Ju Won Im is working hard to grow her career globally. Originally from South Korea, Ju Won found herself in Singapore when she landed a position at the Asia-Pacific (APAC) headquarters of a multinational technology company. Subsequently, she decided to take up further studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS), joining the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programme. Now, she juggles work and studies, while residing in a foreign country.

"Currently, I am an Account Manager at Meta, where I mainly handle Australia and New Zealand, and I am also enrolled in the NUS MSBA programme," Ju Won said by way of introduction.

One of many South Koreans based in Singapore, Ju Won has adapted well to living in the country affectionately known as the “Little Red Dot”.

"I live independently in Singapore,” she shared. “I lived with my family in South Korea, but here in Singapore, I am shaping my life through work, leisure, hobbies, and more. So far, I have found great satisfaction in this lifestyle.”

Singapore is far from Ju Won‘s first experience with being abroad. Years ago, she had spent a semester as an undergraduate exchange student in the United States of America. However, Singapore is her first extended stint overseas, and she found herself facing new challenges, such as building her networks and getting accustomed to the culture and norms.

“What I love about Singapore is its multicultural and multilingual environment,” she said. “Here, I am surrounded by international talents and opportunities. I find it easier and more enriching to experience such international exposure here than in Korea.".

Before joining Meta in 2019, Ju Won had visited Singapore previously. Then only 15, Ju Won was reporting on the Youth Olympics, which was being hosted in the tiny Southeast Asian nation. She soon realised that despite its diminutive size, the country was a global hub that housed a number of internationally renowned companies. This, and her subsequent reflections on her career path — bolstered by her communication and networking with internationally based colleagues — convinced her that she would be making the right choice in relocating to Singapore.

Back to School — While Still Working

At Meta, Ju Won‘s job gave her a chance to be on the cutting edge of technology — and that vantage point nudged her towards pursing further studies.

"While using artificial intelligence (AI) products and driving sales opportunities through data analysis at Meta, my interest in this field grew exponentially. I wanted to delve deeper into the growing fields of AI and data analysis.".

This eventually led her to enrol in the MSBA programme, where she has been having a generally positive experience.

It has not been smooth sailing all the way though. Balancing work and studies, as most people know, can be challenging. Nonetheless, honing the ability to do so can contribute to one‘s personal growth and success. Working provides on-the-ground experience and financial rewards, while studying offers opportunities for academic exploration and career advancement. However, finding and maintaining the right balance between the two requires efficient time management and savvy prioritisation skills, a difficult task to accomplish.

A regular day of work and studies would find Ju Won starting early in the morning and continuing until late at night. Despite the busy schedule, she shared that she felt grateful for the growth opportunities. "To be honest, I am still facing difficulties,” Ju Won admitted. “However, I am learning and growing a lot through challenging myself.”

“Exchanging experiences with fellow students who are also juggling work and study like me has been a great help and emotional support,” she added. “We encourage each other and provide active support in various ways.".

Anything but Strictly Classroom

NUS has for many years enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence and the continuous pursuit of innovation — bolstered by an enviable position near the top of global university rankings. It should come as no surprise then that being a successful Master‘s Degree student at NUS requires hard work and dedication. The MSBA programme is just as rigorous and demanding, but Ju Won, like many others, has found that the flipside to this is that the academics are nothing short of top-notch.

Her classes have indulged her interest in AI and data analytics, allowing her to delve deep into the subjects..

"The analytical thinking and handling of large datasets were incredibly useful and important classes,” she pointed out. “Above all, the professors were very proactive and put a lot of effort into supporting students."

“The professor&lsquos' expertise and support for students have been inspiring to me.” She shares “When I became curious about pursuing a data-related work role, I reached out to a few professors to hear their recommendations on how to explore the field as a career option”. Acting on their advice, she began proactively looking for opportunities within her current company; volunteering for projects and tasks that required leveraging data and data-related problem-solving skills. In addition, she networked with colleagues dealing in data-centric roles, to find out about their work and necessary skillsets, to increase her knowledge about the field.

Ju Won also liked that the programme offered hands-on learning opportunities. Capstone projects and summer internship programmes allow students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical environments and gain real-world experience, as well as to develop essential skills such as project management, data analysis and communication. Students who take up capstone projects and internships also have the opportunity to network with peers and industry experts, whilst exploring potential career paths. .

"I am looking forward to the capstone project,” Ju Won said. “In fact, the capstone project was one of the biggest reasons why I applied to the MSBA programme. It will be a great opportunity to test and apply what I learned in class.”

Ju Won believes the capstone project will help not only in building her confidence and flexibility, but also in enhancing her profile. It will be a valuable stepping stone to promote her personal and professional growth, to achieve her career goals and advance in a competitive job market.

“I expect to grow a lot with closer guidance and feedback from professors. Additionally, I am looking forward to leverage the newly acquired skills to create business value at work,” she said.

“I am not sure yet how I will chart my career path, but I think that passionately participating in the capstone project and applying what I have learned from the classroom to a real-world business problem will certainly lead me to explore new directions for my career."

Uncovering Opportunities as They Come

“While it is still early, I believe that being in the NUS MSBA programme will undoubtedly open up more opportunities for me as time goes on."

NUS is one of the most-esteemed universities worldwide and boasts a diverse, multicultural student body, a reflection of how Singapore enjoys a solid international reputation and has attracted some of the best talent from around the globe. This fusion of a wide range of backgrounds, ideas and expertise offers up a rich cultural and knowledge exchange, which enables both the university and the country to cultivate inclusive, globally attuned leaders.

“With the opportunities to be immersed in various communities, I get to enjoy a richer campus life and gain a wider perspective,” Ju Won shared. “This had made a difference in my work at Meta, since I now have a broader view of things.”

“My way of life has changed significantly,” Ju Won shared when asked about how else she might have grown since coming to Singapore and joining NUS. “My network has expanded, and my understanding of new fields has greatly improved. It is not easy, and I still face challenges at times, but I have no regrets I chose this path. It has allowed me to experience personal and intellectual growth."

Studying and building a career in Singapore has been truly a global experience for Ju Won, and she is prepared to venture further afield now than before.

“There are many opportunities in Singapore, which is home to many multinational and local companies. I have not made any definite plans or goals yet. I want to keep my mind open to all possibilities. I am open to exploring what is next for me when I graduate from the programme,” she noted, before thoughtfully adding: “One thing for sure is that through the NUS MSBA programme, an even more amazing and meaningful future awaits."