Vanessa Schoeller & Deepthi Valsan

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Germany, NUS EMBA (Class of 2024)

Vanessa Schoeller

Consultant

Self-employed

India, NUS EMBA (Class of 2024)

Deepthi Valsan

Senior Consultant

Worley Group

From cribs to classrooms: Vanessa Schoeller (Class of ‘24) and Deepthi Valsan (Class of ‘24)

For Vanessa Schoeller and Deepthi Valsan, the path through their EMBA program was uniquely intertwined with the joys and trials of parenting young children.

Vanessa, who gave birth just days after the course began, and Deepthi, who juggled her studies with caring for her two-year-old daughter, both transformed their personal challenges into a source of strength. They share their inspiring journeys, shedding light on how motherhood and ambition can harmoniously coexist, driving them both to achieve remarkable success despite the odds.

Deepthi Valsan (Class of ‘24) is Senior Consultant at Worley Group, a global professional services firm of energy, chemicals and resources experts.

You’re one of the youngest in your cohort. Why did you decide to pursue an EMBA at such a young age?
I gave birth to my daughter in 2020 at the peak of COVID-19. The pandemic had made me realize how unpredictable life can be – prompting a lot of thinking about my future.

So when I turned 30 in 2021, I felt the need to do something for myself and pursue something significant. I’ve already completed my MBA through distance learning, where the focus was mainly on theoretical knowledge. I knew I needed skills such as negotiation and strategic thinking, as well as a broader understanding of business beyond just the technical aspects. So I signed up for NUS EMBA, where I can learn a lot more from the professor and my classmates through personal interactions.

What was it like having to juggle a full-time job, parenting a young daughter and an EMBA program?
When I started the program, my daughter was just two years old and very dependent on me, especially since I had been working from home during COVID-19. The program required a lot of travel, and it was the first time I had to be away from her for long periods, which was emotionally tough. Subjects like accounting and microeconomics were initially hard for me as I came from a technical background in engineering.

Fortunately, I had a strong support system in my husband, my in-laws and parents, who helped care for my daughter when I had to travel. Now that I’ve finished, I feel a great sense of accomplishment, thinking, “Wow, I did it! If I can do that, I can do anything.”

You come from an industry that’s male-dominated. For women in such sectors, do you have advice on how they can overcome challenges they face due to their gender?
When I chose to specialize in power engineering for my Bachelor of Technology course, some family friends suggested that it involved extensive fieldwork and might not be ideal for women. But I was determined to pursue it, encouraged by the support of my parents.

But being a woman in this male-dominated field has sometimes worked in my favor. For example, I was the only female participant presenting at a large power conference in India. This made me stand out, and I was asked to give feedback at the closing ceremony. I highlighted the lack of women in the power industry, and the board of directors took it positively. After that, many reached out to our company because of what I presented. There are challenges in this field, and women often have to overcome more hurdles than men – but these efforts can sometimes allow you to create more opportunities for yourself.

Vanessa Schoeller (Class of ‘24) is a self-employed media consultant with over a decade of experience in advertising, branding and digital media in Europe and Asia.

Please tell us more about your career experience and why you decided to sign up for the NUS EMBA.
As a German native who lives in Asia for over a decade, I’ve honed my expertise in leading cross-cultural teams within the advertising, branding, and digital media sectors. My role as the head of a boutique German media agency’s expansion in APAC was particularly transformative, allowing me to drive growth and bridge European and Asian business practices through digital innovations and new strategies to redefine customer engagement.

I embarked on the NUS EMBA journey to continue growing, to enhance my leadership and analytical skills and to gain a deeper understanding of the economic and cultural dynamics of Asia. The program’s strong regional focus and its commitment to providing an authentic Asian perspective truly resonated with me. It promised not only academic excellence but also the opportunity to meaningfully explore and connect with various cultures, enriching my understanding of the markets I operate in and boosting my effectiveness as a leader in a multicultural business environment.

You delivered a baby just a few days after the first EMBA segment – it must have been a challenging time for you! Could you share more about the experience?
It was indeed a whirlwind experience that truly tested my limits. Despite it being our third child, each experience brings its own unique challenges and this time was no exception. Fortunately, I had amazing support from my husband and family, who were instrumental in helping me manage this intense period. Their support underscored a powerful lesson: with determination and the right support, you can achieve anything!

I was committed to pursuing my EMBA while welcoming our new family member, never viewing it as an either/or situation, despite some questioning this decision.
This period was about academic learning but also about personal growth, integrating studies with valuable family time and passion projects. Balancing these responsibilities provided a rich, multifaceted experience that has been incredibly fulfilling.

What was the biggest challenge for you?
The biggest challenge was certainly maintaining the “always-on” mindset required during the EMBA’s intensive sessions. Juggling intense whole day classes, overnight assignments, and the beautiful task of building genuine connections – all while managing your “normal life’s” responsibilities – was immensely demanding. I joked that women with young kids might have an edge due to our ability to perform well with little sleep! The two-week immersive programs, in particular, tested my ability to multitask and prioritize effectively, relying heavily on my support network. Reflecting on it now, I’m quite proud of how well everything went and the enriching experience it turned out to be.

In many organizations, women are underrepresented in leadership positions. How do you think your EMBA experience has prepared you to break through these barriers?
Like every NUS EMBA graduate, the program has given me a toolkit to succeed as a manager and leader and to enhance my skills for the years ahead. On top of that, the EMBA has provided me the opportunity to demonstrate that women, even as mothers, can excel in such rigorous programs. Having achieved this gives me extreme confidence, resilience and strength that I will be a considerate and successful leader who can tackle any challenges that may arise.

Also it fills me with confidence to have studied alongside so many successful and bright women, who all have distinguished careers. We are all now prepared to go beyond and break down barriers.