Nanyang PMBA provides a healthy work-study balance
Sherice Wang can juggle both her pursuits, thanks to the part-time Nanyang PMBA, which has a fast-tracked programme and classes on alternate weekends
By Mary Wu
January 12, 2021
Like most adults pursuing a higher education, Ms Sherice Wang, 30, continues to do her job while she studies part-time. However, she does not have to rush for evening classes at the end of the workday.
The performance marketing specialist at Sephora South-east Asia’s digital arm enrolled in the Nanyang Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA) in July last year as she wanted to gain a better insight into the many facets of business. The Nanyang PMBA, offered by Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Nanyang Business School (NBS), would teach her to skilfully manage cross-functional projects and prime her for a leadership position.
In a typical week, Ms Wang gets off work at 6pm, has her dinner and reaches home by 8pm for self-study. As classes are held on alternate weekends in Novena, it is easy for her to incorporate snatches of social activities, errands and even exercise in her busy schedule.
She says: “The alternate weekend class schedule allows me to compartmentalise my timetable and better manage my time. In addition, my coursemates and I attend the same classes together, so we’ve been able to forge deep connections.”
Ms Wang also opted for the Nanyang PMBA as it can be completed in just 18 months — each module takes just one to two weeks. A fast-tracked programme is suited to her e-commerce marketing role, in which changes develop rapidly.
Always something new
The National University of Singapore business administration degree holder, who is already familiar with accounting concepts, says the modules are well-taught. “There are pre-course quizzes, group projects and individual exams — I thought I knew enough, but there were always fresh takeaways for me,” she says.
Ms Wang feels the professors provide sufficient guidance on the pre-course material, so even those with no accounting or finance background can start on the same footing.
She adds: “I am in the marketing field, but I don’t have a marketing degree. After completing the marketing module and learning about its purpose and importance, I’m determined to continue in my work role.”
At work, Ms Wang oversees the Hong Kong and Philippine markets. She also takes care of a Facebook Collaborative Ad project in the South-east Asia region. She found the Nanyang PMBA’s four-module Leading People Globally segment especially helpful, as it touches on negotiation skills, leadership, cultural intelligence and talent management — areas that help her have a better cultural understanding of her regional clients and customers.
Ms Wang also has access to a career mentor, who has four decades’ experience in the corporate world and can provide a fresh perspective on her career planning.
This year, Ms Wang is looking forward to the Nanyang PMBA’s Strategy Projects at Nanyang, in which participants apply classroom learning to solve real business challenges; and if the global Covid-19 situation allows, summer programmes abroad. She also has her eye on modules relating to crisis scenarios and contingency planning, as well as emerging market strategies, which she feels will be relevant to her job.
“In a world where digital transformation and digital marketing are key, knowing the basics will no longer be enough. Data analysis and cross-functional innovation will soon become more important, and I wouldn’t be able to keep up without gaining the most recent and relevant business knowledge. The Nanyang PMBA gives me a chance to do that,” she says.
In addition to the broad-based Nanyang PMBA, NTU’s NBS recently launched a new international trading track in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore. Lessons for the first cohort begin in July.
