Singapore
Geraldine Chin
NUS EMBA Class of 2008
Chairman and Managing Director
ExxonMobil Asia Pacific
The Road Less Travelled
Geraldine Chin is no stranger to challenges. As Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific she was the first woman to head the company’s Singapore affiliate, a role she took on while the world was still in the midst of a crippling pandemic.
In addition to championing diversity and inclusiveness, she also grapples with some of the most pressing issues of the day, such as supporting the company’s work to provide energy which society depends on, while reducing emissions and advancing climate solutions for the future.
We caught up with Geraldine to find out how the NUS EMBA programme has helped shape her perspectives, and rewarded her with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Why did you decide to pursue an EMBA with NUS Business School?
My reasons for taking up the EMBA were very different from those of my classmates. Through my career with Exxonmobil, I have benefited from our development model which rotates us through many different businesses and functions. So I was not looking for a switch in career path or a way to get exposure to different aspects of the business.
What I was searching for was the academic piece of the puzzle, a more structured framework to fit my various experiences and plug some of the gaps. Having spent my entire career with one company, I also wanted to find a community that was different from me, with different ways of thinking about business. The Executive MBA appealed because I wanted to learn from peers who had a diversity and wealth of experience, and it certainly did not disappoint.
What was your key takeaway from your time in NUS BIZ?
We were such a diverse group with so many different personalities from across the region. There were heads of family-run businesses, leaders from various MNCs and even a doctor and a nurse. As everyone was introducing themselves on the first day, I remember wondering how the programme would be able to bring all these people together and meet all their different objectives. But somehow we managed, and this was due in no small part to the dynamic that was created in the classroom, with practitioners and academics working together side by side.
The programme has managed to stay relevant for 25 years because of the quality of the lecturers and the quality of the interactions between participants. You will remember the friendships far more than the lessons and even to this day there are very heated debates on our WhatsApp chat group, ranging from business to politics and even cricket!
Geraldine (middle) and Minister Desmond Lee at the 11th edition of the Adopt-A-Rental-Block community outreach in 2021. Photo credit: South West CDC
How did the EMBA change your perspectives?
The Leadership module was very emotional, almost like a voyage of self-discovery. It was fascinating to see the range of responses and reactions to the same situation, and this had a profound impact on me as I am heavily involved in leadership development in my current role.
Learning to find your authentic voice has helped me greatly, especially in the context of being an Asian woman in a large MNC, and as a champion for diversity in leadership.
Work hard, play hard! Geraldine engages with early career and recent hires at one of the orientation activities in ExxonMobil Singapore.
What advice do you have for others who are considering embarking on the EMBA journey?
You need to be absolutely clear why you want to do it and how much you are willing to sacrifice. All MBAs are intensive, so it helps to have clarity on your purpose and what you are trying to achieve.
You may be thinking that you’re already so busy, how do you fit an MBA into all that and still do a good job? The most important thing is to trust yourself. If you are clear about your purpose you will be amazed at how much you can bear with, and also surprised at how much fun the journey can be.
