The NUS MBA Diaries: Hithalli Chawla’s MBA Story
After the fast-paced start of August, September brought a welcome shift, a chance to pause, reflect, and explore new directions. It was a month defined by curiosity, collaboration, and rethinking what entrepreneurship means to me.
The month began with recruiting the core team for the Entrepreneurship Club. I wanted our team to reflect the full spectrum of entrepreneurial interests, from student founders already building their ventures to those eager to start something new or explore the investment side. Once the team came together, we mapped out our vision for the year: to introduce our cohort to the many ways of engaging with entrepreneurship, as a builder, operator, or investor. What I hadn’t expected was how reflective this process would be. Planning for others prompted me to think deeply about how I wanted to engage with entrepreneurship myself, not only as an investor but as someone who could one day create and lead.
Our first club event featured Professor Kazuaki Oda, who spoke about risk-taking, conscious entrepreneurship, and the pace of change. His insights on building with intention rather than urgency resonated deeply. It reminded me that entrepreneurship is as much about reflection and purpose as it is about ambition.
Later, I attended a “Careers in Finance” workshop organized by NUS BizCareers. It expanded my understanding of the finance world, revealing many opportunities beyond venture capital. I set a personal goal to strengthen my financial management and modeling skills and to explore roles outside my usual domain. The workshop was a reminder that exploration begins with awareness.
That same week, I joined the Tesla campus recruitment talk and found myself intrigued by the world of product management. The parallels between managing a product and building a startup were striking — each product felt like a mini venture within a larger organization. It sparked a new curiosity about innovation from within.
Another standout event was Failure Fest, hosted by the Sandbox Club, which aimed to normalize failure as part of growth. Listening to honest stories from peers and alumni was refreshing. It reinforced the idea that progress, not perfection, is what truly drives success.
I also attended the NUS GRIP Showcase, where I met founders from the latest incubator cohort. The continued focus on sustainability-driven ventures, despite a more cautious funding environment, was encouraging. It reaffirmed my belief that meaningful innovation often comes from conviction rather than convenience.
The month concluded with the NUS–NTU MBA Mixer – a particularly special event for me as an NTU alum. It was both nostalgic and energizing to reconnect with old peers while building new relationships across both programs.
September was, in many ways, a month of rediscovery, a period to broaden perspectives, challenge assumptions, and stay open to new possibilities. It reminded me that growth doesn’t always come from speed, but from curiosity and reflection.
August 2025 marked the start of my MBA journey at NUS, and with it came a month filled with learning, discovery, and reflection. From orientation to leadership training, competitions, and classes, each experience offered new perspectives on growth, both personal and professional.
The journey began with Orientation Week, where I met classmates from around the world, each bringing distinct experiences and motivations. The sessions were thoughtfully designed to introduce us to the program and to one another. What stood out most was the diversity of thought in the room represented by consultants, engineers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from various industries, all united by a shared purpose of transformation. The day felt like the start of something genuinely exciting.
This energy carried into Launch Your Transformation Week, an immersive leadership development program that quickly became the highlight of the month. Working within my “cell” team, we were placed in simulated business scenarios that demanded quick thinking, negotiation, and collaboration. The experience was both challenging and deeply rewarding, offering practical insights into how I lead, communicate, and make decisions under pressure. My biggest takeaway is the mantra that led all our thoughts and actions that week and will stay with us for the rest of the MBA journey – High Challenge, High Support.
A memorable part of the week was the fireside chat titled “From Startup to Exit – What It Really Takes,” moderated by Mr. Nalin Advani and featuring NUS alumnus and entrepreneur Mr. Prantik Mazumdar. Having spent the past few years in venture capital, hearing Prantik share the unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship, the setbacks, pivots, and perseverance required to build and scale a business resonated strongly. It reinforced that successful entrepreneurship is not just about vision but about adaptability and resilience.
Soon after came the Student Club Elections, where I decided to run for President of the Entrepreneurship Club, alongside Avi as Vice President. Preparing for the campaign was an opportunity to reflect on the kind of community we wanted to build and how my prior experience in venture capital could translate into value for my peers. Winning the election was both humbling and motivating.
The first week of classes brought another pleasant surprise: discovering that Operations and Analytics quickly became one of my favorite subjects. Coming from an early-stage investment background, I did not expect to find operations so engaging. Yet, the course revealed a new dimension of problem-solving that balances logic, creativity, and structure, a reminder that the MBA is a space to explore unfamiliar interests and challenge one’s assumptions.
Later in the month, I participated in the TNB Aura Venture Capital Case Competition with my extremely talented teammates. Although we did not win, the experience was deeply enriching. Exploring the cybersecurity investment landscape exposed me to frontier technologies far beyond my previous domain, and collaborating with such a talented team was rewarding in itself.
The month concluded with the Investiture Ceremony, where club leaders were officially appointed. Standing there, I realized how much my perspective had evolved. I entered the MBA viewing entrepreneurship primarily through an investor’s lens; now, I see a broader landscape, opportunities to operate, strategize, or lead fundraising efforts within companies. The possibilities feel endless, and each builds on the skills I already have, in entirely new ways.
In reflection, August was not merely an introduction to the MBA program, it was an introduction to growth. Every event, class, and conversation has shaped how I see my career, my leadership style, and the kind of impact I hope to make in the months ahead.
