Poh Lyn Wong

Poh Lyn Wong, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, graduated with an MBA in 1997.

Why did you choose to study at Dundee University?

I choose Dundee as the school fees were affordable at that time. I also was looking for a university town and Dundee was very appealing in terms of the course structure, the city's proximity with Glasgow and Edinburgh and the cost of living was reasonable!

What was the best thing about your course and why?

Dundee's MBA has given me an excellent career and recognition and I have enjoyed an amazing career. Upon graduation, I tried getting a job in the UK, but was not successful, and had to return to Kuala Lumpur.

Upon my return, I was snapped up very quickly by the No.1 pharmaceutical Swiss-based Novartis. Armed with an MBA, I did not have to start right at the bottom of the rank, instead, I was given an entry level at management. I started out as a Product Executive for Animal Healthcare Division. I stayed on for 3 years and by the time, I completed 2 years with Novartis, I was promoted to be a Product Manager.

I stayed on for one more year before taking a VSS program from Novartis due to the Asian financial crisis. That was the down time for me, as I was unemployed for about 1 years and moved into the IT industry. Did not like IT at all, but nonetheless, did well and then, in 2004, I returned to pharma and joined Merck Consumer Healthcare. Spent 6 glorious years with Merck and in April 2011 moved to join Phillip Wain a Hong Kong-based Wellness Center as a PR & Marketing Manager for Malaysia.

How has your degree helped you in the real world?

It has most definitely given me an edge! Back in 1997 when I graduated, there weren't many young people that had an MBA. Hence, it made me stand out from the crowd - in addition the fact that I was a UK graduate helped too. So, yes, it opened up doors of opportunity for me, gave me the respect that I needed in the corporate world and became very marketable for multinational comapanies in Malaysia.

What was the most enjoyable thing about your degree and why?

I liked how lectures were highly interactive, and that case studies were conducted during tutorials. This made us think outside the box and trained us to be more analytical. We were given very European case studies to analyse, to read and to argue on which was something that I totally enjoyed. I even managed to write my dissertation based on the European Car Industry.

My second great experience was a single module that cut through everything in a new way. In 3rd year I took a module on Sophocles' play Antigone. Antigone got into trouble with her uncle, the king, because she wanted to bury her dead brother against his wish. Her brother had joined the enemy and attacked his hometown. Among a lot of other things the play is about power and spheres of influence. Which decisions can be made on the political level and which decisions are to be made in the family? In the module we looked at how different philosophers at different times have interpreted the play differently. It opened my eyes to some of the dilemmas that were raised by the ancient Greeks that we still are not able to provide a clear and coherent answer to.

What was your best university experience?

I will aways treasure my first day in class. We had to write a one page essay in English to allow the University to gauge the level of our English and out of 12 foreign students, I was the only one that did not have to take on additional English lessons for one semester as my level of English was on par with the locals! Am very proud of this and soon after, I was approached for a part-time job as a translator at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital!

What sports activities or clubs/societies were you involved with?

It was during my time at the University of Dundee that I learnt about activism. I became a member of the University's Animal Action Group and we campaigned against P&G for testing on animals and vivisection. I also volunteered at the Cat Protection League shelter in Dundee. Today, I am an activist for PETA Asia Pacific representing Malaysia.

Do you have any advice for potential new students?

I would say, that they should say YES to the University of Dundee! It's a great Scottish experience, excellent academic structure and highly recognised as it is not commercial.

How did you find settling into life in the UK?

It was not difficult! I was very well received, and I fitted in very nicely, settling well into UK life.