Yusuke Sasaoka: Achieving a career switch into Healthcare through The NUS MBA
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Yusuke Sasaoka
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What if you could transition to a new industry, supported by a comprehensive and transformative MBA experience?
Yusuke Sasaoka (Class of 2024) from Japan, did precisely that through the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) MBA programme. His story highlights how NUS MBA’s extensive resources, personalised guidance, and flexibility successfully empowered him to transition into the healthcare industry. Through strategic internships, an exchange programme at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and a leadership role as Vice-President of the NUS MBA Healthcare Club, Yusuke transformed his career while gaining valuable professional insights and building a supportive network. He shares his key takeaways from his journey in the programme.
Career switch through targeted internships and career services
Yusuke Sasaoka (Class of 2024) from Japan, did precisely that through the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) MBA programme. His story highlights how NUS MBA’s extensive resources, personalised guidance, and flexibility successfully empowered him to transition into the healthcare industry. Through strategic internships, an exchange programme at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and a leadership role as Vice-President of the NUS MBA Healthcare Club, Yusuke transformed his career while gaining valuable professional insights and building a supportive network. He shares his key takeaways from his journey in the programme.
Career switch through targeted internships and career services
The NUS MBA’s career services were vital to Yusuke’s journey into healthcare. “The personalised mentoring sessions with my career advisor were particularly instrumental,” he shares. His advisor’s deep understanding of the healthcare industry, particularly the Asian pharmaceutical landscape, helped him position himself strategically for his career shift.
Two transformative internships further strengthened Yusuke’s transition. His first, at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, allowed him to immerse himself in frontline healthcare operations within an IHH Group flagship institution. This hands-on experience equipped him with practical skills, from implementing operational improvements to managing interdepartmental communication. “This experience became fundamental to my growth, as I learned to develop and implement practical operational improvements while navigating complex interdepartmental communications with healthcare professionals,” Yusuke reflects. These skills remain essential to his current role, where he leads pharmaceutical product launches.
His second internship at the biotech company StratifiCare allowed him to apply his MBA insights directly to a go-to-market initiative for dengue diagnostic solutions. “This experience was particularly enriching, as it enabled me to apply my MBA learnings in a real-world context,” he explains. Here, he gained a deeper appreciation for value creation, envisioning the healthcare impact he wanted his work to achieve. “I can directly apply the insights I’ve gained to my current role, helping me develop strategies to maximise post-launch profitability,” he adds.
Developing leadership skills as Vice-President of the NUS MBA Healthcare Club
Beyond internships, Yusuke’s role as Vice-President of the NUS MBA Healthcare Club provided another layer of growth. “The position offered unique opportunities through mentorship, networking, and hands-on leadership experience,” he says. Guided by two exceptional advisors, Yusuke received career guidance beyond standard advice. “One advisor facilitated my internship at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, while another arranged a factory visit to Sanofi Singapore, which ultimately became my employer,” he notes.
The club’s activities allowed him to network with future healthcare leaders from various fields—medical devices, consulting, venture capital, and consumer products—and to organise events, including a blood donation drive. “Throughout the year, we organised ten diverse events that significantly broadened my perspective of the healthcare industry,” he shares. Leading the club required creative approaches to engagement and collaboration, given that it was one of the smaller student clubs at NUS MBA. “Advocating for healthcare’s importance across various stakeholder groups developed competencies that I regularly apply in my current role,” he explains. This role widened his understanding of the dynamic healthcare industry and developed his leadership skills within a global context.
Expanding global perspectives at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
Another advantage of The NUS MBA was the overseas exchange opportunities available to him.
Yusuke participated in an exchange programme with Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, adding an international dimension to his learning. “One of the major reasons I chose The NUS MBA was to leverage the programme’s strong reputation and the University’s extensive network of partnerships, including the opportunity to participate in an exchange programme. Duke’s sterling reputation in healthcare education and its robust alumni network particularly attracted me, as these aligned perfectly with my career aspirations,” he says. The curriculum offered him a different lens, focusing on the American business and healthcare landscapes, complementing his Asia-focused studies at NUS.
