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FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Managing Business Tomorrow |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA MANAGING BUSINESS TOMORROW Reports have indicated a decline in MBA applications in universities around the world. Is an MBA degree still relevant in the new digital economy? Our Associate Dean, Assoc. Prof. Sia, led a panel discussion with 3 of our MBA alumni to discuss the trending issue. Watch the video to learn how NBS is redesigning its Master’s programmes to stay relevant to cope with the new complexities. Why an MBA remains relevant in today’s digital economy Technological advances such as the rise of artificial intelligence, robotics, electronic commerce and the Internet of Things are disrupting the world of business. Likewise, technology is affecting the role of managers, as analytics that analyse customer behaviour and operational efficiency are increasingly driving decision-making. For business schools, this begs the question of whether their MBA programmes, traditionally focused on general management skills and areas of specialisation, are relevant in today’s digital economy. Three alumni of the Nanyang Business School sought to answer this question at a panel discussion at the end of August. What do you need from an MBA? Tan Kim Leng, an MBA alumnus from the Class of 2004 and the managing director of KDI Asia, a consultancy that specialises in change and innovation practices, says instead of asking whether one should do an MBA programme, prospective students should ask what an MBA can do for them in their professional field. “The MBA’s value lies in what problem you’re trying to solve, what are the skills and problem space you want to be very good at?” he says. “Can an MBA help you to better understand the nature of the problem? What are the networks you can establish (at business school) to get you to solve that problem? The question of whether an MBA is relevant is very personal.” If prospective students wish to attain leadership roles rather than becoming a specialist in a niche area, then an MBA course is relevant to them, says Oliver Plogmann, the managing director of Accenture Aviation and Seabury Consulting. An EMBA alumnus from the Class of 2015, Plogmann says business professors can help foster understanding of the importance of artificial intelligence or business analytics to one’s business. The challenge for business schools, he says, is to keep up with the pace of technological changes. Plogmann says his experience at Nanyang Business School showed him the value of seeking the views of his fellow students and the faculty in attempting to solve business challenges. “Critical thinking, people interaction, and the (professional) network are things that you actually also learn or foster through the MBA programme,” he says. Whether an MBA has relevance depends on one’s professional objectives, says Janet Young, managing director of group channels and digitalisation at UOB Bank, and an MBA alumnus from the Class of 1995. It also depends on whether the curriculum of the MBA programme keeps up to date with the latest trends, she says, adding that business schools should keep close contact with industry professionals. An asset in searching for jobs In terms of exploiting job opportunities in today’s digital economy, having an MBA is certainly not a disadvantage. “If we are hiring for positions that require active organisation and conceptionalisation, I would say that the MBA would definitely be an advantage largely because in today’s fast-changing world, business models are changing,” says Young. Asked what changes the panel members would like to see in MBA programmes, Young called for new modules that focus on technology. As technology is very much part of today’s business world, it is important to be able to “appreciate, understand, adapt, embrace and infuse” technology in the various aspects of one’s work, she says. Lifelong learning Tan says he hopes MBA programmes could become a venue of lifelong learning for alumni, comparing it with military reservist stints that enable reservists to refresh and update their military capabilities. Plogmann agrees with the need for lifelong learning. “Maybe in the past you could say I do an MBA and I’m set for my general management career and I will get good money and that’s it,” he says. “It’s not going to happen in today’s world anymore. So we have to continuously learn and MBA can only be a building block.” He likes the idea of returning to business school intermittently, but stresses that learning should happen on a daily basis. “Technology is the core of any business. Anyone in this room who thinks it’s not going to happen for his industry, I think that’s not going to be the case,” he says. “You are going to be disrupted if you still think that way.” |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL 2019 Article contributed by Shubham Sharma, Class of 2020. Mid-Autumn festival is a traditional event where we aim to to gather with our families and loved ones. But this year, given we were away from home, struggling with our Nanyang MBA assignments – we took the chance to celebrate with our cohort through a night of moon cakes and some drinks. The planning team aimed to purchase the tastiest moon cakes possible, given the price budget and subsequently Created coupons to make sure everyone would be able to consumer four drinks. That night will forever be etched in my memory with the moon being covered by clouds but everyone’s shining smile more than making up for it. There were mooncakes, lanterns, sparkle sticks with a special appearance made by a student guitarist who serenaded us with his lovely songs – joined ceremoniously by all our classmates. As an intensive week has just come to a close and with another just around the corner, we thoroughly enjoyed the time together and indulged ourselves in food, friendship and the overall atmosphere. Although there was a rather short preparation time for the event, we were taken aback by how eager our classmates were to help. Thanks to them, the preparation and execution of the event went along untroubled and effortless. It was truly lovely chapter of trimester 1 and we cannot wait to prepare another unforgettable event for our friends. Student Life |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: [Why NBS] with MBA alumni Isabell Mathias |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA [WHY NBS] WITH MBA ALUMNI ISABELL MATHIAS Present Position: 1. How was your professional journey after NBS up till your present role? (Mention internships, job changes etc.) I did a company-sponsored full-time MBA (Bayer) and received a promotion with completion of the MBA. I returned to the global IT department in the new job as an organizational change manager in program and project excellence. Shortly after my return from Singapore to Germany I went on a short term assignment (for 6 months) to the US. In Germany I worked in experimental modes for agile ways of working. 2. Tell us about your current role and what inspires you to pursue this daily? 2 years after the MBA (so just recently) I switched to our Internal Audit department doing now IT Auditing. This role gives me a way to have relatively high influence and visibility for the age and seniority level that I’m at. I will be traveling a lot and having the opportunity to meet in person worldwide with the various (mainly IT) teams and to enable the company for early detection of issues and for overall better processes, structures, and implementations. Connection with NBS: 3. How relevant was NBS in your professional development? (please speak about alumni network, career fairs, education etc.) The career office was supportive and their activities were helpful for future perspectives. Most valuable were the connections they enabled through real company projects (SPAN and other courses like Strategic Innovation Mgmt), and also the fairs you can go to. I’m the regional NTU Alumni representative for Northrhine Westfalia Germany. It’s still a small alumni network here but on the rise. 4. Which person at NBS was the most impactful? Several impactful persons. To name one, I would say Pete Giulioni (professor and then also head of the career office) 5. What advice would you give the current and future students to make their NBS experience better? Don’t hesitate to address early on schedule clashes and other things that are hindering you. The administrative staff and professors are very open and supportive, and will accommodate your request if feasible and reasonable. E.g there might be deadlines piling or timings of classes unfortunate. Address it. Keep it to a reasonable level though. See your MBA cohort as partners and friends! Strive for academic excellence without being unhealthily competitive towards your peers. 6. Your favorite hangout zone at NTU and why? MBA lounge! Why? You should know why if you have seen it ? 7. Your favorite memory of being at NTU. There are so many and not all adequate to share via this form…here’s something to share:
