Tell us about your career journey since you graduated…
I now have over 30 years of solid experience in Human Resource Management and Development, and for almost 20 years, was the Vice President / Director and Head of HR for Asia in large global companies such as Molex, Diversey and Unilever with responsibilities for Business Partnership, Learning and Organisational Capability, Total Rewards and Operational Excellence. In these positions I was a Global and Asia HR Lead Team member as well as a Global Division Lead team member and was always a direct report to the Global Head / Senior Vice President for HR. From a local perspective, I was also Head of HR and Administration for a Temasek-linked company for 11 years and was a member of the Management team, reporting to the Chief Executive.
I am a Fellow of the Singapore Human Resource Institute. In additional to my MBA qualification, I also hold an ACCA Diploma and a Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and have graduated from the Coaching University in the US.
How would you say Brunel helped you to get where you are today?
Going through the course itself was an enormous exercise in managing one’s resources, coping with one’s career and balancing it with the home and the family. However, the research, planning, organising, writing and rewriting train the mind to be more analytical and thorough when it comes to decision making. In the process, one develops good discipline.
My three years in the programme can be described as a period when useful ideas and skills were acquired and consolidated by blending academic knowledge with practical teaching and experience. It also gave me the opportunity to diversify my educational learning to areas beyond my specialism. In the process, it helped me to better understand management and how to cope with it.
Why did you choose to study at Brunel and why would you recommend Brunel to others?
There are many who may feel that a MBA course by distance learning cannot be of a high standard. Having gone through the mill and being a product of this programme, this certainly is not true. It takes lots of personal sacrifice, time management, will power and the determination to successfully complete the programme. The tutors were experienced and knowledgeable, and gave helpful, constructive and thought provoking comments in their assessment of the written work required.
What would be your top tip or advice for new graduates as they begin their career journey?
The best is really yet to be!
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