Skip to content

Watch This Before Spending $100K on an MBA [W&S 130, NUS and INSEAD Alumni]

Picture of The Financial Coconut
Follow The Financial Coconut

 

Curious if an MBA still opens doors in today’s fast-evolving finance world? We pivot beyond textbooks to uncover what really fuels success in finance now. Join us as we dive into:

  • The shocking true cost & brutal trade-offs
  • Career crossroads: When an MBA transforms lives vs. when it’s a dead end
  • ROI: Why salary bumps aren’t the whole story
  • Admissions warfare: GMAT traps, scholarship strategies, and why "brand matters more than knowledge"
  • Singapore vs. Overseas: Where your MBA location determines your future

Featuring two industry insiders:

  • Nicole Tan - Director, Graduate Studies at NUS Business School, with 20+ yrs in higher education, Career-switching MBA grad
  • Anna Ong - Ex-banker turned award-winning storyteller, Host of What's Your Story Slam, Singapore's #1 Storytelling Show, MBA network evangelist

"I wanted to get paid like a white man – that’s why I did my MBA." – A candid confession you won’t hear elsewhere Don’t decide until you hear:

  • Why Nicole took a 50% pay cut AFTER her MBA
  • How Anna’s cohort became her million-dollar client pipeline
  • The "MRS-MBA" phenomenon elite schools won’t tell you about

Tune in for raw stories from those who gambled $100K – and what they’d do differently today. Is the MBA just a relic—or your secret weapon? Listen now to find out!

What We Discuss:

  • 04:51 — At any point of that consideration was cost prohibitive for both of you?
  • 07:03 — If someone has made that decision to go to do their MBA, is it actually difficult to get in depending on which school that you apply for? 09:34 — What made you feel and conclude that that investment was worth the financial risk then?
  • 11:07 — What about in terms of the ROI? How many % did your salary increase post-MBA?
  • 13:30 — Do you find that it's only worth it for certain industries?
  • 16:52 — What difference do you see between MBA grads and people who did not get an MBA when it comes to how they execute work?
  • 18:30 — What about certain sacrifices? Were there any other sacrifices you had to make to go to MBA school?
  • 20:17 — How would you respond if people say they want similar outcomes without paying hundreds of thousands or pausing their career?
  • 24:12 — Do you find that recruiters and employers really care that you have an MBA?
  • 25:26 — How do you get prepared to pass the admission test? Let's walk through step by step.
  • 32:21 — Should Singaporean audiences do their MBA here in Singapore or go overseas?
  • 33:16 — What else quantifies the right considerations for choosing the best MBA?

Episode Resources:


New episodes every Monday 

Share us your thoughts on this episode and let us know what do you want to hear next.

You can now be our community contributor and make a pitch to have your favourite personality be on our show.
Join our community group and drop us your insights on this topic.

 

Stay ahead in your financial journey! Sign up for our newsletter to receive insights, tips, and strategies from The Financial Coconut
,

Let us know what you think of this post