As the saying goes, “Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” But in the rapidly evolving world of today, that might not suffice.
Technology has transformed every aspect of our lives, and this change has accelerated dramatically over the last two years. To stay relevant in the job market, one has to constantly learn new and better ways to “fish” – and this involves cultivating the habit of learning how to learn.
Erina Tan, a digital marketing manager at Y3 Technologies (pictured left), is one such self-directed learner who is passionate about picking up new skills and knowledge. A strong believer of lifelong learning, she has attended five Executive Education courses at NUS-ISS and intends to continue building on her repertoire of skill sets beyond the field of marketing. “I enjoy learning new things and exposing myself to new ideas. In fact, I hope to explore a data analytics course soon, as I believe it would add value to my digital marketing work.”
It’s the joy of learning that inspires more learning
At Y3, which is an omnichannel software solutions provider, Erina is responsible for increasing the outreach of the company’s products in overseas markets through a Software-as-a-Service (SAAS) model. “I decided to enroll in NUS-ISS’ courses to learn more about the latest trends, best practices, as well as effective tools that I can use to enhance my job role,” she shared.
The Executive Education courses at NUS-ISS offer in-demand skills and knowledge based on technological and business trends, and are delivered by teaching staff with over 20 years of industry experience. NUS-ISS works closely with industry players to ensure that the curriculum in these courses are constantly updated to meet the evolving needs of the organizations, while providing learners with practical knowledge and skills that help them stay ahead in a competitive job landscape.
Erina shared that her favourite courses includes Service Design, Digital User Experience Design, and Digital & Social Engagement Strategy. “I found the curriculum very enriching and relevant, and was able to leverage what I have learnt for my marketing efforts on a day-to-day basis. The trainers were very seasoned industry professionals who could give us insightful advice. I also enjoyed interacting with fellow coursemates from all walks of life, as they provided fresh perspectives and viewpoints from their varied backgrounds.”
Erina added that she enjoyed the way the course was delivered, as participants were given opportunities to try out the tools. This hands-on experience enabled her to pick up new skills and apply them to her job faster, more seamlessly. One key takeaway she had was the importance of user-centricity. “Through the lens of users, I am better able to envisage the problems they may face, and brainstorm solutions that would bring value to them. By customising my digital marketing strategy, I can now reach out to various user segments more effectively and solve their pain points in meaningful ways.” This has in turn ignited a passion for learning in her, motivating her to continuously seek out new knowledge that can help her advance her career more purposefully.
Building a strong learning culture within the organisation
Erina’s learning journey received strong support from her employer, Y3, which is a
strong advocate of lifelong learning. Philip Low, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Y3, said, “We encourage our staff to continuously pick up new practices and skills so that they can keep up with the latest technologies and trends. This not only aids their personal growth and career development, but at the same time enables Y3 as a whole to deliver the best-in-class solutions and services to our customers and meet their needs.”
Philip shared that Y3 is committed to consistently finding new ways to enhance its solutions services and embrace the latest innovations. “This openness to change is in our DNA; and therefore, one big component of our digital transformation strategy is to ensure that our employees are always learning and adopting the latest practices and technologies.” For example, in the past, Y3 used solely the waterfall methodology in the development of its supply chain and logistics solutions. The training at NUS-ISS equipped its employees with more effective processes such as the agile method and SCRUM practices. This has enabled Y3 to rapidly evolve in a more flexible manner, so as to remain competitive amid fast-changing technological and business landscapes.
“We are happy that our employees benefited from the knowledge and skill sets imparted by the experienced trainers at NUS-ISS. For a long time, NUS-ISS has been, and will continue to be, our preferred partner in employee upskilling,” Philip said.
Never too late to learn
Erina’s advice for professionals who are considering attending courses is to approach it with an open mind, and not be deterred by age. After all, lifelong learning is a journey, and it’s never too late to start.
In fact, the benefits of lifelong learning go beyond career advancement. For Erina, it was an important factor that helped her build a more fulfilling career. “Personally, what constantly drives me to keep learning is the joy that I find in picking up new knowledge and applying it to my work. It makes my work more meaningful, and I am always excited to see myself grow,” she shared.
Interested in taking the next step in your organisation's Digital Transformation journey? Contact us at ask-iss@nus.edu.sg for more information.
Find out more about our Executive Education Programmes.