Describe your personal brand.

A personal brand should be a reflection of your values, interests, and abilities. I believe in giving back and extending my privileges for a more equitable society. Empathy is the key tool that allows me to develop deeper connections and understanding of what's happening around me. This can be used both in personal and professional settings. In this regard, empathy is the first step for marketers to understand their target audiences. In design thinking, empathy is used to identify customers' pain points. For me, being a marketer and helping the communities around me therefore come from the same place, a place of taking interest and actively listening to people around me. I believe that being authentic and vulnerable brings down the walls and develops a safe space where the most valuable lessons can be learnt.

What were you doing before The NUS MBA?

Prior to MBA, and throughout, I worked as Project Manager for NUS. In addition, I have been a volunteer charity coordinator, organising activities that help migrant workers in need. The idea of doing an MBA was to get the skills – that kind of management, business, strategic thinking – to take my volunteering up a notch. My intention was always to bring up my social impact efforts to the next level. I have always felt that volunteering is something of a duty, rather than an option. It has been and will always be ingrained in my life. I am fortunate to say that in my current role as a Business Manager in a digital marketing agency, I am also running many social impact initiatives. To name a few, we collect pre-loved laptops and smartphones to donate to the less privileged. Working in a socially-aware and responsibly business environment was very important to me.

Please share your key achievements and leadership roles on the programme.

I am recipient of The MBA Alumni-NUS Community Service Award and the Marketing Institute of Singapore Prize. The latter award has been given to me as a student with the best performance in the marketing specialisation. Of course, it must mean that I did well academically-speaking in most of my marketing modules. But I need to acknowledge the pivotal role of one person, who truly inspired me to take up marketing - both as a specialisation and as a career choice. The person is Prof. Vishal Narayan. His introductory course into marketing (the Marketing Management core module) was the first time I even came close to marketing. It was only after this experience that I was set on marketing as a career path for me. The way Vishal presented us the world of marketing made me want to be a part of it. Thankfully this vision has come true, even more so with Vishal's 2nd module that I took (Digital Marketing), that further refined my path towards Digital Marketing. I am thankful that the enthusiasm and drive that Vishal instilled in me (and in us) kept me going the extra mile in my academic pursuits and further now into my career. Other noteworthy modules and outstanding professors were the Design Thinking by Prof Yeo Kok Beng and Services Management by Prof Jochen Wirtz. I am grateful for all the support, kindness, and generosity of the wonderful educators that I've had the honour to be taught by.

What has been the single most stand-out experience of your MBA?

Apart from the LYT Camp, the Talent Show, and the infamous Yacht Party, what stands out to me the most is being featured on a large hanging banner at the NUS Business School's atrium. This is especially because I'm featured there with a big rainbow flag behind me, being the ex-President of the NUS MBA Diversity & Inclusion Club. It was a bold decision to display a rainbow flag in such a public place, especially a place where the school welcomes everyone stepping in through its doors. However, this was exactly my intention: to signal the school's values of openness, diversity, and integrity right at its doorstep. In fact, a few people reached out to me to let me know that when they first stepped into the school and saw the flag, immediately they felt reassured and welcome. This is the community that we are, embracing every single individual and this was the highlight of my MBA time (among of course many others).

What advice would you give to other MBA aspirants?

Be daring in your MBA journey. Find something you are passionate about and make your mark. The MBA is a safe space to experiment, make mistakes, and put your leadership skills to the test. Every day, try doing something a little bit outside of your comfort zone. Don't select modules just because they're easy. Select the ones you find challenging and interesting. For most people, the MBA is the last degree they'll ever do, so this is your unique chance to do things differently. When will you ever again enter case competitions, when will you go for an exchange, and when will you work with the Bloomberg terminals if you're not in finance? The MBA experience offers it all and it's only up to each student to take their pick from the rich offering. The more you put in, the more you receive.