If you ask Nia Sugianto So - a 22-year old currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Applied Finance programme (MAF) at Singapore Management University (SMU) - there’s no such thing as too much education. She says: “My family and I have always valued learning and intellectual stimulation, and I heavily subscribe to the notion that thinking is the only definite human faculty, so it was always part of my plan to pursue a Masters degree.”
In fact, Nia was so certain of this path that she even completed her undergraduate degree in Economics and Finance at The University of Hong Kong a year early, just so she could dedicate the extra year to do her Masters.
Like a good majority of her MAF cohort, she eschewed the obvious route of entering the workforce right upon graduation, and chose this particular post-graduate programme because of its focus on “practical and hands-on learning unlike other programmes that are research-heavy.” She adds: “There is a focus on professor-student interaction, and smaller seminar groups which lends itself to more immersive learning.”
Another appealing aspect that endeared Nia to the programme was the wide range of subjects offered including advanced financial theories and quantitative and statistical analysis, which “gives [me] the opportunity to be exposed to different specialised areas in the finance industry and figure out the best fit for [me].”
She names Financial Modelling as one of her favourite modules, as it is both relatable and practical. She explains: “It delves into how financial skills can be directly applied to real work situations, which makes me feel better equipped to enter the industry when I graduate. I’ve also become more comfortable discussing issues in financial terms and that means I can be more actively involved in market outlook events and private banking meetings.”
Nia, an Indonesian national, studied in both Malaysia and Hong Kong before deciding to further her education, and start her career, in Singapore. “It was a natural choice for me,” she muses. “Singapore is clearly the financial hub of Southeast Asia, and it’s close enough to home that I can visit when I want.” She quips: “It also helps that I can get great Indonesian food here!”
Since her high school years, Nia has been managing her own investment portfolio under her father’s guidance. The real-world knowledge gleaned from the programme came in useful as she is starting to look into diversifying her portfolio.
Aside from personal investments, she also hopes to be professionally involved in investment management or venture philanthropy in the future, and is certain that her MAF degree will help pave the way. After all, the MAF programme has a very robust and well-balanced curriculum, she says. Plus, she also picked up important soft skills along the way.
Describes Nia: “SMU places a lot of importance on class participation which trains us to be active listeners and to express our views and have them be challenged. It puts us in touch with industry professionals and exposes us to the finance world. It’s already helped me grow both personally and professionally in my first year here – I have become so much better in managing my time and stress!”