8. If given a chance, would you like to come at the campus and interact with the present cohort? I sure would, though I’m too far away, if my schedule shall bring me to Singapore I will surely drop by. Academic/Jobs: 9. Which course(s) did you find the most interesting? Global management of human capital, Strategic technlogy & innovation management, Life Sciences: A business perspective, Tech & e-business, Managing change in the workplace, and Mandarin classes. 10. In your domain, which companies did you find most friendly to interact with during the internship/job search? My job search was already long time before the MBA and then, out of all the several companies I talked to, it was Bayer by far. To learn more about our Nanyang MBA programme, please visit our website. Alumni Stories Academic Experience |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Business Study Mission (China) 2019 |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA BUSINESS STUDY MISSION (CHINA) 2019 Contributed by Anmol Wahi, Class of 2020 Ni Hao! Exhilarating, insightful and immensely enjoyable – these are the three words that sum up the Shanghai-Hangzhou Business Study Mission for us. While we had done our research and had our itineraries in place, we were in no way prepared for the pace and sheer “largeness” of our experience! From exploring the charming streets of Old City Shanghai to the uber-chic setting of the Financial District, from being mesmerised by the serenity of the Yu Garden to the lit-up brilliance of the Bund, from savouring the soupy goodness of Xiao Long Baos to testing our taste buds with the Hai Di Lao hot pot – we did it all! While we faced minor difficulties with the language barrier and social rules, it was refreshing to experience first-hand the sense of community and nationalism that the Chinese culture is known for. We were also immensely fascinated by China’s drive towards revolutionizing existing systems and adopting holistic digitalization. Our visit to Hema supermarket, for example, was an eye-opener to a “new retail” model boosting Chinese consumerism. On a more professional front, we met with a few companies in China, from the homegrown Ant Financial and OCBC to global giants such as Medtronic, JWT, Ascott and Lanxess. We got amazingly insightful information on how business is run in China, local consumer insights as well as the hot topic of intellectual property. We learnt that some of the key challenges that foreign firms face in China are the lack of local cultural intelligence as well as the eagerness to grow immediately. While, what they should be focusing on is going local, forming relationships and rethinking their entire customer experience. We are coming back to Singapore with all these wonderful insights, which would definitely help us in our respective careers. We would like to thank the ISP team for organizing such a wonderful week for us and would also like to thank our very own Prof. Goh and Audrey for mentoring and guiding us through the entire week. Xièxiè China! Hope to see you again really soon. To learn more about our Nanyang MBA programme, please visit our website. Student Life Curriculum Academic Experience |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: CA Sakshi Agrawal deepens her knowledge and skills with MSc in Accountancy at NTU |
Graduate Studies Blog MSc accountancy CA Sakshi Agrawal deepens her knowledge and skills with MSc in Accountancy at NTU For Sakshi Agrawal, successfully completing the chartered accountancy course in India was an important step in her professional development. As she considered her options, Sakshi realised that she was keen to get global experience before settling into a full time job. She wanted to build on her skill set and round out her personality through travel and networking with people from diverse backgrounds. For Sakshi, pursuing an MSc in Accountancy seemed like the logical, next step. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) was her preferred choice. Sakshi felt that the NTU programme in Accountancy was well planned and would offer her tremendous opportunity for interaction in the business world. The university’s ranking, location in one of Asia Pacific’s important financial hubs and multicultural population were factors that contributed to her decision. Proximity to India meant that she could be close to her family. Sakshi graduated in February 2019 and is now working with PwC in Singapore. Reflecting on her academic journey, Sakshi feels the year-long master’s programme has gone by quickly with assignments, presentations, examinations and two internships! She loved studying at NTU’s lush green campus. There were several networking sessions organised by the university, which presented an occasion to meet and learn from executives of different companies, start-ups and financial institutions. Professors offered job and career related insights. Another aspect about NTU that she thoroughly enjoyed was the ability to participate in events, talks and competitions organised by other courses; students were welcome no matter their field of study. One Sunday, Sakshi attended a speaker session organised by the MBA Banking and Finance club. The guest speaker happened to be a CFO of a company that had a manufacturing plant in her home town. She was elated at the chance to engage in a conversation with one of the top women CFOs in India. Being away from her comfort zone, Sakshi embraced change with confidence – learning to cook, juggle course commitments with work, resolve problems and became financially independent. Sakshi believes the MSc in Accountancy offers an amazing opportunity for applicants from non-accounting backgrounds who are looking to understand numbers. She feels that prospective students should develop an awareness of their interests, goals, strengths and skills and be able to express why they would be a fit for the programme. Her advice for students enrolled in the programme: pay attention and take advantage of the many opportunities that will come your way, as this will help you develop your potential to the fullest. To find out more about the MSc Accountancy programme, please visit our website. Alumni Stories Curriculum |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: [Why NBS] with MBA alumni Calliste Kouadio. |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA [Why NBS] with MBA alumni Calliste Kouadio. Present position: 1. How was your professional journey after NBS up till your present role? (Mention internships, job changes etc.) I fully embarked in entrepreneurship. I partnered with a friend, chartered accountant, to launch a consulting firm targeting SMEs. The company was created in 2010. Our approach is to offer expertise at highly competitive rate to SMEs. They largely cannot afford consulting services proposed by established firms such as PwC or KPMG. The idea is to use a pool of highly experienced freelance consultants to deliver cheaper yet first-class services in various areas among others, technology (software development mainly), strategy, corporate finance, accounting, organization, training. 2. Tell us about your current role and what inspires you to pursue this daily? With my partner, we are fueled by the idea of contributing in shaping our country economy. In fact, in Ivory Coast (as it is in all developing countries), 9 out of 10 jobs are generated by the private sector which is mainly composed of SMEs. SMEs are thus the engine for economic growth and helping them solve actual problems is what drive us. Connection with NBS: 3. How relevant was NBS in your professional development? (please speak about alumni network, career fairs, education etc.) NBS equipped me with all necessary knowledge and resources to scale up this venture. 4. Which person at NBS was the most impactful? I particularly enjoyed the economics and strategy classes. Prof Gibbons and Siriwan was inspirational and highly instructive during lectures and discussions. 5. What advice would you give the current and future students to make their NBS experience better? More interactions with other programs may be something to explore. 6. Your favorite hangout zone at NTU and why? North Spine. I used to seat there for reading and individual assignments. 