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Singapore, UCLA-NUS EMBA (Class of 2025/2026)

Caroline Mary Dhanaraj

Corporate Governance & Financial Compliance Consultant

Choosing the Unfamiliar and Learning Along the Way

My career has moved across technology, fitness franchising and financial services, not through a master plan but through deliberate decisions to step into areas I did not yet understand.

Running fitness franchises was one of those decisions. I wanted to experience business ownership fully. Managing finances, customer relationships, staff development and compliance simultaneously reshaped my perspective. It demanded discipline and sacrifice, but it taught me how organisations actually function beyond individual roles.

When a capable team took over daily operations, I accepted a new challenge leading a regulated compliance transformation in financial services. The field was unfamiliar, so I studied extensively, worked closely with subject experts and participated actively in discussions even before I felt confident.

My EMBA capstone required building a market entry strategy in a region I had never worked in before. Each step reinforced the same principle: understanding grows through involvement.

Seeing Organisations Holistically

Corporate roles previously allowed me to specialise within defined responsibilities. Franchise ownership removed those boundaries. Every decision, risk and outcome depended on me.

Returning to corporate work, I saw organisations differently. Financial pressures, operational dependencies and vendor expectations were no longer abstract concepts. I had experienced them directly.

This broader perspective made collaboration easier because I could anticipate what mattered to each stakeholder group.

Adapting to New Environments

Every transition required preparation and observation. I learned to study frameworks, listen to how teams approached problems and identify connections between systems.

This approach helped us stabilise franchise operations quickly and contribute meaningfully to regulatory transformation later. Curiosity combined with persistence allowed unfamiliar environments to become manageable.

Observing Women in Different Industries

Across sectors I noticed varied representation of women in leadership. Technology had strong individual contributors but fewer senior leaders. Banking showed women leading business teams but fewer in technical functions. Franchising had many women successfully operating businesses.

The next generation appears more confident defining careers in their own way. They value purpose, collaboration and responsible use of technology, and they actively support one another.

The Role of the EMBA

After working across sectors I wanted a framework connecting my experiences. The EMBA helped integrate them. It clarified how governance supports growth and how operational choices influence financial outcomes.

It strengthened my interest in working at the intersection of compliance, data governance and strategic change.

Redefining Success

Earlier, I measured success through advancement. Over time, satisfaction came from projects that improved processes and supported people.

Now success means building capable teams and solutions that remain effective after I step away. Faith has also guided my priorities by reminding me to invest effort where it creates meaningful benefit.

Looking Back

If I could advise my younger self, I would say to focus energy carefully and not attempt to solve everything at once. Some matters require acceptance, others action, and recognising the difference shapes better decisions.

Progress is not defined by speed but by whether the work creates lasting value.