MSE Alumni Diaries
Surabhi Mohan
Analyst
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), India
MSE Class of 2019
Unearthing a new passion for economics
This is no ordinary love story.
For one thing, it does not involve two human protagonists or a sappy romance that sounds like something out of a Netflix series.
Instead, investor relations analyst Surabhi Mohan discovered a passion for economics — and commitment to being a part of her home country’s advancement and success — when she moved to Singapore to pursue a Master of Science in Economics at SMU.
“My post-graduate experience opened an avenue of opportunities and gave me the confidence to apply to challenging and interesting roles,” says Surabhi, who now works at the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, which is India’s first sovereign wealth fund.
“I knew that I wanted to be able to play a part in contributing to India's growth and was able to land an appropriate role to do so. I also fell in love with Economics and continue to read and keep up with all that I can relate to the field.”
Even though Surabhi was already an Analyst at Goldman Sachs, as part of the company’s tax operations team in Bengaluru; and an Associate at Moody’s Analytics’ fund marketing services division, she felt a need to elevate her expertise and shift from core finance to the interface between finance, economics and policy.
“I decided to pursue a Master’s because I felt a strong need to invest time in strengthening my technical knowledge,” shares Surabhi, who prioritised a strong curriculum, flexibility, and esteemed faculty in her search for a suitable post-graduate programme.
“Apart from this, the approach of learning in and outside the classroom, with resources available to deep dive into topics of interest was important too.”
Although post-graduate studies traditionally involved students pursuing the same area of study as their undergrad specialisation, an increasing number of individuals are choosing to shift their career paths. According to a study by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, 40 per cent of post-graduate students opt for a field of study different to that of their first degrees.
Having graduated in business administration and management, Surabhi shortlisted universities that allowed her to change tracks. Crucially, she also learned more about the culture and programme at SMU by interacting with a candidate who had already secured admission.
“The programme design, curriculum and professors were the most important factors when it came to deciding on SMU,” adds Surabhi.
“Also, my programme was popular with people who possess many years of work experience, which meant I'd have an interesting peer group. This also helped me zero in on the course.”
Moving abroad can be a stressful experience, especially so in the case of students who have spent most of their lives in their home country. Fortunately for international students moving to Singapore, the island nation’s welcoming environment and globalised culture meant an easier transition, as Surabhi — who studied and worked in India’s tech capital Bengaluru — discovered when she began her studies in 2018.
“Singapore is a great city with people from diverse cultures, so I never felt out of place,” says Surabhi, who was also a recipient of the SMU School of Economics MSE Women in Economics Scholarship.
“Also, the University's environment is fantastic, and everything is easy to figure out, so adjusting was not a challenge at all.”
A self-professed “strict vegetarian”, Surabhi admits having faced some trouble finding eateries that catered to her dietary preferences. Over time, she discovered her new favourite dining spots, and quipped that her peers helped show her around.
“I am also a big fan of the Library and spent a lot of time at the Masters' student lounge,” says Surabhi, who declares having visited every museum and multiple public parks during her stay here.
“We have three lovely museums in the vicinity of SMU! Plus, SMU puts a lot of thought into various immersion activities, which allowed me to meet several international students just like myself. One of my most memorable experiences was being shown around by a local Singaporean — we were taken to some really popular eateries and went on a cultural tour.”
In addition to a rich student life and the opportunity to immerse herself in all that the city campus had to offer, the other highlights of Surabhi’s MSE experience took place in class. Surprisingly. she even appreciated the tests and assessments, which enabled her to identify areas that required further development.
“Every professor would ensure that they use case studies from across the world and engage in a two-way discussion in the classroom, which helped me relate to and understand concepts clearly,” recalls Surabhi.
“The assignments were challenging and research-oriented, which I found extremely enriching. I also liked how we had the freedom to choose subjects that we were interested in learning and had the choice of opting out within a stipulated time.”
Currently part of the Investor Relations team in India's quasi-sovereign wealth fund, her professional role is strategic, with her team is responsible for fundraising from international and domestic investors for the market’s infrastructure and private equity-focused funds.
She explains: “My organisation is at the centre of the public and private ecosystem in India and constantly engages with international investors. My training in Economics has helped me look at the global and local macroeconomic factors which could impact our business in any manner.”
Ideally, the role of an institution of higher education goes beyond dispensing information during the period of study but inspiring another love: A fondness for lifelong learning. As such, Surabhi’s quest for pursuing knowledge within her field is ongoing, even after graduating in 2019 from SMU.
As Surabhi concludes: “Personally, the way I started looking at issues and thinking about their potential solutions, the books I read and podcasts I listen to now have been heavily influenced by my time at University.”
Last updated on 02 Jul 2021 .