7. Your favorite memory of being at NTU. The orientation week. 8. If given a chance, would you like to come at the campus and interact with the present cohort? Yes Academic/Jobs: 9. Which course(s) did you find the most interesting? Strategy, Economics and Corporate M&A To learn more about our Nanyang MBA programme, please visit our website. Academic Experience Alumni Stories |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Nanyang MBA participants’ visit to Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA Nanyang MBA participants’ visit to Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. Contributed by Nanyang MBA participant, Tanmay Patkeshwar As part of our week-long Business Study Mission (BSM) to Japan, the Nanyang MBA participants visited Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. (MUCAP), the venture capital arm of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). MUCAP is one of the leading venture capital companies in Japan. Set up in 1974, MUCAP has since invested in several companies and played an integral role in the growth story of Japan. This was the second time that Mr Kotaro Shinra, Head of Business Administration Department and Investment Planning for MUCAP had invited MBA participants from NBS to visit MUCAP. The previous Nanyang MBA cohort found their visit to MUCAP to be the highlight of the BSM, so we were all looking forward to this visit! Upon arriving at MUFG, we were introduced to several senior executives from MUFG, including Mr Shinsuke Sakamoto, President of MUCAP, and the management team of AuB Inc – CEO, Mr Keita Suzuki, CTO, Mr Rintaro Fujikawa, and CFO, Mr Tomohisa Tanaka. A start-up that MUCAP has invested in, AuB aims to use data harvested from human faeces to help improve the overall health and performance of athletes. This visit also included an engaging session where we discussed how AuB could refine their business model. Working in teams, we analysed current business issues faced by the company, interacted with Mr Shinra and the AuB management team to gain more insights on the company and the industry, and then presented our ideas after 15 minutes of brainstorming. The AuB team was quite impressed by our ideas and shared that they may implement some of these ideas. They also invited us to work with them on the implementation in future. In his closing remarks, Mr Shinra shared about the decision-making methodologies of venture capital companies and other aspects they consider when making investments. His insights were very useful in helping us understand the complex and competitive world of venture capitalism. In conclusion, this visit to MUCAP was exceptionally interesting and the opportunity to deal with a real-life business scenario was an excellent learning experience for all of us. We are very grateful to MUFG, especially to MUCAP for hosting us and providing this rare opportunity. ありがとうございます[Thank you] from Nanyang Business School, Singapore!! |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Prasad Sawant, NTU’s MSc in Financial Engineering |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG Financial Engineering From Aerospace Engineering to Financial Trading, NTU alumnus Prasad Sawant gets off to a flying start with NTU’s MSc in Financial Engineering Prasad Sawant stumbled upon the world of financial trading quite by chance. After completing his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Prasad landed his first job at a global FinTech services provider because of his strong quantitative, problem-solving abilities and programming skills. He programmed algorithmic strategies on options for clients, interacted with traders, started learning the quantitative aspect of trading and was drawn towards gaining a deeper understanding of the mathematics of markets. Prasad aspired to become a trader and eventually run his own hedge fund. He initially thought of pursuing an MBA in Finance but on doing research, he came across the Master’s in Financial Engineering (MFE) programme, which he found better suited to achieving his goal. With a view to gaining global exposure and practical experience, Prasad seized the opportunity offered by his employer to transfer to the Singapore office. His plan was to pursue a master’s on a part-time basis while working, as it would allow him to keep up with the markets and see real-life applications of the concepts learned in class. Prasad chose the MFE programme offered by Nanyang Technological University because it offered him the flexibility to continue working while studying and gave him a comprehensive understanding of all aspects related to trading. He found the courses were well designed and arranged in a good sequence. Prasad enjoyed Machine Learning, and the Stochastic Calculus courses and their implementation in the financial world were his personal favourites. Courses like Corporate Finance. Derivatives, Asset Pricing Theory, Bond Pricing, Risk management helped strengthen his conceptual understanding. Case study discussions in Prof. Nilanjan Sen’s classes were a great way to mould theoretical principles to solve problems in the finance world. One of the highlights of his master’s experience was the seven-week term at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he got to expand his knowledge, learn from great faculty and apply it to real life scenarios in the trading world. Courses and assignments at CMU like the Interest rate derivatives course case study as final exam, live trading, industry experiences shared by the Energy Derivatives visiting professor were invaluable. Prasad was thrilled to earn a gold medal during the CMU semester! Reflecting on his academic journey, Prasad feels the MFE programme has strengthened his knowledge of financial markets, and instilled confidence to push forward in his new career as a trader. Today, he is excited about writing algorithms for his own strategies and coming up with his own ideas. He believes that for future applicants to get the most out of the programme it is important that they really understand their short term and long term professional goals. To learn more about the MSc Financial Engineering programme, please visit our website. Alumni Stories Academic Experience |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: The Nanyang EMBA changed my life |
Graduate Studies Blog [img]https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/files/2020/01/Dr_Koh_Hau_Tek_banner.jpg[/img] Nanyang Executive MBA The Nanyang EMBA changed my life [img]https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/files/2020/01/Dr_Koh_Hau_Tek-.jpg[/img] Dr Koh Hau-Tek knows exactly where his passion and purpose lie: at the intersection of medicine and business. It all began about a decade ago. After years training and working as a doctor, Dr Koh took up the role of Medical Director, where he began overseeing the operations and clinical quality of some of Singapore’s top healthcare facilities. The new path diversified his skills, and he gained experience in different fields like business development, finance, corporate strategy and human resource. Yet while learning hard on the job, Dr Koh was motivated to do better. “I decided that I wanted to enter business school, so that I could formally develop management skills in a structured manner,” he says. At age 40 then, the medical doctor went on to gift himself the Nanyang Executive MBA (EMBA) programme. It was a gift that Dr Koh admits, “certainly changed my life”. [b]The world at his feet [/b]The Nanyang EMBA programme welcomes top professionals from a variety of industries: to date, graduates comprise 40 nationalities from more than 20 sectors such as technology, finance and education, and from SMEs and MNCs. The programme appealed to Dr Koh because he wanted exposure to the management practices of industries other than his own—he was hungry for fresh insights that could be useful in healthcare. As they journeyed together, NBS Class of 2016 forged deep and solid connections, alumnus Dr Koh reminisces. In fact, upon graduation, Dr Koh quickly secured a new position in a very different sector—technology & security —through the recommendation of a course mate. “I never imagined I would make such a radical move in my life!” he says. “The network turned out to be very wide and brimming with opportunities.” Dr Koh adds that he was able to deliver in his new role with the skills he gained through the programme. He thanks both his course mates and the international faculty—including UC Berkeley and The Wharton School, where he attended selected modules—for sharpening his thinking. He emphasises the importance of acquiring a global mindset: “The faculty imparted critical management tools that broadened my ability to analyse issues and problem-solve from different perspectives. Meanwhile, my course mates shared top-notch ideas and they had different but impressive thought processes. We challenged each other’s thinking; I’ve been able to go beyond my own worldview and envision more possibilities.” Dr Koh is indeed the perfect candidate for the position of Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the East-meets-West healthcare company Jiahui Health, a fast growing and now the largest private healthcare ecosystem based in Shanghai and is in a unique collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital. Today, Dr Koh plays a critical role in operationalising an international grade hospital & associated medical centres for his company to deliver integrated clinical services and global resources to patients in and outside of China. [b]A journey of self-discovery [/b]Effective management is the art and science of applying both hard and soft skills. For Dr Koh, one of the most memorable parts of the EMBA programme was the coaching segment, which strengthened his soft skills in leadership by encouraging him to search himself deeply. He says: “I was able to gradually understand the values that I want to possess as a leader. Today, I practise authentic leadership with my teams. It has been a very positive experience.” In