Bridging Technology and Business with NTU’s FlexiMasters in Business and Financial Analytics

In today’s rapidly shifting technological landscape, staying relevant means embracing continuous learning. For Nive, an IT consultant and sales lead, this philosophy has been her guiding principle throughout her continuous learning journey—from bioengineering to business analytics, and now to AI.

“I’ve always loved learning and have been enrolled in various courses over the years,” she shares. This passion for growth has equipped Nive to bridge the gap between technology and business, propelling her through diverse fields in her career.

Discovering the power of Analytics

Graduating from NTU in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering, Nive quickly realised the importance of continuous upskilling to keep pace with emerging technologies. When AI began dominating conversations in her client meetings, she knew it was time to deepen her understanding of this transformative technology. “AI kept coming up in client discussions, and I realised there was a gap in how businesses understood and utilised these new tools,” she explains.

That led her to enrol in the FlexiMasters in Business and Financial Analytics with her alma mater. “A part-time programme designed for working professionals, the course introduced me to what AI is and how it can be applied in business,” she says. The weekend classes allowed her to seamlessly integrate study with work commitments, making the learning immediately applicable to her role.

Learning that translates to real-world impact

For Nive, the FlexiMasters stands out as it blends academic rigour with practical, real-world relevance. “The professors are very approachable, and the curriculum combined academic concepts with real-world use cases relevant to Southeast Asia and beyond,” she recalls. More importantly, this practical approach sparked new ideas on how her organisation could better utilise data and AI.

“We learned about different databases, like SQL and NoSQL, and how to transform raw data into something usable. It made me look at how my organisation was storing data and what steps we needed to take to make it more actionable,” she thought.

While not every insight led to immediate change, Nive shares that the programme provided “food for thought” and a clear roadmap for future improvements.

A Dynamic Classroom: Diversity and Collaboration

Beyond the curriculum, Nive found immense value in the diversity of her peers. “There were students from all sorts of backgrounds-government, tourism, finance, and even those with no prior tech experience. It really enriched our discussions and made the learning dynamic,” she enthuses.

Group projects became a highlight, blending serious learning with moments of levity. She fondly remembers a project where her team brainstormed an AI-powered clothing size recommender for an e-commerce site. “We joked about what would happen if the AI recommended a much larger size than expected. It was a good laugh and showed how even technical topics could be approached with creativity and humour.”

The camaraderie extended beyond the classroom, with lively group chats sharing the latest AI news and debating new tools like ChatGPT.

Building confidence and inspiring change

To Nive, the FlexiMasters was more than just an academic pursuit. It catalyses personal and professional growth. “Initially, I enrolled because AI was a buzzword, and the government was encouraging us to upskill. But the course made me realise how much more there was to explore, and it inspired me to pursue a postgraduate diploma in AI at Oxford University,” she shares.

Armed with new knowledge and confidence, Nive became an advocate for digital transformation within her consultancy. “The programme gave me the courage to speak up during company meetings and suggest ways we could leverage AI to improve our processes. Even though not every idea was implemented, it was a big step for me to initiate those conversations,” she added.

Looking Ahead: A Passion for Lifelong Learning

By continuously upgrading her skills and embracing new knowledge, Nive positions herself at the forefront of technological advancement-ready to bridge the gap between business needs and AI capabilities. “Singapore is fortunate to have a government that supports tech integration, and I want to be part of that journey-both for my company and the country,” she says.

Her advice to others considering the FlexiMasters? “It’s a fantastic starting point if you’re curious about analytics or AI. The programme will equip you with practical skills and also connect you with a vibrant, diverse community,” she said. “Most importantly, it gives you the confidence to take the next step-wherever your career may lead.”

FlexiMasters in Business and Financial Analytics

You will be able to gain insights on how to excel in the domain of business analytics and analytics used in the financial services industry and acquire skills to guide businesses through today’s environment of digital disruption and transformation.