaysian Nanyang MBA alumni – Aaron Ting, Justin Lee, and Terrence Fou – took their cross-border career shifts to new heights.

The Nanyang MBA programme aligned seamlessly with their desires to push beyond their limitations and reach their goals. Aaron, Justin, and Terrence were drawn by Nanyang Business School’s stellar global reputation, strategic location, and networking opportunities; the possibilities that opened up to them post-Nanyang MBA justified their efforts.

We asked them to share how the Nanyang MBA helped them achieve their goals, and what unexpected lessons they picked up along the way.

Breaking free of career limitations

Before taking the MBA, Aaron had worked as a financial analyst in the retail industry. The pandemic gave him time to evaluate what he wanted to do next. “I believe an MBA equips individuals to manage diverse talent and work toward a common goal,” he says. “My decision to pursue an MBA was driven by a desire to enhance these skills and advance my career.”

Justin and Terrence both felt limited by their existing roles and saw the MBA as a pathway to positions with increased scope and impact.

Terrence had been working as an R&D scientist specialising in sustainable product development. “I found research in a corporate setting too constraining,” he explains. “I wanted to pivot into a marketing-related career.”

Meanwhile, Justin left the tech consulting industry in early 2019 to pursue a business development (BD) role in the renewable energy space. Unfortunately, his momentum was stymied by the pandemic. “That’s when I sought an MBA to pivot into a business development role within a regional renewal energy company,” he says.

Pursuing a world-class MBA programme closer to home

For each of them, the Nanyang MBA was the ideal choice, aligning with their personal and professional aspirations.

In Terrence’s case, the decision was straightforward since Nanyang Technological University (NTU) – the home institution of Nanyang Business School – was his alma mater. “I fully trust the quality of the faculty,” he shares. He was also granted an alumni subsidy and a partial scholarship, which he found tremendously helpful.

The Nanyang MBA was a perfect fit for Justin, given its global rankings. The prospect of participating in a class led by Singapore’s top sustainability and energy experts also piqued his interest. “Singapore was a natural choice since I wanted to focus on the ASEAN market,” he explains.

Aaron, too, was attracted to Singapore, but it was the personable and engaging staff at Nanyang Business School that ultimately sealed the deal. “An MBA programme starts with the university setting the tone and culture,” he says. “NTU’s programme admins were willing to go the extra mile to explain the programmes to me and how I could successfully become part of the cohort.”

Charting unfamiliar territories to uncover hidden opportunities

For many working professionals, staying in the same role can greatly limit their exposure to new ideas. That’s why many participants benefit from the Nanyang MBA’s broad range of opportunities to widen their professional viewpoint.

Aaron, for instance, initially wasn’t sure how sustainability would fit into his finance-focused career. To his surprise, he found that the insights in the sustainability track multiplied his career options. “Though this journey hasn’t directly led to a new career, it has significantly broadened my professional network and opened doors to potential job opportunities,” he says.

Terrence had a similar experience with the strategy specialisation track. “The modules exposed us to numerous real-life business case studies,” he shares. “Those intense classroom discussions have helped me see business through a wider lens levelling up my strategic planning and improvisation skills.”

The sustainability track gave Justin access to modules that met his aspirations in the energy space. “I was particularly interested in the class ‘Energy Systems and the Future of Energy’, which was part of the sustainability track,” he explains. “As it was taught by Prof Subodh Gautam Mhaisalkar, who’s the Executive Director of the Energy Research Institute @ Nanyang, I could get insights into Singapore’s energy strategy at a country level.”

Enriching the learning experience with capstone modules and extracurricular activities

Beyond the classroom, the Nanyang MBA’s capstone modules and extracurricular activities played a key role in enriching our alumni’s educational journeys.

Strategy Projects at Nanyang (SPAN) gave Terrence a chance to work on an ESG-centred project, in line with his own background. “Our team chose a sustainability-related project on energy management via IoT devices and monitoring,” he explains. “We had great exchanges with the senior management team; we got great feedback and further conversations afterward.”