the area of personal development, Dr Koh describes how the EMBA programme improved his confidence. “During the programme, I had lots of practice speaking in varied settings: presentations, group work, one-on-one sessions,” Dr Koh, who is an introvert by nature, says. “I now know more deeply the importance of communicating well publicly and I am much better trained for it.” Dr Koh reflects on the EMBA programme as a milestone in his career progression and says that, in hindsight, he could have prepared for it a little more. He explains: “I should have familiarised myself more with some of the theories and case studies before embarking on the programme. This would have helped me to understand the finance and innovation concepts more quickly.” Ultimately, as students join the programme—each bringing their own background—they can make the best out of the experience in his or her unique ways. Dr Koh offers a tip to new students: “Go into it with an open mind and get to know as many course mates as possible. It’s going to be an enriching time encountering many cultures, learning from the deep and diverse professional experiences of others and having highly fruitful interactions. Like me, the programme will give you much more than expected.” To learn more about the Nanyang EMBA programme, please visit our [url=https://nbs.ntu.edu.sg/Programmes/Graduate/NANYANGEMBA/Pages/default.aspx]website[/url] or contact Shareen at [email=shareenjit@ntu.edu.sg]shareenjit@ntu.edu.sg[/email]. [img]https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/files/2020/01/Dr_Koh_Hau_Tek-.jpg[/img] [url=https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/tag/alumni-stories/]Alumni stories[/url] [url=https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/tag/academic-experience/]Academic Experience[/url] [url=https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/tag/career-progression/]Career Progression[/url] [url=https://web.nbs.ntu.edu.sg/graduatestudies/nanyangemba/LMS/EMBA_AMP_enquiry.html?utm_source=GradStudiesBlog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Blog_BrochureDownload_20190725_EMBA-GradStudiesBlog&utm_content=nil&utm_term=nil_nil][img]https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/files/2019/07/Nanyang-Executive-MBA.jpg[/img][/url] |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: THE EMBA MADE ME A BETTER VERSION OF MYSELF |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG EMBA THE EMBA MADE ME A BETTER VERSION OF MYSELF Bill Zorlutuna has led Parker Hannifin’s Asia Pacific growth for close to two decades. The vice president of sales for the Fortune 500 company develops the business from cosmopolitan Singapore, and about a year ago, wanted to deepen his understanding of the region. It became clear to him that an MBA steeped in East-West perspectives would be a timely supplement to his career. He chose the Nanyang Executive MBA (EMBA) for that reason. “The Nanyang EMBA marries Asian and global perspectives, both which are vital for my work in this part of the world,” he says. While impressed with Nanyang Business School’s collaborations that include top international MBA institutions UC Berkeley and the Wharton School, Bill also wanted to continue being at the centre of a fast-growing Asia from Singapore, where the school is strategically located. The alumnus of Class 2018 adds, “The programme didn’t disappoint. It blended tried and tested global methods with local cultural contexts. An example is the Cultural Intelligence module, which gave me rich insights into business strategies applicable to the diverse Asian countries that I work with.” Making better choices and real positive change Bill’s employer, Parker Hannifin, was very supportive of his EMBA journey. In fact, the technology MNC promoted Bill from general manger to vice president when he was halfway through the programme. “My company recognises the Nanyang EMBA and how it has helped me,” he says. “The programme made me a better version of myself, and I can offer more to my teams.” For example, Bill now asks more meaningful questions when he works with specialist teams and makes better decisions alongside them. This was after he gained deeper knowledge of various functions—such as finance—through the programme. “The faculty’s real-world experiences also make a difference,” he says. “They are true educators in that sense and go beyond being just professors with deep subject knowledge.” Bill explains that the faculty’s experiences allow students to see the connection between principle and practice, “I was able to understand significant concepts quickly during the courses and apply them almost instantly to my day-to-day work.” The EMBA programme was also a sounding board that enabled Bill to realign his leadership priorities. Leaders juggle so many things day in and day out that they can sometimes lose perspective. He says, “After the programme, I’ve become more mindful of making the right choices. Choices that keep my organisation’s offerings and solutions relevant in today’s disruptive world.” Embracing the tech world Global organisations are familiar with the VUCA world—that of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, where change is the only constant. To gain confidence in addressing these challenges, Bill knew that he wanted an EMBA programme that could sharpen his focus around digital transformation. With all-encompassing tech modules such as Knowledge and Tech Management and Leadership 4.0, the Nanyang EMBA programme has equipped Bill to lead across digital, people and change management. He finds that the learnings he has acquired are very practical, more importantly, they produce tangible improvements in projects, which can help his company gain a competitive edge. “Today, I apply what I have learnt daily, often times even subconsciously!” Bill says. “That is how I know I’ve gotten better at them.” In good company Part of what makes the EMBA cohort dynamic is the international quality of the candidates—apart from Asia, they also come from Africa, America and Europe. Bill feels that few platforms bring together such global peers who can debate rigorously across topics. “Our like-mindedness and learning journey together have created strong bonds and even lifelong friendships,” he says. “It’s priceless. We continue to meet for both social and professional occasions.” Bill has a tip for aspiring candidates: “Just do it! Like most things in life, there are many reasons to procrastinate. But once you get past the start, which is the hardest part, the journey only becomes more and more rewarding.” In fact, Bill remains nostalgic about the EMBA experience. He wants to do it all over again: engage in stimulating lessons, listen to diverse views and even be challenged by the intense workload from the course. He says, “I honestly miss the learning so much that I’m considering enrolling in other Nanyang Business School’s programmes.” Alumni Stories Career Progression |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: THREE THINGS TO EXPECT FROM THE NANYANG EMBA PROGRAMME |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG EMBA THREE THINGS TO EXPECT FROM THE NANYANG EMBA PROGRAMME For close to a decade, Dr Christina Low has helmed various strategic leadership roles in different medical organisations. Today, as Managing Director of the Singapore Medical Group, she sets the direction and leads the operations of the healthcare network, which is rapidly expanding across Asia. With a bigger portfolio, Dr Low felt that it was time to embark on an MBA programme that can help her to critically evaluate her management style. “I wanted assurance that my practices at work are on the right track,” she says. In Dr Low’s point of view, there is no perfect time to enrol in an MBA programme. She says that she simply felt ready and wanted to take her leadership role to the next level. Here, she shares three reasons why she chose the Nanyang Executive MBA (EMBA)—which are also what aspiring candidates can expect from the programme. 1. Be challenged to reimagine business in the digital age Dr Low was first drawn to the Nanyang EMBA because of its tech-focused curriculum, which takes a deep dive into digital transformation issues. “No matter which industry you’re from, you’ll definitely be affected by the digital era. It’s something all of us will have to confront,” she emphasises. Through the rigorous modules, Dr Low has gained a better understanding of digital transformation and what digitalisation truly entails: more than just changing processes, digitalisation also involves shifting mindsets. Thus, Dr Low has made it part of her mission to accelerate the acceptance of new technologies in her industry. Healthcare is one of the few sectors that has been slow to digital adoption, Dr Low explains, yet it could really benefit from it. “For example, much of clinical practice is patient-facing. Going digital through telehealth to deliver services is one way that can really complement our practice,” she says. To get more tech buy-in from her organisation, Dr Low will first tap the abilities of her younger colleagues, who are familiar with digital even in their daily activities. The younger generation are passionate about technology,” she says. “Once we get them to adopt digital in the workplace, the majority can see the difference and gradually come on board.” 