Chan Poh Soon: Gold Award recipient 2023

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Thank you.

Who/what is your motivation to complete your postgraduate journey?

Taking it back to the beginning of this journey, I chose to join PBS for further education with the main goal of further developing a solid business administration education from a reputable and accredited MBA institution. Embarking on my postgraduate journey, my motivation is like a compass guiding me through the twists and turns. Completing this MBA is not just a personal achievement, it’s also about crafting a robust education that will serve as the foundation of my future endeavours in the business world.

Continuous personal growth is what keeps me going in this learning adventure. Pursuing higher education while developing a career is a tough path, especially after leaving full-time education for more than 15 years. The most enlightening is the path to self-improvement, intellectual gain, and overall personal development during the course. The MBA isn’t merely a classroom education, it’s a transformative experience that refreshes and further improves not only my academic skills but also my social skills, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

Of course, an accredited certification does unlock more doors to future career development. This certification is also a symbol of competence and dedication that I carry forward into the professional arena. Knowledge gained through the journey will pave a longer path for future transformation.

Another factor that motivates me is the networking opportunities. Meeting people from various backgrounds is like a colourful woven blanket. Having conversations with coursemates from different industries and connecting with respected lecturers helps build a strong network. In short, it’s more than just professional networking, it’s about continuous learning through shared experiences, broadening my perspective.

When we gain something from the community, we should learn to give back. This course also guided me on how to leverage my education to make a positive impact on the community. One of the examples will be, volunteering to teach others in the same program, sharing the knowledge gained. It’s a commitment to using my skills and knowledge for the greater good.

During this academic journey, the encouragement from my family and significant other resonances in my heart like a supportive melody. Their belief in my capabilities adds an emotional layer to my motivation. Not to forget respected and knowledgeable lecturers who guided me along the journey. As I’m about to graduate, their pride lifts me up like a gentle wind, helping me move towards new opportunities and a brighter future.

How did you overcome your challenges while studying?

Indeed, juggling between work and study is not an easy task. Especially when there are many critical tasks on hand with short deadlines and the added responsibility of managing family expectations. It’s not easy but overcoming these hurdles has been a journey of growth and accomplishment.

Personally, time management is the most important factor to manage. In the midst of balancing work, family, and study, time management emerged as my greatest ally. Planning and tackling assignments early became my secret weapon against increasing pressures. Not only did it alleviate stress, but it also elevated the quality of my work. Maintaining open communication with my family about the challenges I faced allowed us to set realistic expectations. Kind understanding and supporting family members does greatly benefit me in making sure I am able to complete my work and assignments ahead of time.

Having a mentor to provide guidance and a supportive supervisor to lean on proved to be helpful. The collaborative spirit and vast experience within the team quickly solve the challenges. To ensure tasks are completed in time, I do take on the role of being a persuasive team member, I encouraged unity and took the initiative to contribute to task completion. It was not just about individual success, it was about lifting each other to reach common goals.

No doubt that sacrifices have to be made along the journey. As completion of the course, those late-night tasks completion, the moments of self-doubt, and overcoming challenges efforts do pay off. The reward wasn’t just getting certification, it was also about building strong courage by facing challenges. This made graduation a big and emotional achievement.

Any advice for future students?

To future students go on board the MBA journey with PBS, I would like to offer some straight advice drawn from my own experiences. Setting clear goals before taking on the course. Be clear on what you want to achieve and get out of this MBA. Making sure that you will get the best return from the money, time, and energy spent. If you are not sure which direction, take on the courage to seek guidance from those who have been through and completed the journey with great success. I would strongly suggest that the students have to go through multiple years of working in the workspace before joining, that would make the learning more relatable and applicable.

You will learn the most when you learn from others’ experiences. Be proactive in networking during the course. Don’t be shy to learn from others, their experiences are really valuable which you will not be able to learn in the classroom and textbooks. Also, be generous in sharing your own story because the friends you make can inspire and support you. One of my greatest learnings through networking is that I am able to learn different marketing strategies and approaches from different industry applications.

Keep your mind open to learning. The MBA isn’t only about getting a degree, take it as another platform that is not common to your existing workplace. It’s like an exciting adventure where you’re always discovering new things. Welcome different ideas, points of view, and challenges. It’s when you stay open that you really start growing and becoming better.

If your schedule allows, do participate in extracurricular activities organized by PBS. It isn’t just about adding lines to your resume, it’s widening your horizons. In these activities, you will have the opportunity to be exposed to more perspectives and ideas.

As you move towards graduation, remember to take that extra step, and dive deeper into the subjects you are passionate about. The joy of learning goes beyond the classroom, and the extra effort you put in will set you apart. So, to future students, embrace the journey, set your goals high, connect with others, and always be open to learning. It’s about the journey to be a better person of yourself along the way.