{"id":2148,"date":"2025-03-11T11:20:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T03:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mba.nus.edu.sg\/women\/?post_type=profile&p=2148"},"modified":"2025-03-11T11:20:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T03:20:17","slug":"ciara-cates","status":"publish","type":"profile","link":"https:\/\/mba.nus.edu.sg\/women\/profile\/ciara-cates\/","title":{"rendered":"Ciara Cates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Merging Science and Strategy: How Ciara Cates is Driving Sustainable Innovation with the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For Ciara Cates, sustainability has always been a technical challenge as much as a business one. As a Sustainability Strategist in Raw Materials Management at Quantis (a BCG company), she works at the intersection of science, supply chains, and corporate strategy, helping businesses build more sustainable and resilient operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While confident in her ability to evaluate materials, assess environmental impact, and drive technical solutions, she became increasingly involved in financial discussions\u2014from evaluating start-ups to exploring non-traditional funding for innovation projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explains, \u201cI knew the science inside and out, but I wanted to understand the financial side on a deeper level\u2014not just follow along but contribute meaningfully to the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her decision to pursue an Executive MBA was about bridging that gap. She had always enjoyed the business side of sustainability, and the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA<\/a> offered a chance to widen her perspective, sharpen her financial acumen, and lead more effectively in a global business environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Balancing an EMBA with Career Growth and Life Transitions<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Taking on an Executive MBA while working full-time is demanding, but Ciara\u2019s experience pushed her further. During the program, she also moved to a new city and started a new job. She admits, \u201cIt was manageable, but it pushed me to be more intentional with my time. The experience strengthened my ability to prioritise, adapt quickly, and stay focused under pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact was immediate at work. She contributed more actively in meetings with finance and marketing teams, participated in higher-level strategic discussions, and took on new cross-functional responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving the confidence to engage in broader business conversations has been a game-changer for me. It has opened new doors and new career opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Global Perspective on Sustainability and Business<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest draws of the UCLA-NUS EMBA was its international focus. Sustainability challenges don\u2019t exist in a vacuum; they span supply chains, industries, and regions, so gaining a global perspective was essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy work involves global partnerships, and I wanted an MBA program that reflected that reality. The international focus of UCLA-NUS gave me insights into sustainability across different regions, regulations, and market dynamics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being surrounded by classmates and professors with firsthand experience working in different parts of the world was invaluable. This broadened her ability to develop sustainability strategies that are not only effective but also adaptable across markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An Unexpected Lesson in Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

While Ciara expected to gain financial and strategic skills, one of the most unexpected and valuable takeaways was how much leadership development would shape her approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shares, \u201cLearning to communicate better and build a collaborative team has increased my confidence as a leader and made challenging situations much easier to navigate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most impactful lessons was about upward management, a skill she had never received formal training in. \u201cUnderstanding how to manage up, influence leadership, and align sustainability goals with business objectives has been incredibly useful.\u201d These skills have empowered her to lead sustainability initiatives more effectively, aligning them with both environmental goals and business priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Scaling Sustainability from Technical Solutions to Business Models<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The textile industry is shifting significantly toward circularity and sustainable practices\u2014something Ciara has been deeply involved in for years. However, through the UCLA-NUS EMBA, she expanded her role beyond technical sustainability solutions to building business models that drive large-scale change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe EMBA helped me move from focusing on the technical side of sustainability to thinking about how to scale solutions at an industry level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mental shift has allowed her to take on larger projects, helping businesses rethink raw material management, reduce risk in supply chains, and embed sustainability into corporate strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She reflects, \u201cWithout the program, I don\u2019t think I would have had the confidence or the mindset shift necessary to take on projects at this scale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For professionals working at the intersection of sustainability and business, Ciara believes the key to success lies in understanding both worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSustainability isn\u2019t just about environmental impact\u2014it\u2019s about long-term business success. The leaders who can bridge science and strategy will drive the most meaningful change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also emphasises the role of risk mitigation in sustainability. \u201cTextile supply chains, like many others, are vulnerable to environmental and social disruptions. Leaders anticipating and integrating these risks into business planning will have a major advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicating sustainability in business terms\u2014whether through cost savings, risk reduction, or market differentiation\u2014is critical for driving long-term industry impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Expanding Her Network Beyond Sustainability<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Before joining the EMBA, most of Ciara\u2019s professional network centered on sustainability and textiles. While valuable, it was somewhat narrow, limiting her exposure to broader business trends and opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe UCLA-NUS network expanded my perspective beyond sustainability. Collaborating and learning from professionals in finance, tech, healthcare, and other industries has been incredibly eye-opening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These cross-industry insights have helped her think differently about sustainability challenges, identifying new ways to drive change by learning from how other industries approach complex business problems. \u201cHaving a network of global business leaders to discuss challenges, career goals, and new ideas with has been invaluable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Final Thoughts: A Career-Changing Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For Ciara, the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA was a career accelerator that transformed her approach to leadership, sustainability, and business strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe program gave me the confidence, skills, and network to take on larger-scale projects and think beyond the immediate challenges in my industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For professionals looking to merge sustainability with business leadership, she offers this advice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t just focus on the technical side. Understand the business landscape, the financials, and the risks. The ability to bridge both worlds will set you apart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for anyone considering an EMBA?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake the leap. You\u2019ll come out of it with a stronger ability to lead, a broader global perspective, and a network that will support you for years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Ciara Cates, are you ready to take your leadership to the next level? Learn more about the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"parent":0,"menu_order":11,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"programme":[10],"class_list":["post-2148","profile","type-profile","status-publish","hentry","programme-ucla"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCiara Cates - NUS Women in MBA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mba.nus.edu.sg\/women\/profile\/ciara-cates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ciara Cates - NUS Women in MBA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Merging Science and Strategy: How Ciara Cates is Driving Sustainable Innovation with the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA For Ciara Cates, sustainability has always been a technical challenge as much as a business one. 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