Through courses covering operations, entrepreneurship, medical device strategy and healthcare services, he gained deeper insights by examining the perspectives of Japan and Asia alongside those of the United States. “In the Medical Device course, I had the valuable opportunity to compare Japanese and American healthcare systems, an experience that not only broadened my global perspective but continues to influence my current professional work,” he notes.
Duke also stood out with its weekly career events, regular campus visits from global companies, and emphasis on personal growth. “The university’s strong emphasis on career development provided numerous opportunities for personal growth,” he shares, reflecting on the distinct sense of “Team Fuqua” culture that enriched his time there.
The experience wasn’t purely academic; Yusuke immersed himself by diving into sports and regularly attending football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey games with his colleagues. “This cultural immersion, combined with the academic rigour and professional networking, truly transformed my global perspective and career trajectory,” he reflects. Through sports and shared experiences with peers, Yusuke broadened his world view while solidifying friendships and professional connections. It was certainly a unique and memorable part of his MBA journey.
Leveraging the MBA’s flexibility for professional growth
A key highlight of The NUS MBA was its flexible programme structure and duration, which allowed Yusuke to pursue multiple internships without compromising his studies. “The programme’s thoughtful schedule design, concentrating required courses into 2-3 weekdays, enabled me to dedicate full days to internships from Semester 2,” he explains. During the special term, evening-only classes allowed him to work full-time during the day at StratifiCare, maximising his learning and professional growth.
This arrangement created a powerful synergy between his academic work and practical experience. “Theoretical concepts from operations classes could be immediately applied to hospital management scenarios, while comprehensive business development principles learned in classes enhanced my strategic contributions at StratifiCare,” he says. Additionally, studying alongside part-time MBA students provided further insights into balancing professional and academic responsibilities, a skill he now finds crucial in his healthcare career. “Their ability to manage dual responsibilities helped me strengthen my own time management skills.”
Valuable courses and alumni engagement shaped his healthcare career
Reflecting on the MBA curriculum, Yusuke highlights the MBA Consulting Project and engagement with alumni as particularly impactful in his career transition. The MBA Consulting Project offered hands-on experience with a go-to-market project for a company specialising in cell and gene therapy. “Our team developed a go-to-market strategy, allowing me to apply theoretical frameworks from courses like Marketing and Corporate Strategy in a real-world context,” he shares. This project and his internships gave him a fresh perspective on strategic thinking in healthcare.
Yusuke also valued the robust alumni engagement at NUS, exemplified by his role as a moderator for a healthcare panel hosted in collaboration with BizAlum. This “Future of Healthcare” panel brought together leaders from various healthcare sectors, including NUH’s Chief of Medicine, a hospital CEO, and an entrepreneur. “Learning from established healthcare professionals provided tangible insights that surpassed what could be learned in any classroom,” he reflects. The event reinforced his understanding of the sector’s complexities and gave him connections that continue to guide his career.
Staying engaged as an alumni ambassador
Since completing his MBA, Yusuke has stayed connected with the NUS community as an alumni ambassador, inspired by his transformative experiences in the programme. “NUS enriched my personal and professional life, and I am immensely thankful for this transformative experience,” he shares.
Yusuke’s journey demonstrates how the full-time NUS MBA can support career transitions, broaden global perspectives, and foster hands-on learning. His story shows that a successful career switch is achievable with a clear vision, strategic use of resources, and a strong support network in the NUS MBA. The NUS MBA could be the next step toward achieving your goals if you’re ready to advance your career with practical experience, global perspectives, and the flexibility to pursue diverse opportunities. Discover how the NUS MBA can shape your future—start by learning more about the programme or connecting with an admissions advisor today.
