--- title: Watch This Before Spending $100K on an MBA [W&S 130, NUS and INSEAD Alumni] description: Join The Financial Coconut for insights on personal finance, investing, and wealth-building strategies. Start your path to financial literacy today! image: https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hubfs/WnS%20130%20.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-130#main-content) [![Full_COlour](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Full_COlour.png?width=456&height=80&name=Full_COlour.png)](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Retirement Marketspace](https://retirementmarketspace.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) Show submenu for Events - [For Investors](https://tfcmysterymeetup.com/) - [For Business Owners & Creators](https://ipcreatorunite.peatix.com/) - [For Salaried Workers](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/thought-leadership-series) - [TFC Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) - [Shows](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-shows) Show submenu for Shows - [Wise and Shine](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/wise-and-shine) - [The Business Show](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-business-show) - [Chills with TFC](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/chills-with-tfc) - [Blog](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [Work Smart](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/worksmart) - [Invest](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/invest) - [Retire Well](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/retire-well) - [Business](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/business) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Retirement Marketspace](https://retirementmarketspace.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) Show submenu for Events - [For Investors](https://tfcmysterymeetup.com/) - [For Business Owners & Creators](https://ipcreatorunite.peatix.com/) - [For Salaried Workers](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/thought-leadership-series) - [TFC Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) - [Shows](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-shows) Show submenu for Shows - [Wise and Shine](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/wise-and-shine) - [The Business Show](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-business-show) - [Chills with TFC](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/chills-with-tfc) - [Blog](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [Work Smart](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/worksmart) - [Invest](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/invest) - [Retire Well](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/retire-well) - [Business](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/business) - [Contact us](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/contact-us) [Contact us](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/contact-us) Jul 21, 2025, 2:21:47 PM # Watch This Before Spending $100K on an MBA \[W&S 130, NUS and INSEAD Alumni\] ![Picture of The Financial Coconut](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Square%20(2)-3.png?width=50&name=Square%20(2)-3.png) [The Financial Coconut](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/author/the-financial-coconut) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-130) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-130) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-130) [Share this page](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/ws-130) [![Follow The Financial Coconut](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/46975693/interactive-182431637553.png)](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLL2CjCe42iR2RH2MpVX0Ej%2BKJQ%2F3A0Z7pXnUs35To%2Bo6nbKcpBVq9I98X5NUungVEwfs5YCKuM%2FaP97VxIITkTlihT57%2F%2F4XDW9rT3VR4MatSLDi%2BMU5mbQqihfX3LRRz83ij8K19OiD8UXy8sdct4t0Q%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=182431637553&portalId=46975693)   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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=291s) — At any point of that consideration was cost prohibitive for both of you? - [07:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=423s) — 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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=574s) — What made you feel and conclude that that investment was worth the financial risk then? - [11:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=667s) — What about in terms of the ROI? How many % did your salary increase post-MBA? - [13:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=810s) — Do you find that it's only worth it for certain industries? - [16:52](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=1012s) — 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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=1110s) — What about certain sacrifices? Were there any other sacrifices you had to make to go to MBA school? - [20:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=1217s) — How would you respond if people say they want similar outcomes without paying hundreds of thousands or pausing their career? - [24:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=1452s) — Do you find that recruiters and employers really care that you have an MBA? - [25:26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=1526s) — How do you get prepared to pass the admission test? Let's walk through step by step. - [32:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=1941s) — Should Singaporean audiences do their MBA here in Singapore or go overseas? - [33:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkSYA-Sa1A&t=1996s) — What else quantifies the right considerations for choosing the best MBA? **Episode Resources:** - [Spotify](https://linktwin.to/nwtJpC) - [YouTube](https://linktwin.to/pTjlXU) - [Apple podcast](https://linktwin.to/ZkpCvL) New episodes every [Monday](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/tag/wise-and-shine)  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 ](https://thefinancialcoconut.com/contact/)to have your favourite personality be on our show. 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