Lifelong learning leads to new career opportunities

Completing a diploma, then a degree and an MBA at MDIS gave public servant Lynn Lim more confidence at work, paving the way for her to take on a leadership role

By Rachael Boon

July 5, 2022

Ms Lynn Lim knows for a fact that with continuous upskilling and education, more doors will open for her at work. She joined the workforce in 1994, and continued studying part-time for at least seven years at different points in her career, to attain higher qualifications.

Her first job after sitting the O levels was in customer service at SATS, Changi Airport’s chief ground handler for airfreight.

“I was comfortable in my job but I realised higher education could offer better career prospects,” she says.

She decided on the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) after hearing positive feedback from her cousin, who was taking a part-time degree course there, Ms Lim enrolled in a part-time diploma in marketing management, followed by an honours degree in business and management studies.

With her new qualifications and skills, she moved across sectors, from airport operations to new sectors like gaming and healthcare.

In 2013, she joined the People’s Association as a constituency manager. Her responsibilities include managing grassroots committees and related events to promote social cohesion and racial harmony.

Having taken her diploma and degree programmes with MDIS, the school was naturally her first choice for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

In 2019, the People’s Association offered Ms Lim a step-up scholarship, which partially funded her part-time MBA programme in Business Administration at MDIS. The MBA is awarded by the University of Sunderland, UK.

Ms Lim notes: “It was important to me that my MBA is no different from those who attended the programme at the home campus, as we go through the exact same courses, and that it is internationally-recognised.”

Ms Lim adds classes are held in the evenings, which fits right into the schedule of many working adults.

Getting a confidence boost

Under the MBA, Ms Lim learnt theories such as Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, which look at differences in culture across countries, and picked up practical knowledge that is directly applicable to her work.

For instance, she once used the concepts taught in her project management module to come up with a responsibility chart for a community project, mapping out different areas of responsibility such as logistics and publicity, as well as the personnel tasked to complete the duties.

Dr Tham Yieng Wei, Dean of Schools at MDIS, says the school has several programmes to help mid-career professionals like Ms Lim.

After completing her MBA in December 2020, Ms Lim applied successfully for a new role as head of grassroots procurement position in the People’s Association.

She finds that the MBA has boosted her confidence at work and helped her develop leadership skills. For instance, she notes that she has sharpened her comprehension and problem-solving skills, and approaches issues with the team she is working with in mind, instead of thinking of solutions from her sole perspective.

“Beyond the hard skills, I built strong friendships with my fellow classmates, learnt to never give up, and better understand how I want to approach my career today.”

Visit www.mdis.edu.sg/master-of-business-administration for more information.