The NUS MBA’s P&Q 2024 MBAs To Watch

Our heartiest congratulations to Tilla Caveng and Ricardo Lopez Barajas from The NUS MBA Class of 2024 for being named in Poets & Quants’ 2024 MBAs To Watch list!

Discover their inspiring stories in the article below, and dive into the full P&Q article here.

Tilla Caveng

“Cheerful lawyer gone strategist with a healthy curiosity for the world and an unhealthy appetite for chocolate.”

Hometown: Zurich, Switzerland

Fun fact about yourself: Can toss Yusheng better sideways than vertically, but knows how to make a pretty shiok kimchi (for our non-Singaporean readers: my chopstick skills are limited, but this doesn’t stop me from recreating highlights of the Asian cuisine – with success!).

Undergraduate School and Degree: Bachelor of Law & Master of Law, both at the University of Zurich, Switzerland

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?
Kaiser Partner Wealth Advisors, as Chief of Staff

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023?
My work experience did not follow the usual MBA cycle, but rather accompanied me throughout my MBA studies – I co-founded an employee-owned wealth advisory and trust boutique together with my former team: Conduct.

My role involved supporting all stages of the company transition and advising one of our clients, a foreign government, on transforming into a regional financial hub.

Where will you be working after graduation?
I have been eager to continue working with my team at Conduct, finally full-time and in person. At Conduct, we help wealth owners and families unlock the meaning behind their wealth. We build and implement a plan to match their purposes through our wide range of services, including wealth planning, family and business governance, fiduciary/trust, and strategic consulting. At the core, we provide peace of mind grounded in lasting, personalised relationships with a focus on international client needs, rooted in one of the world‘s most stable countries.

As one of the co-founders, I head finance and operations, and advise our clients in the field of family governance.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:
Having received the NUS MBA Dean’s Award, I have been proudly representing the NUS MBA to potential new MBA students in Singapore and Europe during my exchange semester at Columbia University in New York and the wider business community in general.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?
Personal development: Completing my MBA in a country and culture so far from my own allowed me to get to know myself better, integrate into a foreign culture, and see the world around me from a more international, kaleidoscopic perspective.

Highlights in this regard were the many “DMC” – deep meaningful conversations – held with my classmates often in the early hours of morning, following long days of hard work on our academic challenges and subsequent dinner parties.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career?
When I transitioned from legal into more strategic work, I was initially worried that my lengthy legal education and training (7 years) would become futile. However, structured thinking and meticulous attention to detail were the perfect steppingstones for my pre-MBA position as Chief of Staff, the admission to the NUS MBA, the co-founding of Conduct, and finally, providing family governance advice to our clients. It makes me feel happy and proud to have a way to apply myself holistically as a person and professional, to the benefit of others as well as myself.

Why did you choose this business school?
I wanted to immerse myself not only academically, but also culturally, in an environment different from what I am used to. I was personally interested in getting to know Asian cultures better: NUS as leading business school in Asia was an obvious choice.

Who was your favorite MBA professor?
My favourite MBA professor is Prof. Pasha Mahmood, who taught our Asian Business Environments class. He skilfully managed to combine business, economy, culture, and even philosophy in his teachings, garnished with enlightening stories from his own professional and life experience.

What was your favorite course as an MBA?
My favourite MBA course was Family Business taught by Prof. Marleen Dieleman. With my Wealth Advisory background, it was highly interesting to learn in-depth about family business in Asia, particularly from a professor who has strong practical experience in the field.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school?
My personal traditional highlight was celebrating Yusheng together with our MBA cohort, family, and friends at NUS. Yusheng is the local Lunar New Year custom of tossing a colourful salad into the air as highly as possible. It is believed that the height of the toss symbolises prosperity. As you can imagine, NUS MBAs are very talented at tossing salad into high altitudes (since we know how to think outside the box, also sideways).

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why?
With academic, social, and cultural events aggregating, MBA life can be hectic. This was intensified for me due to my work in two different time zones. Whereas I managed to travel to the home countries of several of my classmates, often together with them (Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam), I wish I had attended more of such trips.

What is the biggest myth about your school?
The full-time class size is significantly lower at NUS than at some of the other leading business schools and this may wrongly be seen as a disadvantage. However, our class size (~120) allowed us to really get to know each other and forge strong bonds. Also, we were regularly attending classes together with the part-time MBAs (another group of approximately 120 students), providing direct exchange with experienced professionals working locally.

