Three years ago, I left Singapore thinking I had a good understanding of how business worked.
If I'm honest, I also arrived in California believing that the experience I'd gained over more than a decade in Singapore would translate naturally. Coming from a very competitive market, I expected to bring a different perspective—and I did.
But what surprised me was how much I had to learn.
On paper, I came to California to pursue my MBA at UCLA Anderson and gain experience working in the U.S. market.
What I didn't expect was how much I would learn simply by seeing familiar business challenges approached differently.
I also learned that the way projects move forward can be very different. Regulations, specifications and the permitting process play a much bigger role than I had experienced before.
The end goal is the same, but the journey to get there can be very different.
Personally, living and working in a different culture was one of the most enriching parts of the journey. It pushed me outside my comfort zone, challenged some of my assumptions and gave me experiences I could not have had if I had stayed where I was comfortable.
Of course, UCLA gave me great frameworks and classroom learning. But the biggest learning did not always happen in the classroom. It came from seeing how differently people approach the same problem.
California also became much more than where I studied. I was lucky enough to visit some incredible places, and I know I will be back one day. There is still so much I want to explore.
But more than the places, I will miss the people.
The friendships, the conversations and the community made those years special.
They reminded me to stay curious. There is always something to learn.