Featuring Shermann Foo, Entrepreneur & Educator, Adelaide MBA Graduate, Class of 2021
An entrepreneur, an educator, and a project consultant with more than a decade of experience in the education industry, Shermann embarked on the Adelaide Master of Business Administration (MBA) to gain insights into the new ways of business and keep up with the rapidly changing industry trends especially in the post-pandemic world.
Shermann now holds an Adelaide Master of Business Administration, an Adelaide Master of Applied Finance, and a Master of Education from the Singapore National Institute of Education. The double Adelaide Master’s Degree holder shares his aspirations to progress in education and why he pursued his Master’s degrees twice with the University of Adelaide at Ngee Ann Academy.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA with the University of Adelaide (UOA)?
As an educator, I have always believed in lifelong learning. I did my Master of Applied Finance with UOA previously and I took electives from the Adelaide Business School. The learning experience at UOA was rigorous and intensive yet exciting and interesting – many interactive activities and discussions revolved around real-world issues that extended beyond the classrooms. I could learn about and discuss different subject matters with the teaching faculty who bring their overseas experience to the classes in Singapore.
Therefore, I did not think twice about pursuing an MBA with UOA.
How does the Adelaide MBA at Ngee Ann Academy prepare you for both your personal and career development, especially in the post-pandemic world?
As an entrepreneur, what prepares me to be future-ready are the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that I have developed while studying for the MBA. While we can all learn and pick up knowledge and hard skills in classes, what makes the difference in business is the ability to design and analyse subject matters, have the foresight in decision-making, and the capability to declutter the mind and improve productivity.
The biggest takeaway for me is the understanding of how social systems work in the business world. Once I understand how my clients work and what they need, it becomes easier for me to navigate and steer things towards achieving my objectives.
Could you share your Adelaide MBA experience and what makes it rewarding?
I enjoyed interacting with my peers and lecturers as we could share our perspectives on different issues. As we challenged and analysed the different perspectives, we understand the issues better – this is often applicable to real-world situations. This is a skill set that allows us to deal with the uncertainties and volatilities in today’s world.
Although the coursework was intensive, they were meaningful whenever I learned something new. For working professionals like me, there was a great deal of flexibility to study so that it did not disrupt my work. However, to better manage my time, I had to sacrifice some leisure and rest time during the weekends to do well in my studies.
How did you keep yourself motivated while studying?
While managing my work and study last year, I realised that I was very unhealthy and that I needed to improve my health and wellbeing. Therefore, I went on a ketogenic diet for 6 months, and I lost 24kg while studying for the Adelaide MBA. With the weight loss, I believe that I am healthier now, and my ability to focus has improved, and my productivity has also increased remarkably!
Any tips and advice for potential MBA students and current MBA students?
Connect the “dots” in your learning as you acquire them! You will realise that all the things that you have learnt will make a difference in your personal and professional development.
The Adelaide MBA is Open for Application!
If you are looking for career growth and opportunities, our Adelaide Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme delivered and awarded by The University of Adelaide at Ngee Ann Academy can open new doors for you. Through the MBA classes, individuals will foster the necessary skillsets, gain a competitive edge in the business realm, network with professionals, and prepare yourselves for the changing business environment.
The Adelaide MBA degree has been designed with maximum flexibility to suit the busy schedules of working professionals. Students can vary the number of modules they undertake in each term. This allows students to adjust the intensity or progress of their studies. All courses are currently delivered synchronously and asynchronously online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Face-to-face delivery will resume when international travelling is permitted and with safe management measures.
For more information, please visit the MBA programme page