Ariel Tee

“Outgoing, curious global citizen, passionate about global health and making the world a better place”

Hometown: Singapore

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love music and singing; I used to record song covers for fun though I haven’t since I was an undergrad. I hope to start again one day!

Undergraduate School and Major: National University of Singapore, Sociology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Ministry of Health, Senior Manager of International Cooperation

What were some of the key motivating factors behind pursing your MBA, and why did this seem like the right time for you?

I had been working for several years as an individual contributor and wanted to take the next step in my career to having more managerial and leadership responsibilities. While on-the-job training was really effective for me in my previous roles, I wanted a more structured program like an MBA given the crossroads/transition stage I was at, so I could accelerate my learning and leapfrog my career trajectory. I felt an MBA was the perfect tool for me to broaden my horizons, build networks, gain business acumen and insights, and learn both the soft and hard skills required to be an effective leader.

When you think of your school, what is the first word that comes to mind and why?

Opportunity. The school has so many events, activities and clubs which are really useful for our networking and career goals, and also allow us to pursue a diverse range of interests. So no matter what industry you come from, or interests you have, you will find something that caters to that. There are also plenty of opportunities to be leaders – in the various industry clubs, the school’s flagship events, career treks, etc. – in fact more than half the batch has a leadership role! This is really great to allow as many people as possible to gain valuable leadership skills in a safe and supportive environment.

What are one or two key aspects of this MBA program that stood out among the others, and why were they so important to you?

The “China depth, global breadth” of this program really speaks to me. The East-West intersection of my bicultural identity as a Singaporean has shown me the advantages of being able to effectively navigate contrasting systems and cultures, as well as being connected to Asia but with an international outlook.

In addition, I was very keen on the MBA/MPH Dual Degree Program which CEIBS has with Johns Hopkins University in the US, given my public health experience. This will allow me to become “bilingual” in public health and business, as I believe a strong grounding in both will be an asset in my career whether back in government or in industry.

What course were you/are you most interested in taking coming into the program and why?

I’m most excited about the Integrated Consulting Project that we will do next year, which will integrate everything we’ve learned in class and allow us to apply it to help tackle a business challenge for a leading company in China. I believe you get as much out of this program as you put in, so the more hands-on experiences we get, the more valuable it will be for us.

What club, activity, or experience at the school have you most enjoyed so far, and why?

One experience I am particularly excited about is my recent appointment as Student Ambassador along with 29 other capable classmates, because it gives us a chance to talk with prospective students and share with them the really positive experience we’ve had here so far – good things are better when they’re shared!

What do you consider the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

Representing Singapore at the World Health Organization in Geneva for negotiations on international Pandemic Agreement that aims to ensure all countries have the capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to future pandemics. I had the privilege of being Singapore’s policy lead for this workstream, working with stakeholders across Government to formulate our national positions on various issues, and representing them in negotiation room alongside colleagues from all around the world.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to other prospective MBAs? 

Before coming here, I read The Shortest History of China by Linda Jaivin, which was really engaging and readable account of China’s history. It’s particularly helpful as a “crash course” into China’s history and how it has evolved into what it is today, as well as providing interesting nuggets about Chinese dynasties and leaders through the years. Knowing the culture and history of this country you will study and maybe work in is incredibly useful, because it gives much deeper understanding the business, economic and political context here.

What are two things you have learned at your school that have surprised you so far – one academic and one non-academic?

In Marketing, we learnt that the heart of any business is value, and how you create, capture and sustain it for your stakeholders. This simple concept of value creation is such a core and fundamental guiding principle for business, but what surprises me is that very often the things we do at work may not embody it, especially when we are not at a senior or strategic level within the organization, or we are distracted by processes, paperwork, etc. Learning to think about our work through this lens is really useful. (Of course, doing marketing well is a whole other question, but you will be taught really thoroughly and effectively at CEIBS!)

The non-academic thing is not so much a piece of information, but a mindset. One of our professors said to us in our first class: “I will talk to you like you are CEOs”, and this was very impactful for me. Approaching each class and module with this mindset has made my learning is much more effective as it’s much easier to retain information when I see how things are relevant to being a business leader who runs an organization, makes decisions, and tackles challenges, rather than just memorizing things as a student.

What advice would you give to help prospective MBAs gain admission into an MBA program?

Firstly, be yourself! Be authentic about your goals and objectives i.e. what you want to get out of the program, and have a clear answer to why this school is best for you as opposed to other schools. For example, with CEIBS, you should think about how the “China depth, global breadth” is relevant or important to you professionally and/or personally.

Secondly, read widely and build up your general knowledge. What you learn in business school cuts across so many different fields and being interested in what’s happening in economies and societies around the world will set you in good stead.

Lastly, focus on building up experiences in your resume that would set you apart from other candidates. Good grades are more or less a given because you’ll be surrounded by really bright, capable classmates. But for a hands-on program like an MBA, what is really valuable is real-world, professional experience – including leading projects and experiencing different functions or industries. After admission, you’ll realize that this will also make what you learn in class will so much more meaningful.