2. Be ready to learn from the diverse experiences of others One of Dr Low’s learning priorities is to be exposed to as many management styles and experiences as possible by engaging with her course mates. “I want to know the different challenges that people from other industries face and how they have managed them,” she says. Dr Low’s cohort includes leaders from the manufacturing, legal and finance sectors—as well as digital companies. The participants fly in from Asia, America and Europe to attend classes. By connecting with others from other industries, Dr Low has been able to expand her thinking and become a more flexible communicator. Dr Low says that aspiring MBA candidates will be equally impressed with the faculty, which has lecturers who bring deep and sound experiences into the classroom because of their extensive international backgrounds. One of them, for example, is economics and international finance lecturer Dr Siriwan Chutikamoltham, who is Thai. “Her former role as an economist in the World Bank offers us exclusive perspectives into the practices of large, international institutions,” says Dr Low. “Her unique background also adds credibility to her lessons and really enriches them.” 3. Be equipped to make tangible change at work Beyond grasping theories, Dr Low is also looking forward to applying them at work. “The principles, frameworks and even new ‘languages’ that I’m learning will certainly change the way I collaborate with my colleagues,” she says. For example, Dr Low now has more meaningful discussions with her Chief Financial Officer (CFO) because of the finance terminology she has acquired from the programme. “By speaking the same language, we can examine our accounts and reporting in greater depth, and question why certain details have been presented in a certain way,” Dr Low adds. The constant act of listening and practising open-mindedness in the classroom have also extended themselves—naturally—to the workplace, where Dr Low is appreciative whenever her colleagues speak out. Upon graduating from Nanyang Technological University in 2021, Dr Low hopes to give back by making time to share her EMBA experience. She says: “It’s a small way of contributing, but it may provide future candidates the affirmation that they need to take the next step in their careers.” To learn more about the Nanyang EMBA programme, please visit our website or contact Shareen at shareenjit@ntu.edu.sg. Alumni Stories |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Built up my confidence to challenge the world |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG FELLOWS MBA BUILT UP MY CONFIDENCE TO CHALLENGE THE WORLD As Lao Tzu said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Working for the same employer for a long time has its pros and cons – working as a Thai government officer for more than 20 years, I have gained rich experiences. However, I found myself fearful of stepping out of my comfort zone to explore more. Over the past two decades, I have worked for Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry, and Thailand Board of Investment, where I gained a strong understanding of the Thai economy and how government policy work. When I joined the Ministry of Agriculture, I learnt about how Thai farmers, who are the largest relatively poor population in Thailand, live and how the government has provided support for them. During my time at the Ministry of Industry, I worked with another class of people in Thai society that are factory owners, and learnt how to promote and regulate the factory. I was later transferred to Thailand Board of Investment where I developed both policy making skills and marketing skills as an Investment Promotion Officer. One of my career highlights was working as an Investment Consulate in New York City from 2012 to 2015. Being at a career crossroads and seeking for another level of achievement, I knew that I had to take that first step out of my comfort zone. But, the big question in my mind was “HOW”? At this juncture, a door of opportunity was opened to me! I was offered a full scholarship for the Nanyang Fellows MBA Programme under the ASEAN Scholarship scheme. The programme allowed me to build relationships with young executives from the public and private sectors from many countries. Participants of the programme came from many sectors and diverse background. The rigorous curriculum, the support from the faculty and staff, the high quality of Professors from around the world, the access to a strong international alumni network… All these are some of the best assets I have gained during my candidature here at Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University (NTU, Singapore). Besides the knowledge, connection, and global perspective that I have gained from the classes, the programme also inspired and motivated me to aim higher. The education environment at NTU, Singapore was brimming with business ideas and it lit up a fire in my life. Now that I am equipped with the knowledge that I have learnt from the classroom and the Business Study Mission to Israel and United States, I am confident that I will be able to manage my portfolio in the Thai government with better management capability. I will be able to craft better policies and build a sustainable business. More importantly, I have built my confidence and I am ready to challenge the business world with my first step! Article by: Polapat Naphavaranonth Head, Economic Team Board of Investment Thailand |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Solving Real-World Problems and Discovering New Opportunities |
Graduate Studies Blog MSc Business Analytics SOLVING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS AND DISCOVERING NEW OPPORTUNITIES NTU’S MSC IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS Big Data is revolutionising the way we live, the way we work and the way businesses function. “Most individuals and organisations do not lack data,” says Professor Neumann Chew, Senior Lecturer, Nanyang Business School. “What we need are insights from the data. The more data we accumulate, the greater the need for insights and data-driven decision making. It is the fusion of Statistics, Analytics, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) that enables us to find new ways of analysing data and generating additional insights.” The Nanyang Technological University (NTU, Singapore) MSc in Business Analytics (MSBA) is a multi-disciplinary programme, designed to empower recent graduates and young working professionals – from non-technical and non-quantitative backgrounds– to use Analytics, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence to generate meaningful business insights, transform businesses, increase productivity and be competitive in a global economy. MSBA has unique curriculum with the introduction of cutting-edge modules such as “Analytics and Machine Learning in Business” and “AI and Big Data in Business”. The curriculum also offers teaching from industry practitioners globally. As part of the programme, participants will get to work on an exciting business project using real data to address real organisational problem. NTU MSBA graduates will build strong interdisciplinary skills such as:
The MSBA, a practice-oriented programme with a focus on the application of analytics, will enable you to accelerate your career development through an eight-month internship with leading industry partners such as Capitaland, Pivotal, Anglo American, KPMG, SAS, DBS, GE Digital, DELTA, SAP, Nomura. Short Duration: 12 to 14 month (Full Time) long programme. Job Profiles: Business Analyst, Financial Analyst, Market Research Analysts, Statistician etc. Skills: In demand skills in AI predictive, HR Analytics, Robotic Processing Automation and Block Chain Curriculum Thought Leadership Career Advice |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: THE EMBA COUPLE EQUIPPING THEMSELVES TO LEAD IN THE DIGITAL AGE |