Justin, for his part, turned to extracurriculars to make the most of his MBA experience. He ran as the Sustainability Club Chair and participated in the Accounting4Sustainability International Case Competition (A4SICC). “I learned a lot about entrepreneurship from A4S,” he notes. “We did a lot of research to back up our financial model and proposal.”

Cultivating diverse skills and new perspectives

Aaron is quick to debunk misconceptions about what an MBA brings to an individual post-completion. “Many think it makes or breaks getting a specific job or role,” he says. “However, the true value of an MBA lies in the diverse skills and perspectives it cultivates.”

The Nanyang MBA experience draws its lessons not just from professors, but also from fellow cohorts. “The perspectives you can potentially gain from your peers carry a lot of weight,” he explains. “They can broaden your views in the workforce and how it can be translated into your personal life.”

That’s why he appreciates how the Nanyang MBA opens doors to a wider network of connections. “It’s about the genuine relationships you form with like-minded individuals – professionals who have the same passion and drive,” he explains. “It all boils down to how one approaches and takes away from these relationships in a meaningful manner.”

Getting ready for the real world with a Nanyang MBA

These alumni not only achieved the goals they set out to pursue, but also gained unique takeaways from their Nanyang MBA journeys that served them well in furthering their careers.

Aspiring Nanyang MBA candidates from Malaysia and beyond can follow in Aaron, Justin, and Terrence’s footsteps, becoming culturally aware, impactful leaders who understand the synergy between business, technology, and innovation and are empowered to thrive in international environments.

Learn more about the Nanyang MBA programme here.

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.

Insights from 3 ASEAN Development Scholarship Recipients on Navigating Graduate School

by Nanyang Business School | Dec 6, 2024 | MSc Business Analytics

Graduate Studies Blog

MSC BUSINESS ANALYTICS

Insights from 3 ASEAN Development Scholarship Recipients on Navigating Graduate School Banner

In any industry today, data holds the key to making smarter decisions. Those with data analytics skills are able to unlock insights that drive business success – and open doors to career growth in the process.

For three ambitious professionals, an MSc in Business Analytics (MSBA) from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is taking their careers to new heights. As recipients of the ASEAN Development Scholarship – a post-graduate scholarship open to citizens of ASEAN countries outside Singapore – they receive the support and resources they need to transform their skill sets. Each scholarship award covers either 100% or 40% of tuition fees.

Here, our three ASEAN Scholars share how they are making the most of their MSBA journey, and how their time at NTU is helping them achieve their career ambitions.

Jacqueline Ong – Working hard, playing harder

Even as a Computer Science undergraduate in Minnesota, Jacqueline Ong had already caught an exciting glimpse of student life at NTU.

“NTU has a solid exchange programme with my alma mater and I had bonded with many NTU exchange students,” she recalled. “The school sounded academically rigorous as well as exciting, so it was at the top of my list when I decided to apply for graduate school.”

After three years as a software developer, Jacqueline decided she was ready to explore a different role in technology. “I wanted to understand the metrics and factors that drive businesses, and an MSBA would reshape my skill set,” she explained. “I was eager to catch up with industry trends and learn more about big data, machine learning, and strategy.”

Three months into the programme, Jacqueline foresees that her newfound ability to interpret data within a business context will not only help her build data-driven solutions, but also work better in an interdisciplinary team. “The MSBA is equipping me to do the technical work that’s needed while communicating fluently with different stakeholders,” she said.

As an ASEAN Development Scholar, she has taken full advantage of the resources at her fingertips to accelerate her professional growth – from career workshops to data competitions.

“Being part of the scholarship programme has connected me with a diverse network of scholars, brand ambassadors, and even potential students,” she shared. “These valuable relationships open up opportunities for collaboration and motivate me to do better.”

But life as a scholar isn’t all work and no play. The NTU campus is buzzing with clubs and events, and Jacqueline makes it a habit to stay up-to-date through her school emails.

“My biggest passion is dancing and last month, I auditioned into NTU MJ – our school’s dance crew that’s well-known in the local dance scene!” she said. “Through our weekly sessions, I’ve bonded with other students and trained with amazing choreographers who have all helped me feel grounded in my community.”

