Breaking Through Barriers: How the NUS MBA Prepared Shawn Cheng for a C-Suite Role
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Cheng Wei He Shawn
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When Cheng Wei He Shawn enrolled in the NUS MBA, he was already a mid-level manager at SATS in Singapore, with six years of experience and two of those in a leadership role. Yet the pandemic years left him at a crossroads.
“Two questions really stayed in my mind,” he recalls. “Was I in a specialised role for too long that I could no longer enable a change of scenery, even within a large organisation like SATS? And how could I differentiate myself to move vertically up?”
But make no mistake – for him, he was not sticking to what he describes as a “tried and tested” traditional template of school, work, and then a Master’s for career growth. Instead, it was more of an introspective journey. “I found myself slowly realising that perhaps the MBA was the key to the crossroads I was facing in my life,” Shawn explains.
“It gave me the chance to answer those questions for myself.” With that in mind, he enrolled in the NUS MBA program on a part-time basis.
An individual shot of Shawn on the steps of the Mochtar Riady Building of NUS Business School
Building Breadth for Bigger Roles
And yes, the MBA delivered the answer to the questions Shawn had asked. Soon after graduation, Shawn was offered an opportunity to go on a secondment for the SATS Group , which is his current role as Chief Operating Officer of SATS Hong Kong. That leap and subsequent transition, he says, was possible because of the MBA’s breadth.
“Having specialised in Operations Management throughout my career, the MBA gave me the chance to step into areas like financial accounting, economics, and marketing,” he says. “It built a foundation for a better appreciation of the knowledge I needed to move into future roles.”
In addition, the variety of modules broadened how he thought about business. “Specialised modules like Service Management, Family Business, and Execution of Digital Strategy opened up my views. They challenged my current thinking and shaped me to be better prepared for whatever operating environment I may be in.”
Leadership Lessons that Last
The MBA also reshaped Shawn’s leadership philosophy. During the Family Business module, Sheng Siong founder Lim Hock Chee’s sharing struck a chord. “He reminded us that leadership is akin to a personal brand — a representation of who you are as a person, beyond the workplace,” Shawn says. “Actions always speak louder than words, and being open to all levels of feedback gives you perspective you can’t get otherwise.”
Another a-ha moment arose during a Service Management discussion on how Singapore Airlines navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. “Leadership takes guts, with the smarts to look beyond the future and the bigger picture,” he reflects. “Being able to bring everyone to a shared vision — that is frankly half the battle won.”
Shawn and his MBA peers
Resilience and Friendship
Balancing work and study was already tough, but Shawn faced an added challenge: a medical condition diagnosed in his first semester. “That first year was definitely the toughest, having to manage work, study, and health,” he recalls. “I definitely didn’t get through it alone. My spouse, family, friends, and an understanding boss made all the difference. And my MBA batch mates looked out for one another constantly.” He credits his boss for trusting him to deliver his best, whilst still studying part-time and managing his health.
That sense of community carried through into his learning as well. “I don’t think there was one particular perspective from a classmate that stuck,” Shawn reflects. “What was special about my (part-time) batch mates was that we held similar perspectives that, in a way, helped to reinforce our thoughts and encouraged each one of us.”
He shares what he learnt during this tough period: “Trust the process — many times we wondered during the course whether the MBA would yield the results we were seeking. But we needed to think of it as a stepping stone to hit new heights, and not a golden ticket.”
On friendships, he has this to say, “Make the effort to maintain relationships with classmates. We came from very diverse backgrounds, varying levels of experience, and different stages of life. I’ve not only learnt their perspectives but also challenged them to grow as a person holistically.” It’s evident how this support network played a vital role in motivating Shawn to push through towards graduation.
Lots of lasting friendships cultivated during the MBA program!
An Investment in Yourself
Looking back, Shawn doesn’t see the MBA as yet another career move. “My personal belief is that taking on the MBA is really, in every sense of the word, an investment,” he says. “Not an immediate return in a dream job, but an investment in yourself.”
That investment, he explains, is about readiness. “It allows you to shape your perspectives, build networks, and be better prepared for when that door opens. And sometimes, the network you create could be the very door that opens in the future.”
For professionals wondering if it’s worth it, Shawn has this encouragement: “If you’re stuck at a glass ceiling, or considering a change but don’t know what could equip you for it, the MBA is a powerful way to kickstart that journey. For me, it opened the way to where I am today — and for others, it can do the same.”
Visit our NUS MBA website and explore what our program can do for you now.