Graduate Studies Blog [img]https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/files/2020/02/EMBA-Marketing-Day-banner.jpg[/img] NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA [b]THE EMBA COUPLE EQUIPPING THEMSELVES TO LEAD IN THE DIGITAL AGE[/b] Ivana Arlianto and Susanto Yeo are doing what few couples have managed to do. They have embarked on an all-in-one by enrolling in the Nanyang Executive MBA (EMBA) programme together: this way, they can merge their passion for work with their love for learning, all while spending quality time together. Both Susanto and Ivana, who are Indonesians based in Jakarta, are Partners in one of the Big 4 accounting firms. Ivana had always wanted to pursue an MBA, as it could become a stepping-stone towards her goal of teaching in a university. So, she started preparing her bosses and teams for her plan about five years ago. Then, when the couple’s son turned 13 this year and had proven his independence, Ivana and Susanto felt that the time was right for them to embark on the EMBA programme. Ivana was also eager to acquire frameworks to solve issues at work. “I wanted to deeply understand certain principles, so that I can explain to my teams how and why things happen the way they do,” she says. Susanto was more than ready to join his wife because of a prior mini-MBA experience. “That programme was just three weeks, and I wished it was longer,” he recalls. He yearned for similar stimulating discussions and broader perspectives, and knew that a diverse set of faculty and course mates were what he sought. Ivana explains: “Some things, you can’t learn from a textbook. The discussions we’re having with the faculty and course mates are very enlightening. Many ideas from our course mates of different nationalities and industries are brought into the classroom, which works as a safe platform for rich debates.” [b]Understanding leadership in the age of disruption; a wake-up call[/b] The pivotal moment of the programme occurred for Susanto when he was in the Leadership in the Age of Disruption module. “We learnt so much about digital disruption that it has become a wake-up call for us to never be complacent,” he says. Some of the significant lessons that Susanto mentions include “hearing the best explanation of blockchain that I’ve ever come across,” knowing how to better evaluate digital activities, understanding the differences between digitisation and digitalisation, and acquiring various digital analytic tools. “As a leader, I think it’s important to always go back to the essential question, which is: ‘What is the right way to solve a particular challenge?’” he shares. “The key is enabling us to identify between adaptive and technical challenges.” Adaptive challenges call for an open mind, experimentation and entirely new mindsets to problem-solving. “These skills are especially crucial in the digital era,” Susanto says. “Now more than ever, a leader’s ability to develop such skills in his team and manage adaptive challenges has become very necessary.” Ivana, whose position at work requires her to tap people’s potential to the fullest, achieved insight and renewed confidence when she got acquainted with the Leadership 4.0 framework. With a clear roadmap presented in stages, the framework encourages leaders to embrace new technologies and implement meaningful digital transformation. She says: “Frameworks like this have a direct influence on what we do back in Indonesia. This is because in time to come, we will only lead younger and younger teams—tech-savvy generations who are digital natives.” [b]The possibilities of technology[/b] How does the couple cope with everything that is happening in their lives—work, school and kid—while being away from home? Susanto shares: “We’ve made the boundaries between work and life porous, so that we can integrate them better. Technology has made this possible: we’re accessible to anyone—whether family, friends or colleagues—whenever they need us.” The couple’s firm is supportive of remote working. Susanto and Ivana have been able to lead their teams in Indonesia smoothly from Singapore. Ivana reveals that they also share what they have learnt with their colleagues: “Just through chat groups, we can easily transfer the knowledge to our teams.” Every day, Ivana and Susanto communicate with their son through video calls. They had prepared their family—including their parents, who care for the boy in their absence. “When we eventually arrived in Singapore for our studies, everyone knew what to do,” Ivana says. The couple is quick to acknowledge that technology doesn’t offer perfect solutions; nonetheless, there must be some compromises in life. “One can’t ask for perfection in everything, in both work and life,” Ivana concludes. “My life journey, including my current experience, has taught me to let go, choose my priorities well and do my best in the decisions that I’ve made.” [b]To learn more about the Nanyang EMBA programme, please visit our website at [/b][url=https://www.nanyangemba.com][b]www.nanyangemba.com[/b][/url][b] or contact us at[/b] [email=ExecMBA@ntu.edu.sg][b]ExecMBA@ntu.edu.sg[/b][/email][b].[/b] [url=https://web.nbs.ntu.edu.sg/graduatestudies/nanyangemba/LMS/EMBA_AMP_enquiry.html?utm_source=GradStudiesBlog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Blog_BrochureDownload_20190725_EMBA-GradStudiesBlog&utm_content=nil&utm_term=nil_nil][img]https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/files/2019/07/Nanyang-Executive-MBA.jpg[/img][/url] |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Pursuing her dream in the finance industry with an accountancy degree |
Graduate Studies Blog MSC ACCOUNTANCY PURSUING HER DREAM IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY WITH AN ACCOUNTANCY DEGREE Shirley Xu took her first step into the finance industry when she joined Haitong International Securities as an associate while she was enrolled in the Nanyang MSc Accountancy programme. Today, as Assistant Vice President of Margin Sales at CGS-CIMB Securities, she drives business growth by taking deep dives into data—the twin approach she believes is necessary to evolve the company. Shirley has always been good at analysing numbers; she has a Bachelor of Mathematics. But a few years ago, she yearned to bring data to life and, better still, create organisational impact with it. She knew that the business world—particularly the finance industry—is where she could make all of that happen. So, she began considering a master’s degree programme that could show her the workings of it. She researched on various universities and decided on the Nanyang MSc Accountancy programme because “it offers the most comprehensive curriculum, delivered in the most time-efficient manner,” she says. “Within a year, we learnt so many sophisticated accounting concepts through lectures, projects and exams,” the alumnus of NBS Class of 2018 recalls. “It was definitely a very challenging time for all of us!” Striving as a class also formed closer bonds. “The friendships from the programme are special: we laughed and had fun while studying hard together,” Shirley says. “The learning journey was rigorous, but it became enjoyable because we had one another.” The programme’s intensity turned out to be exactly what Shirley wanted: she quickly sharpened her business acumen while acquiring deeper data analysis skills. This empowered her to transit confidently into the financial services sector. One of the courses which she found particularly useful was Accounting for Decision Making and Control. “I learnt that accounting and cost management are critical parts of an organisation’s strategic plan and future,” explains Shirley. “Accounting numbers are not just data about a company’s health; they can also be translated into meaningful strategy and story.” She is appreciative that the faculty—a good mix of Nanyang professors and guest lecturers—imparted their knowledge through plenty of real-world examples. She says, “Their case studies helped us to see how successful corporations achieve goals through the power of accounting acknowledge.” Shirley’s current work scope at CGS-CIMB Securities focuses on margin/credit sales and business management planning—“all of which accounting plays a big part in,” she emphasises. While she uses different hard skills for different occasions, she often brings most of her soft skills to bear on a daily basis. Numerous presentations and group projects in the programme had refined her interpersonal and communication skills. “It was crucial that the programme became a training ground for us to practise those skills,” she says. Dream industry? Checked. Dream job? Checked. Shirley says, “I wanted the right exposure that would open the way to my dream. The MSc Accountancy programme at Nanyang Business School was what I needed. From there, I made my way forward.” Quick tip: Before applying, meet and talk with programme staff. “I requested to have a one-to-one coffee session with the Outreach & Admissions team from the Nanyang MSc Accountancy programme. They warmly attended to me and answered my questions. After our fruitful conversation, I knew exactly where I wanted to do my master’s degree. I submitted my application to Nanyang Business School, and the rest is history.” Alumni Stories Academic Experience Career Progression Student Life Career Advice |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: ACCOUNTANCY DEGREE HELPS ANALYST STEP UP TO HEAD OFFICE ROLE |