In fact, some of her favourite memories in NTU so far have come from spontaneously joining events – such as the university’s official DJ night to welcome new participants at Gaia.

“It was a very impressive event where we danced the night away, singing our hearts out and waving our phones in a sea of glittering flashlights,” Jacqueline recalled. “It’s true what they say of a Master’s student: work hard, play hard!”

Jason Patrick – Enhancing technical skills with hands-on learning

As a Senior Technology Consultant with EY Indonesia, Jason Patrick helped businesses to build IT strategic plans and spur their digital transformation. In the course of his work, he noticed that many clients struggled to make strategic decisions due to a lack of data analytics expertise.

“Not only do data analytics skills enhance decision-making and drive profitability, they can also contribute to improving society,” he said. “I decided to pursue an MSBA to learn how to create robust analytics strategies.”

Jason aspired to continue on his career path as a consultant specialising in data and analytics strategy. So he sought a programme with a strong emphasis on practical application. NTU’s MSBA programme, with its hands-on projects and data analytics practicum, fit the bill perfectly.

“The MSBA provided an opportunity to enhance my technical knowledge through hands-on learning,” he explained. “It would equip me with the skills to implement the right technologies and solutions that would assist clients in decision-making.”

Clinching the ASEAN Development Scholarship was the icing on the cake, giving him the confidence boost he needed to pursue professional growth. “Being a scholar has raised my confidence in my potential and abilities,” he revealed. “It further motivates me to excel in my career.”

This extra dose of confidence now serves Jason well as he tackles new challenges in his MSBA journey. He shares that he’s faced a steep learning curve in mastering new technical skills, such as Python programming and data visualisation.

“I’m navigating these challenges by staying focused and taking it one step at a time,” he said. “For subjects I’m unclear about, I schedule time for extra exploration to understand them better.”

For future MSBA participants, Jason’s top tip for success is to be unafraid of asking questions. “NTU has plenty of resources to help you make the most of the MSBA experience, so don’t hesitate to ask when you’re confused,” he advised. “I’m very grateful that the professors, the graduate team, and my course mates are all very open to clarifying any questions I have.”

Phuong Anh Nguyen Hoang – Tapping into the power of collaboration

Every day, vast amounts of customer and sales data are generated on e-commerce sites globally. For e-commerce planners like Phuong Anh Nguyen Hoang, the key to success lies in turning these numbers into insights. After three years on the job, she felt she needed to deepen her data analytics knowledge.

“I became increasingly interested in how analytics can enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency,” she recalled. She hoped to develop a career in data analytics within the e-commerce sector and she saw that an MSBA would open doors for her.

“The MSBA programme at NTU stood out to me because it focused on real-world applications and industry-relevant tools,” she shared. “This combination is crucial for me to tackle complex business challenges.”

Winning the ASEAN Development Scholarship enabled Phuong Anh to focus on her studies, giving her the resources to chase her career goals. “I’m so grateful for the technical skills I’ve gained, particularly in data analysis and statistical methods,” she said. “This foundational knowledge has empowered me to approach business problems with confidence.”

Beyond the technical skills, it’s the collaborative learning and sense of community that Phuong Anh cherishes the most. Through the MSBA’s many group projects and class discussions, she has picked up new perspectives and gained a better grasp of difficult concepts.

“Collaboration enhances learning, so actively engage in class discussions and group projects to maximise your MSBA experience,” is her advice to future participants. “I’ve learnt the importance of teamwork when solving complex issues.”

Besides building connections with her peers, Phuong Anh is proactive about growing her industry network as well. NTU’s regular networking events and career workshops offer rich opportunities to do just that.

“Don’t hesitate to take advantage of such events; they have been invaluable in helping me connect with industry professionals while significantly improving my communication skills,” she advised. “I believe these connections will play a crucial role in my future career.”

Maximise your career potential with the MSBA

Like Jacqueline, Jason, and Phuong Anh, you can take your career to the next level by mastering business analytics skills. As data reshapes industries, an MSBA prepares you to deliver useful insights and stay on the cutting edge of business transformation.

Learn more about the MSc Business Analytics programme here, and find out how the ASEAN Development Scholarship can support your journey.

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