Ma Yuhan (Stella)

National University of Singapore, NUS Business School

“A commercial lawyer, a mother of two, aspiring to advance further.”

Hometown: Huai’an, Jiangsu, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: Watching the sun rise with my 20-week-old baby. She had trouble sleeping and was crying endlessly throughout the night, so I drove us to East Coast Park at 4  am. It worked – she fell soundly asleep, and we shared a beautiful moment together.

Undergraduate School and Major:

University of Bristol (UK), Master in Commercial Law

Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (China), Double Degrees in Law and English Interpretation.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Midea Group (Singapore), International Legal Counsel

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA curriculum or activities that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? What attracted me most was the international exposure and collaborative learning community. As a commercial lawyer with Civil Law and Common Law background, I wish to gain Western perspectives while deepening my insights into Asia. The excellent reputation of the faculty was also a plus for me.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates and why? They are smart, diligent and cooperative. We have hundreds of discussions over different courses and topics, and they would come up with innovative ideas each time. I have really learnt a lot from their experiences and insights.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: When I joined Midea Group, the contract team was underperforming. As a newcomer, I was energised and full of enthusiasm – I wanted to get to know each individual better, so I could help improve team performance. I brought some snacks and fruit to office, and I actively invited them to after-work drinks, where we talked about hobbies, our families, and concerns we were facing. Once we started getting to know each other better, we started to work better together.

I’m particularly proud of our achievement as a team in setting up a new and innovative contract management system. I had a talented team, and I led them to achieve significant improvements in efficiency – within six months, we were able to deliver 15% more beyond our initial targets.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? In one of the core courses, we were required to solve a task and present in front of the class as a team. With very limited time, I decided to take the initiative as the group leader and rolled up my sleeves. Getting each member to contribute was challenging at first, but it gave me a chance to reflect on my communication and teamwork approach. I offered different solutions to the task on hand, and encouraged other members to brainstorm and do the same. In the end, our team achieved high scores, and I felt my efforts were appreciated.

What has been the biggest surprise in your first months of business school? The NUS MBA provides MBA fundamentals such as financial management and corporate strategy, but also leadership development – this has helped me gain a clear insight into the various facets of management. The core courses in the first semester are fun as well as useful. Professors are experienced, resourceful, and creative. I’ve really enjoyed the classes and interacting with professors and classmates alike.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  I would like to stretch my boundaries and dive into a more diversified career path. I aspire to learn all aspects of business and management, and to transform myself from a professional service provider to an experienced system designer. I started my MBA preparations in 2017, but my plan was put on hold with the arrival of two lovely babies. However, motherhood gave me the extra time to reflect. I feel I have a clearer and more inspiring career plan now, and it is the perfect time for me to restart my MBA journey.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? INSEAD

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