Meet our inaugural Dhanabalan Scholarship students
The prestigious Dhanabalan Scholarship was launched in 2021, for full-time Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident MBA students who have displayed stellar academic and professional achievements, and demonstrated real impact to the community.
We spoke to our scholarship award winners on what drives them, and how they plan to make the most of their MBA experience.
Daryl Goh, Class of 2023
What were you doing before embarking on your full-time MBA studies?
I was a marketing specialist, as well as assistant director of a non-profit where I supported a local non-profit towards becoming a more sustainable organisation. The organisation mainly served the homeless transgender community and acted as a bridge between the community and mainstream social services.
What are some of the accomplishments that you are most proud of?
During my time with the non-profit, we successfully set up a community centre, launched a counselling service, and got registered in Singapore with the support of the government. The relationships and reputation built have continued to help the organisation grow and we are now working closely with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and some Family Service Centres to improve programmes for the community.
I was also proud to be selected to be part of the first cohort of Obama Foundation Leaders in Asia Pacific, which aims to develop and connect emerging leaders from across the region. In joining this network, I continue to collaborate and learn from passionate individuals within and beyond the region. The programme has a huge emphasis on sustainability and the Leaders working in the area has motivated me to start a sustainability focused start-up during this MBA.
Share some of the community and voluntary work that you have been involved in. What motivates you to get involved?
I’ve helped to create new programmes and enhance existing services to provide access for the homeless transgender community in Singapore to mainstream social service agencies. I also did pro-bono communications work for the Singapore Mental Health Film Festival just prior to the start of the MBA. From a young age, my grandmother taught me through action the virtues of giving back to the community. I am also very appreciative of all the opportunities given to me that helped me get to where I am today and would like to pay this generosity forward to those in need.
How do you plan to make the most of your MBA experience? What are your plans post-MBA?
I am currently working on a sustainability-focused startup that creates a circular supply chain to allow retail partners affordably sell their products to consumers in reusable packaging. With that, I am learning all I can about business and the entrepreneurial world, and leveraging on the school’s resources to grow the business. My post-MBA plan is to continue this company and also expand my grandmother’s hawker business into other food services. Through these businesses, I aim to create opportunities for low income individuals and their families.
Plavenderraj Diwakar, Class of 2023
What were you doing before embarking on your full-time MBA studies?
I spent about three years in the Upstream Petroleum Industry. I started as a Field Engineer (in Argentina) working in both offshore and onshore rigs and subsequently moved to R&D as a Mechanical Engineer handling product development and lifecycle.
What are some of the accomplishments that you are most proud of?
I lived and worked in six countries across the globe in a short span of three years. With such mobility and international exposure, I have learnt to thrive in any environment regardless of the challenges. For instance, as a young trainee field engineer in Argentina, I had to face numerous uncertainties and deal with a high amount of unfamiliarity in terms of culture, food and geography. What allowed me to successfully complete this journey was my ability to establish strong relationships with people and an undying desire to pursue excellence. I even picked up Spanish in under five months by merely interacting with my peers. Overall, this experience not only prepared me for the challenges ahead but also changed my perception of the world.
Share some of the community and voluntary work that you have been involved in. What motivates you to get involved?
Since the beginning of my tertiary education in polytechnic back in 2010, I have been actively involved in peer tutoring and mentoring activities. As an advocate of strong communication skills and self-leadership, I served in the YMCA Toastmasters Club Singapore as ExCo for one year from 2014. Currently, I am serving as the president of the NUS MBA Sandbox Club which provides candidates a platform to hone their soft skills and at the same time build stronger relationships among the cohort. I am also a registered mentor under Project IMAN which provides career counselling to youths. Outside these interests, I am a first aid volunteer and have served as First Aid Officer of Red Cross Youth NUS Chapter in 2015.
How do you plan to make the most of your MBA experience? What are your plans post-MBA?
Given the COVID pandemic and its ever-changing restrictions, I was at first skeptical and worried about the quality of the MBA experience. However, since the start of my MBA, I have learnt to appreciate the humongous efforts taken by NUS to keep the experience very much alive. More importantly, I networked with my peers and MBA alumni to understand their perception and the different industries that they come from.
In addition, I have also undertaken two internships in two completely different sectors but in my desired function, which would allow me to reach my post-MBA goals. Post-MBA, I want to launch a career in the Business Strategy or Business Development areas.