Graduate Studies Blog MSC ACCOUNTANCY ACCOUNTANCY DEGREE HELPS ANALYST STEP UP TO HEAD OFFICE ROLE After working in the Philippines and Taiwan, Brian Chen found his strength: being able to help people from both the Southeast Asian and East Asian regions to better talk business with one another. At his former company Spectrum Brands, Brian worked in both countries as a financial analyst. Then, he was given the responsibility to oversee projects on accounting standards. “I realised I needed a solid accounting foundation,” says the NBS Class of 2018 alumnus, who holds a bachelor’s degree in public finance. He did so with the Nanyang MSc Accountancy programme. “I chose it over an MBA because I wanted to develop my career in the finance and accounting functions in the corporate world,” explains Brian. The foundation he has gained also provides him a solid fast-track towards a few essentials, such as an ACCA qualification and ISCA membership. The Nanyang MSc Accountancy programme is offered from Singapore—a finance hub at the confluence of regional and global markets. Brian’s cosmopolitan outlook and keen sense of opportunity have led him here: a city well-poised to witness a booming Southeast Asia, which is attracting investors from Greater China like never before, he says enthusiastically. The opportunities came. Soon after completing the MSc Accountancy programme, Brian was hired into the headquarters of global tech company Venture Corporation. Today, he is based in Singapore. “I acquired the accounting knowledge and assurance from the programme to take on new and greater responsibilities,” he says. “I’ve progressed to analysing wider implications that have an impact on subsidiaries across the company.” The way of a strong foundation is no walk in the park. For Brian, the rigorous curriculum of the programme meant late nights studying and working on various projects with course mates. The learning curve was steep in all directions: apart from having to quickly pick up theories and frameworks, Brian was also challenged to understand people from different cultures and collaborate with them. “The whole process,” he says, “trained me to efficiently handle multiple tasks under stress in a short time—while keeping teamwork a priority. These are very critical skills in the real world.” He is set for a bigger dream. A Chief Financial Officer role. Brian says that the programme has given him the clarity and confidence to make it happen: “I’ve got a good base of knowledge. I’ve widened my perspectives. I’ve made friends with like-minded talents. I’ll keep learning and stepping up.” The path ahead—of leveraging the possibilities between two countries—is now all his to chart. Quick tip: Be prepared, be committed. “If you don’t have a solid accounting or finance background, it won’t be an easy journey for you. Be prepared for what are you signing up for and stay committed. This means familiarising yourself with some of the texts before class and engaging as much as you can with the faculty and your course mates. Understand the topics, be proactive in projects, try to get relevant internship experiences if you can. Apply and test what you have learnt in the workplace. These were the steps that helped me to make the best out of the programme and progress towards a successful finance and accounting career.” Alumni Stories Academic Experience Career Progression Student Life Career Advice |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: Contributed by Peiqian Wang, NBS MBA – Class of 2020 |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA CONTRIBUTED BY PEIQIAN WANG, NBS MBA – CLASS OF 2020 On March 3, 2020, The Management Consulting Club and Data Science Club at Nanyang Business School organised a panel discussion– “Digital transformation: What, Why and How?”. Panellists: Gaurav Goel, Director Deloitte Consulting – Digital Banking (NBS Alumnus) Luis F. Gonzalez, Managing Director APAC, Element AI (MIT Sloan Alumnus) Mallika Gadepalli, Director of Strategy, PropertyGuru Group (INSEAD Alumna) Digital transformation is a topic we have been continually discussing throughout our MBA journey. It is significantly reshaping today’s business world: first learner advantage, digital brand lift, digital customer experience, combating new entrants… The list goes on and on. While everyone recognises the need to be digital, we can’t ignore the real-world pain points, such as legacy thinking, lack of talents and the ever-changing industry landscape. We are pleased to have three forward-looking digital practitioners in our panel discussion, who will reveal insights of digital transformation from different perspectives. Gaurav shared his unique experience in helping banks create digital solutions to thrive and stay relevant in the digital race. He has a fresh perspective on how Singapore’s advanced banking regulation pushes the banking industry towards digitisation. Luis commented that the data-centric decision-making culture is key to driving organisations towards digital revolution. Decision makers with a data obsessed mindset can differentiate their organisations in terms of challenging the status quo and re-imagining the business. Mallika highlighted that great digital strategies are nothing without the ability to execute. The recipe of today’s digital success stories is to be fast in trying things and learning from failures. Thanks for the support from all the participants from Nanyang Business School and our distinguished guests! We look forward to more events to come! Panellists sharing their comments and insights on digital transformation (Mallika Gadepalli, Gaurav Goel and Luis F. Gonzalez in NTU campus) Audience interaction during Q&A with 32 attendees during the event Event organizers (MBA participants) with panellists (Deepesh Agarwal, Tamoghna Purkayastha and Lyla Wang) Academic Experience |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: John Molson MBA International Case Competition 2020 |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA JOHN MOLSON MBA INTERNATIONAL CASE COMPETITION 2020 The winning team back on campus in SingaporeArticle contributed by Julia Leuchtgens, Lyla Wang, Muthamma Malanda and Sai Sundaram, Nanyang MBA, Class of 2020 What began as a 25-hour flight from Singapore to Montreal, Canada ended as a 7-day adrenaline rush and a fantastic learning journey. At the start of the 39th John Molson MBA International Case Competition, we encountered headwinds. However. by innovating and improving throughout the competition, we fought our way to the finals and achieved third place. We always wanted our MBA to be an experiential journey. Case competitions are a great channel to take classroom learnings outside, experiment with strategies for a real company, and gain experience in a global setting. Following a three-round selection process designed to test our case analysis ability, we were proud to be selected to represent the Nanyang Business School (NBS). Our motivation was high, and we were ready to get into rigorous practice with our coach Akshay’s help. The week-long competition took place in Hotel Bonaventure in Downtown Montreal. While the official start of the event was on Monday, things kicked off on Sunday evening with a cocktail party. It was great to meet people from all over the world and get into the competition spirit as the 36 participating teams were split into six divisions. For the preliminary round, teams would compete against each of the other teams within their division. Stress levels rose as we reported for our first case on Monday morning, which involved three hours to read and prepare the case, followed by a presentation to the judges and a Q&A. After each case, a total of 11 points were distributed between the two competing teams. Riding on a high from our last practice session, we set out to crack Case 1 by attempting to differentiate ourselves with strategies that were out of the box. Our first competitor was University of Cape Town, who was well known in the John Molson circuit. The presentation ended on a good note, and the team was fairly confident. Cut to the end of the day when results are announced – we lost with a score of 10-1. We were devastated. This loss put everything into perspective. We now had to win all four remaining cases to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals, which would be made up of the six division winners and three wild cards. Day 2 and our second case on OYO Hotels was a complete curve ball, resulting in us learning to trust each other’s instincts. Case 3 was a short live case on Element AI, where we addressed public perception issues with AI. We won both cases. Day 3 gave us Case 4, a long live case on Flighthub, an online travel aggregator. We got creative with strategies and applied learnings from Professor Vijay Sethi’s class to pull out another win. Day 4 – Case 5; it was do or die. To tackle issues related to the survival of an online gaming retailer, Gamestop, we got creative with ideas but were conscious of being too radical. Results were announced over lunch and we were wildcard #2! That put us into the semi-finals, but out of our comfort zone as we had to deal with an insurance company – AXA. We were pitted against two of the strongest competitors and erstwhile champions – Memorial University and UCT Dublin. However, our research came to our rescue, and we were able to deliver our best presentation yet and earn our place in the finals, where we faced off with our first opponent – University of Cape Town, and Paderborn. Our final presentation was witnessed by a live audience of 150 and livestreamed to more. The case revolved around strategies towards the survival of a sustainable clothing company, EcoAlf. Our presentation