How do you pursue an MBA without derailing your career path? St.Gallen part-time MBA graduate Ling Loh shares how she balanced the program with her full-time accounting role at Zurich Insurance.
Going back to school while maintaining a full-time job can be challenging, but Ling Loh found a way to make it work. Looking to enhance her skills and knowledge without compromising her career, Ling pursued an MBA while working at Zurich Insurance. She found the solution in the St.Gallen part-time MBA program, which allowed her to balance both work and studies.
Although it meant that her work with Zurich would be somewhat restricted during her studies, her superiors were very encouraging. “I found that discussing my MBA plans with my employer early on to be very good because they were very supportive. Not just financially, but also giving me time off for my studies and to prepare for my exams as well.” (00:34)
Once the course is underway, part-time MBA students need to pay special attention to finding the balance between work and studies. Ling’s professor advised her that “time is like an economic resource, so you’ve got to manage your time properly” (07:44).
Time management and discipline are among the most common, yet unexpected takeaways from MBAs. Balancing a full-time job and part-time studies requires good time management, and discipline — skills that are immediately applicable to a career. While most candidates pursue their studies to enhance their hard skill set and job opportunities, graduates often point to their personal growth as the most valuable outcome.
Like many others, Ling embarked on a part-time MBA journey at St. Gallen primarily to advance her career. As a general degree, an MBA usually doesn’t specialize in a specific area, but it opens candidates’ eyes to a broad spectrum of growth opportunities. For instance, Ling’s MBA enabled her to tackle demanding assignments at Zurich Insurance.
“There was this topic on organizational design taught by Amanda Shantz, and as an accountant, I approached that topic not knowing at all what to expect. Because of COVID, our organization decided to go through an organization transformation. I got to be a part of the core team for that transformation project and to see how change management is affected in real life in a global organization.” (01:04)
Later, as an alumna of the program, Ling organized the annual Zurich Day. The event enables full-time and part-time St.Gallen MBA students to explore Zurich Insurance and better understand what it was like to work for a global insurance company.
But perhaps the most impactful effort Ling undertook after graduating was to run a corporate project with a St.Gallen MBA student. She says, “I think it was a wonderful opportunity to have an MBA in my workplace to also give her the opportunity and the platform to see if Zurich Insurance was the right fit for her.” (02:22)
Working together, their mission was to introduce an interactive service catalog that could easily be updated with new services. The successful result improved the professionalism of Ling’s department.
Pursuing an MBA can bring numerous advantages in career opportunities, personal development, and self-awareness. Ling Loh was able to use her MBA experience to gain a deeper understanding of her values and aspirations, leading to increased self-awareness.
“Going through those exercises and being reflective made me realize what my values were deep down and what actually made me happy.” (06:38) Ling gained insights into her strengths and weaknesses, as well as what motivates and drives her. She discovered that her “superpowers” lie in serving others and that she is happiest when she can make a positive impact on people’s lives.
This self-awareness has influenced Ling’s career choices and aspirations. With newfound confidence and clarity, she is now contemplating the prospect of starting her own business, something she wouldn’t have considered before her MBA experience.
Ling’s MBA experience also allowed her to develop valuable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. Ling has used these skills professionally and personally. For example, as a mentor and coach to her colleagues and friends.
Although pursuing an MBA is a personal goal, it’s a journey that requires the support of others. Ling and her MBA classmates encouraged each other during the program, sharing insights, and resources to help each other succeed.
Moreover, these connections extended beyond the classroom. “Besides connecting with MBAs through formal events, there were also informal activities where we would just say, ‘Hey, why don’t we go for a run together?’” (08:08)
When you build such strong connections, they’re likely to continue and the thriving St.Gallen alumni network is proof positive of that. They remain a supportive network for each other through life’s ups and downs. Ling is acutely aware of how important that support has been for her. She credits her amazing classmates for giving her the courage to pursue new opportunities, like becoming an entrepreneur. “Having this amazing bunch of people behind me has just given me wings,” Ling said. (07:28)
In conclusion, Ling’s part-time MBA experience at Zurich Insurance was a transformative journey that was worth the effort. As an alum, she remains committed to supporting her fellow MBA students and embracing the opportunities that come her way.
Want more information about the St.Gallen part-time MBA? Contact students directly through the ambassador page and they’ll be happy to help.
