Education: MBA, NYU Stern School of Business (2010) BAcc, Nanyang Technological University (2001)

Having worked with clients in the emerging markets during my previous career before pursuing the MBA, I was determined to return and establish myself in Asia. Dynamic and filled with opportunities - this is how I will describe the emerging markets in Asia, and therefore a perfect place for any ambitious executive just starting out on a new career.

Those words might also describe my time in Standard Chartered Bank, where every day is a new learning experience. The Bank is one of the pre-eminent names in Asia, with strong brand equity and a wide product offering. As such, there are many opportunities to apply what I learnt in business school. As part of the Global Product Management team specializing in Payment Products for Banks clients, I have researched new business opportunities in the payments space, worked on improving the value proposition for existing products, and promoted our product suite to salespersons and clients. And I have only been in the team for seven months!

The payments space is undergoing a shift in the way consumers use its typical products. Technology firms (use of near-field communication technology in smart phones for retail payments) and the major telecommunications service providers (promotion of mobile wallets and mobile payments) have come into the picture. Banks have to innovate and stay ahead of the game, and this is where we can use the creativity, business know-how and new perspectives that MBA candidates can bring to the table.