Medical Doctor turned Investor shares why she chose NUS Executive MBA

Dr. Danbee Park is the head analyst and advisor at Nova Fundamento. She was a medical doctor by training and is passionate about helping people live healthier lives through preventive care and positive lifestyle changes. Now she heads analysts and advisors for healthcare startup investments.

Danbee joined the NUS Executive MBA programme in May 2022. Let’s hear about her EMBA journey.

Why did you choose NUS EMBA?

Given my career move from medicine to business, I needed to update my business knowledge. I believe Asia is the most prominent world region in terms of growth potential and opportunities, so I wanted to focus on Asia-based globalization in my studies. NUS EMBA was a great fit for my goals and allows me to learn well-structured business knowledge with an Asian-focused view.

Describe your overall EMBA experience.

My experience so far has been better than I could have imagined. This program allows me to learn about business environments based on each country’s socio-cultural characteristics accompanied by vivid case studies and company visits. I especially enjoy the diversity offered, as I can broaden my horizons by interacting with peers from different nationalities and career backgrounds.

Sum up in a few sentences what it’s like balancing an EMBA with a full-time job.

While it may seem very busy to balance a full-time job with this program, the program is very considerate regarding potential work conflicts.

In addition, my work and studies are not completely separate, but rather complement one another, so what I learn in school I can apply at work and vice versa. The NUS EMBA program has a strong emphasis on reflecting and applying knowledge on-site, which makes it more practical to do both work for and school at the same time.

What is it like being part of this close-knit group of diverse participants?

I really enjoy working with this tight-knit group and having the opportunity to learn from other cultures. Despite coming from all different countries and backgrounds, in my classmates, I can find all the traits of great leaders. Everyone is very open, collaborative, and eager to learn and improve. I feel that we are a team all focused on our learning.

How has the residential segment enriched your learning experience?

While visiting developing Asian countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, I learned about their upcoming business environment and gained insights by communicating with them. I not only learned from their culture but also learned a lot about the status of the business in their country and how it can continue to grow. By sharing these experiences with my classmates, we were all able to learn more deeply and appreciate the learning experience more.

What was the most valuable and memorable takeaway for you?

There are many valuable and memorable takeaways for me, but the primary ones include learning from such great professors and learning from peers who are leaders in each field. This kind of learning environment always kept me inspired and motivated and provided me with a driving force to better myself through positive and developmental energy.

Any useful tips/advice for future applicants?

I would want to tell future applicants that I know it is challenging to step outside their comfort zone, but I would encourage them always to push their limits and explore new challenges. Because these are the experiences that will allow them to grow and thrive as people and in their careers in business.