What did you love most about your business school’s town?
Singapore is a fascinating melting pot of cultures. Living on an island, the people in Singapore are close-knit and it is easy to make new connections – and taste the wonderful variety of food together with them!

What surprised you the most about business school?
The warm and familial welcome I received upon my arrival. The school immediately feltlike a community of diverse but like-minded people who support each other(I had expected more of an institutional feel).

Which MBA classmate do you most admire?
My classmate Thompson Wong‘s ability to combine family, work and academia, whilst at any point intime appearing most relaxed, is highly impressive. Next to all of this, he still finds capacity to get involved in extracurricular events and introduce us foreign students to Singapore and the local culture. Thank you, Thompson!

“Tilla Caveng is a standout member of the Class of 2024, known for her legal background and strategic mindset, which she brought from Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Her initiative to establish Conduct, a pioneering wealth advisory and trust boutique, amidst her MBA journey demonstrates her knack for translating her skills into impactful ventures. This move reflects her adeptness at navigating complex challenges with practical solutions.

Tilla’s efforts to immerse herself in Asian cultures and her active participation in student clubs highlight her commitment to both personal and professional development. Her work has not only enriched her own MBA experience but also contributed positively to our community, making her the deserving recipient of the NUS MBA Dean’s Award. Tilla’s direct yet thoughtful approach to her career, combined with her ability to engage with a diverse set of cultures and ideas, makes her a valuable member of our class and a deserving nominee for the 2024 MBAs To Watch.” – Nicole Tee, Director, MBA Programmes, NUS Business School

Ricardo Lopez Barajas

“Passionate chess player, lifelong learner, enthusiastic automotive industry advocate and taco lover!”

Hometown: Cholula, Mexico

Fun fact about yourself: I once made a thousand origami cranes(Senbazuru) in just one weekend.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Universidad de las Américas Puebla(UDLAP) – Bachelor’s in International Business Administration.

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?
I worked at Volkswagen as a District Manager in the Sales and Consulting department, where I was able to work side-by-side with brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Ducati, and Porsche.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023?
Through the NUSMBA Consulting Project, I worked with Amazon Web Services in Singapore, specifically with the AWS for Automotive department. My team and I had the challenging task to analyze, understand and propose new cloud application ideas for the mobility industry in over 40 countries across Asia.

Where will you be working after graduation?
I’m proud to share that I will be joining one of the automotive industry’s most unique leadership programs: the NISSAN ARDP – Accelerated Rotational Development Program. I will be working in Nissan’s Global Headquarters in Japan, and then I will rotate across multiple locations worldwide in a span of 6 years.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Head of Business Development – Singapore-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
• NUS-APEC Scholarship – Awarded a full scholarship by the Ministry of Education of Singapore and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
• NUS MBA Student Ambassador

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?
Something that I learned during my MBA is that you should never underestimate yourself. For instance, I recall before moving to Singapore, that I started thinking “What if I’m not good enough and fail?”. This was especially true after I met my classmates, who without a doubt, are some of the most incredible and smartest people I have met. Nevertheless, I’m really proud to say that through extensive effort and the unconditional support from my cohort, I was able to complete my MBA with Honours (Highest Distinction).

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career?
The biggest achievement in my entire professional career involves having received the vote of confidence and trust from the people around me. Without the opportunities and support they’ve given me, my personal, academic, and professional life wouldn’t be the same. For example, receiving the NUS-APEC Scholarship represented a vote of confidence in my abilities and potential – recognition from the National University of Singapore, the Singapore government, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, which I’m really grateful for receiving.

Why did you choose this business school?
The NUS Business School offers a unique approach to understanding how to do business in Asia. This knowledge is imparted to students through an extensive list of opportunities and activities that stretch beyond the classroom, such as the NUS MBA student clubs and the various networking events and company visits that the school organizes. Having come all the way from the Americas, and having worked in a European company, the natural next step in my global academic and professional path was to explore Asia, as it presents huge business opportunities and broad possibilities for the future.

