Student clubs are vital to the NUS MBA program. They can help you in your future career, teach you valuable skills, and enrich your entire MBA experience. We visited NUS Business School to learn more about the NUS MBA student club ecosystem.
NUS Business School boasts vibrant and diverse MBA student clubs that enhance the overall student culture. These clubs cater to various interests and provide a platform for students to engage, learn, and network. From finance to sports, students can choose from an array of clubs to expand their skills and enhance their MBA experience.
An MBA is a transformative experience that helps individuals grow professionally and personally. Moreover, students gain access to a diverse network of peers who can offer valuable insights and support for life. Student clubs are a great way for classmates to strengthen their connections in an informal setting.
MBA student clubs are often centered around different topics related to business. The clubs organize events, talks, and workshops that allow students to gain a deeper knowledge of a subject that interests them.
Consulting is one of the biggest post-MBA industries, so it makes sense that the Consulting Club is among the most popular at NUS. Himanshu Kaul is the club president, and he outlines the importance of student clubs to the NUS MBA as a whole.
“Students clubs are, I’ll say, very important for the cohort as well as for the experiential learning program. Why? Because – and I’m not saying this because I’m the president of the Consulting Club, but I really feel so – because the way we operate as a council is for the entirety; to provide and empower the cohort.” (00:58)
MBA student clubs are a huge part of the MBA experience at NUS Business School. There are 12 different MBA clubs that cover a wide range of topics in business and beyond. Some popular clubs include the Consulting Club, Finance Club, Marketing Club, and Social Impact Club. Sports enthusiasts can also join clubs like the Running Club, Basketball Club, or Soccer Club.
At NUS, these clubs aren’t simply something to add to your CV. They provide you with valuable life experiences that will benefit you in your career and your personal life.
Lina Ichiki is from the NUS MBA Class of 2023, and explains, “The NUS MBA Entrepreneurship Club is for anyone who is aspiring to be an entrepreneur, or even [someone] who wants to have an entrepreneurial mindset,” she says. “At our club, we are organizing many different events, like inviting some successful entrepreneurs and then having a panel discussion. Or even sometimes we have an information session.” (00:31)
Student clubs at NUS Business School provide various advantages to participating students. Here are four key ways student clubs can enrich your NUS MBA experience and set you up for success in your future career.
An MBA is often seen as a qualification that can help you switch location, function, or industry. However, an MBA degree alone can’t change the direction of your career.
For instance, if you want to enter a new industry, then you’ve also got to make sure you have specialist knowledge of that field, which might not be part of the curriculum. However, one way of getting that knowledge is through a student club.
Gaurav Gupta, a current NUS MBA student, is a Sustainability, Ethics & Impact Club member. He says a club like this can help those interested in non-traditional MBA fields, like sustainability.
“If somebody wants to pivot and transition in a career, the first step would be to enhance the club itself by participating in it and then to get some knowledge,” he tells us. “Because sustainability is a subject matter you need to know a bit more about in technical terms…[if you want to] take a managerial role.” (03:36)
Student clubs are a great way to gain technical knowledge. They’re also a great way of developing the soft skills so vital for working with others.
NUS MBA student Joanna Zhou Yuqiao, explains that her student club has given her excellent experience in stakeholder management. She explains, “Because when you’re organizing an activity in a student club, you need to cooperate with your sponsors, with the MBA office, with other clubs, and you also have your core team.” (01:21)
The events NUS student clubs take the shape of workshops, talks, or discussions with leading industry figures.
“[The student clubs] will invite relevant speakers from the industry and they will come to share with the students,” explains Soe Myat Hein, another member of the NUS MBA Class of 2023.
“Students can actually join the event and get to know them, ask questions directly to the industry practitioners. These events are very helpful for [those of] us who are trying to get into an industry.” (01:59)
These events are an opportunity to glean valuable insights from people working in your target industry. They’re also a great chance to start building your professional network. It’s your chance to speak directly with industry professionals – and maybe even open yourself up to future job opportunities.
An MBA is not simply a one-way dialogue between the faculty and the students. In reality, what you’ll learn from your peers can be as important as the things you’ll learn from your professors.
As NUS MBA student Amit Samdarshi puts it, “Practically speaking, we need business leaders to guide us, but we have leaders of tomorrow within our cohort. ” Not listening and learning from them would be a missed opportunity. (02:58)
The NUS MBA is about learning new things, opening up to new opportunities, and throwing yourself into new experiences. Joining a student club gives you a chance to do all of these things and make your time in the MBA all the better.
If you’re interested in studying an MBA at NUS Business School, feel free to contact one of our NUS ambassadors. They’ll be happy to explain how student clubs enriched their MBA experience.