was a success, and our team was at its peak of confidence. We knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, irrespective of the outcome. We felt very proud representing the school and maintaining NBS’ reputation for being the competitor to look out for. Our recovery from a 10-1 loss to becoming a finalist was testament to that! We would also like to thank our coach, Akshay, and Nanyang MBA alumni Jonah, Minghao, Vishnu and Cory, who sacrificed their personal time to guide us step by step. Our tips for future NBS representatives? Trust your instincts. Don’t get comfortable with previous years’ formats as a guide; instead try to find your own synergy and flow as a team. More importantly, use the practice sessions to the maximum, to experiment with ideas and thought processes. It’s also important to be cognisant of applying concepts that have been taught in class, and learnings from your research. Beyond the competition itself, we have learned great lessons for life. We appreciated getting to know the other teams through the dinners, parties and networking opportunities that were organised, as well as experiencing different cultural aspects of Montreal. We will cherish the memories forever. Thus, the best recommendation for future representatives would be to give it their best, soak it all in and enjoy every moment of the journey! Julia, Sai, Muthamma and Lyla the presentation ceremony in Montreal The winning team back on campus in Singapore Academic Experience |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: MBA Olympics 2020 |
Graduate Studies Blog NANYANG MBA MBA OLYMPICS 2020 The MBA Olympics turned a decade old this year. Does Olympics 2020 ring a bell? Five schools. 300 participants. eight sporting events. It was always going to be a day to look forward to. And boy, what an adrenaline- and laughter-filled day it was. Conducted by the MBA cohort of Nanyang Business School (NBS), the MBA Olympics is a volunteer interscholastic one-day sporting event that gathers top MBA schools of Singapore – Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU), ESSEC Business School (ESSEC), and S P Jain School of Global Management (S P Jain). Participants engaged in a friendly competition to build a stronger sense of community amongst fellow MBA participants while raising awareness for a noble cause. The beneficiary for this year’s event was the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home. All net proceeds from the event were donated to this organisation, which provides love and support to the elderly. This event also marked the beginning of the Dean’s Challenge, initiated by the NUS Dean, Professor Andrew K Rose. The Dean’s Challenge involves NUS, NTU and SMU each hosting an event of their own to create closer ties between the MBA participants of the respective schools. The opening speech by NBS Dean Professor Robert Kennedy, and the exhilarating performance by the NTU Cheer Team, set the scene for the games. Those flips and somersaults definitely got everyone’s heart pumping on a bright and sunny day, perfect for sports. The event kicked off with the Dean’s Relay, which was part of the Track events and was followed by seven other sporting events: Badminton, Tennis, Table Tennis, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Swimming and Football. SMU bagged the first gold of the day during the Dean’s Relay, while S P Jain came out the overall champion of MBA Olympics 2020. Even though all the participants played to win the trophy for their respective schools, it was the friendships that were formed that day which will always be cherished. It was also nice to see that there were other people in different parts of this small island who were in the exact same shoes as us, and that helped create an instant bond. Networking is one of the most important aspects of any MBA participants’ journey and what better than to network with your peers during a day filled with laughter and sportsmanship. An event for which the NBS participants had been preparing for three months was over within a span of 10 hours. But if you were to ask any of them, they would say it was all worth it. Until MBA Olympics 2021! NTU Cheer Team pumping the crowd and keeping the competitive spirit alive Kickstarting the Dean’s Challenge with Professor Gerard George – Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Business (SMU), Professor Robert Kennedy – Dean, Nanyang Business School (NTU) and Professor Andrew Rose – Dean NUS Business School The Winning Team – SP Jain School of Global Management Student Life |
FROM Nanyang Admissions Blog: From Norway To Singapore For A Second Master’s Degree |
Graduate Studies Blog [img]https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/files/2019/08/LarysaZalizniak.jpg[/img] MSC ACCOUNTANCY FROM NORWAY TO SINGAPORE FOR A SECOND MASTER’S DEGREE Larysa Zalizniak already has a master’s degree in business and economics from her home country, Norway. But that did not stopping her from levelling up even more. Not only did she decide to embark on a second master’s degree, she also chose to pursue one on the other side of the world. Nanyang Business School, where Larysa is currently enrolled in, hits a sweet spot for her. Larysa wanted to be part of a globally leading accountancy university in Asia that could also offer rich cross-cultural experiences. She says, “The MSc Accountancy programme provides the functional knowledge that I need. At the same time, I want to be based in a vibrant financial hub and multicultural city, and Singapore is perfect.” In Norway, Larysa is a consulting manager in Accenture’s Finance and Enterprise department. This growing field combines finance technology with enterprise performance management to help companies improve efficiency and create value. Thus, keeping up to date on emerging technologies is essential in Larysa’s role. However, technology is only half the story. “It’s equally important that consultants in my department understand the problem that a client is trying to solve,” she says. “When clients request that we help to automate an accounting or a finance process, it becomes crucial for us to have a strong theoretical and practical foundation of those processes in the first place.” Larysa adds, “That is how the MSc Accountancy programme will benefit me: in-depth knowledge of finance and accounting can enable me to understand my clients’ everyday challenges better.” So far, Larysa’s accounting knowledge has expanded by leaps and bounds with courses such as Financial Accounting, Accounting Recognition and Measurement and Accounting Information System. She especially enjoyed using the software, Tableau, to work on a business analysis project as part of the Accounting for Decision Making and Control course. “Learning such new software will come in very handy for my work, where we employ lots of business intelligence technology,” says Larysa. She is also appreciative that the faculty complements hard skills with extensive real-world experiences in the subjects that they are teaching. “It’s a very exciting academic environment because the professors and lecturers expose us to many different learning techniques,” she says. “Couple that with my course mates, who are really bright and hardworking people, and I can say that the learning journey has been nothing short of inspiring.” Larysa will graduate from the programme in 2020, and then return to her role in Accenture in Norway. She says, “I’m confident that by then, I would be well-equipped in accounting knowledge. I can’t wait to use this knowledge to bring greater value to clients and undertake projects of higher complexity.” [b]Quick tip: Learn and enjoy outside the classroom, too. [/b]“It’s very enriching to be in a country that is so multicultural. Even in Nanyang Business School, the faculty and my course mates come from very different cultural backgrounds. I’ve been able to master my communication and cooperation skills simply by hanging out with them. Do also try out the diverse international cuisines in Singapore – the local laksa is super delicious!” For more information on the [b]Nanyang MSc Accountancy[/b] programme, please visit our [url=https://nbs.ntu.edu.sg/Programmes/Graduate/NanyangMScAccountancy/Pages/Home.aspx]website[/url]. [url=https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/tag/academic-experience/]Academic Experience[/url] [url=https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/tag/career-progression/]Career Progression[/url] [url=https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/tag/student-life/]Student Life[/url] [url=https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/tag/career-advice/]Career Advice[/url] [url=https://web.nbs.ntu.edu.sg/graduatestudies/mscaccountancy/lms/msc_accountancy_dl_brochure.html?utm_source=GradStudiesBlog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Blog_BrochureDownload_20190725_ACC-GradStudiesBlog&utm_content=nil&utm_term=nil_nil][img]https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/nbsgradstudies/files/2019/07/MSc-Accountancy.jpg[/img][/url] |
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