In May 2024, I enrolled in the Master of IT programme with a clear vision – to go beyond technical expertise and develop strategic leadership skills to address real-world challenges. OUM gave me the platform I needed: not just a classroom, but a flexible and empowering environment that fits into my life.
Thanks to APEL.C, I was able to gain credit transfer based on my prior experience, making it possible to return to formal education without starting from scratch. This has significantly shortened my study duration, and I aim to graduate next year – with plans to pursue a PhD after that.
What I learn at OUM directly enhances my work as a cybersecurity professional, from applying risk frameworks to improving governance and communication in high-impact projects. I’m grateful that I can balance my studies with the demands of a full-time role.
My learning journey, however, began much earlier. I earned a Diploma in Telecommunication Engineering in 2010 and later pursued a degree in Computer Science, which I had to pause due to financial constraints. Supporting my parents became the priority, but I never gave up. Over the years, I earned more than 70 professional certifications in IT and cybersecurity, driven by sheer determination.
Today, I lead cybersecurity initiatives across the ASEAN region at IBM Singapore Pte Ltd, where I’ve worked for the past 7 years. Last year, I received the Client and Partner Success Award for ASEAN – one of several recognitions throughout my career.
Beyond work, I’m a husband and a father to a child with autism. Balancing career, family, and education is not easy, but it’s possible – with purpose, discipline, my wife’s support, and my parents’ blessings.
To working professionals who feel it’s too late or too difficult to further your studies, I want to say this: you don’t have to choose between your career and education. With commitment, you can succeed in both. If I can lead cybersecurity teams by day, study at night, and care for my family, so can you.
At OUM, I have found more than a university. I have found a place that believes in lifelong learning – where protecting systems by day goes hand in hand with protecting dreams through education.