Who was your favorite MBA professor?
Prof. Kulwant Singh, Professor of Strategy and Policy at NUS, is someone who challenges every aspect of what strategy is and how companies use it. During his lectures, he got us to ponder upon the question, “What is strategy?”. Prof Kulwant showed us that every single definition, idea, or perception we had about it was partially wrong. However, it could be enhanced if we dived deep into the reality of how it was applied in the current business world. Prof. Kulwant also guided me through my decision-making process regarding whether a PhD / DBA in the not-so-distant future was right for my professional and academic development. Thank you, Prof. Kulwant!

What was your favorite course as an MBA?
Prof. Andrew Delios’ Execution of Digital Strategy in the Real World was an exceptional course. With his vast experience and analytical skills, he showed us how digitalization and technology should be core components in any strategy that a company wants to design. I found his business cases were also helpful for job interviews, as they equipped me with up-to-date knowledge on business trends and events. Thank you, Prof. Andrew!

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school?
Every day, before and after class, my classmates and I would gather at The Spread, a café located in the NUS Business School building. Here, we’d enjoy a cup of coffee (or occasionally a pint of beer), and share our dreams, business ideas, personal struggles, and future professional endeavors. This showed me that my business school experience and my MBA cohort were built upon something special: friendship.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why?
The MBA experience is a tough and difficult adventure, but one that enables you to make the best out of yourself. Occasionally, I found myself overwhelmed with projects, networking sessions, student council events, sports, parties, and so on. But looking back, I would have liked to participate in even more activities and spend every single bit of energy that I had, as an MBA is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

What is the biggest myth about your school?
Before joining NUS, I heard from many prospective students that you’d usually end up working in the same country where you completed your MBA studies. So, if you joined the NUS MBA, you’d be limited to opportunities in Singapore only. However, I am happy to discover that the NUS MBA can open doors in any corner of the world. Take, for instance, that I will be working in Japan. A few of my friends have just started their jobs in Singapore, while others have received job offers in the UAE, Hong Kong, Europe, and the Americas. This is a truly global network!

What did you love most about your business school’s town?
Singapore is one of the most unique places that I have been. Not only because of the mix of cultures due to the country’s strategic location, but also, because it offers something for everyone. For example, I’d be enjoying a SG$3 plate of Hainanese chicken rice at a local hawker center while chitchatting with the “Aunties” and “Uncles” one day, on another I’d be watching the Formula 1 live from the rooftop of an exclusive F1 private party (shoutout to my friends Andrew and Han). On yet another, I’d be enjoying the Gardens by the Bay Light Show next to the Marina Bay Sands for free.

What surprised you the most about business school?
Back when I was an MBA aspirant, I heard comments from friends and family that “business schools were for people who only cared about making money”. However, I am pleased to discover that it was completely the opposite. MBAs want to make a difference, whether by changing and reshaping an industry, building the future of their home country, or helping those in need. Doing an MBA empowers you to focus on the greater good.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire?
Jaume Xavier Felip. Jaume, in simple words, is a natural friend and leader. Whenever someone needs a helping hand, he’d be there for you. I still remember during some of the toughest times during my MBA experience, Jaume would, out of nowhere, sit next to me and ask me in the most Spanish way possible: “Ricardo, y qué ha sido de tí tio?” (Ricardo, how have you been?), just to find out if there was something he could help me with. Whether it was a tip on how to study, how to handle my personal life, or how to relax when awaiting important news, he was always there for me. I’m 100% sure that the entire NUS MBA class of 2024 is grateful to have known him during our MBA experience. Gracias, Jaume!

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Lead and shape the future of the mobility industry worldwide, as I believe that mobility has the power to change people’s lives.
2. Pursue a PhD in Strategy or DBA so I can further cultivate my expertise and professional career, and eventually, allow me to share my knowledge with the future generations of MBAs.

Ricardo Lopez Barajas stands out for his unique ability to embrace every learning opportunity with enthusiasm and proactivity. Hailing from Mexico and armed with an extensive understanding of Japanese language and culture, Ricardo has truly embraced his MBA journey in Singapore.

From delivering impact to 40 Asian countries through his MBA consulting project with Amazon Web Services, to leading business development in the Singapore-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Ricardo has consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt and excel in diverse environments. His leadership role as an NUS MBA Student Ambassador further exemplifies his commitment to fostering community and bridging cultures. This unique blend of cultural fluency, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the community highlights why Ricardo is an exemplary choice for the 2024 P&Q MBAs To Watch. – Nicole Tee, Director, MBA Programmes, NUS Business School