Sylvia believes in the power of smart content to build brands. With over 25 years of experience in the Media and Communications industry, she has developed a unique understanding of the Editorial, Commercial, and Creative sides of the media landscape.

An entrepreneur at heart, Sylvia is never afraid to take initiative, pursue new ideas, embrace creativity, and generate solutions that make a difference. Their passion for creating work that sparks conversations led to a pivotal decision in 2012.

In 2012, Sylvia founded Salween Group, a boutique but full-service branding and digital marketing agency. Salween Group specializes in helping companies create and execute quality branded content strategy campaigns, designed to build their brands and engage valuable audiences.

The agency’s extensive list of clients worldwide is a testament to her dedication and hard work. Salween Group focuses on managing clients’ brands both online and offline, enabling businesses to focus on what matters most: their core operations.

Sylvia finds it immensely rewarding to help clients fulfill their goals and is committed to helping businesses reach new heights.

Lifelong Learning Exemplified: Journalism to Commercial Strategy

Sylvia McCage fits the bill if you are looking for lifelong learning examples in a textbook. In her journalism career, she wanted to explore her knowledge of commercial strategy. This was in 2008-2009 when she worked with CNBC Asia on the news and programming side. Her curiosity and drive eventually led her to the UCLA-NUS EMBA program.

Sylvia recalls, “I decided that the best option was to go back to school to gain more knowledge and increase my exposure to areas I wasn’t comfortable with.” One of the reasons why the UCLA-EMBA program trumped other choices was because it allowed her to balance her roles as a full-time employee, a mother, and a student. After graduation, she moved to the commercial side of CNBC, a significant shift facilitated by the knowledge and skills acquired during her studies. “The knowledge that I accumulated during my time at UCLA-NUS helped me have the mindset to take on the commercial role at CNBC Asia,” she shares.

One key aspect of the program for Sylvia was self-discovery. “It’s important to understand yourself before assessing your ability to lead. The program helped me be more self-reflective,” she explains. This self-awareness has been crucial in her leadership roles. Another key advantage of the program is the international scope of the UCLA-NUS EMBA program. To her, “Bringing UCLA and NUS together provided a very international perspective, helping me embrace opportunities globally”. This global outlook has been instrumental in her ability to pivot and explore new business opportunities.

We asked about Sylvia’s favorite experience from the program, and she pointed out how strong the camaraderie was among her classmates. “We had a really strong, eclectic mix of classmates from all over the world. Till this day, we’re still very much in touch,” she reflects. These relationships continue to be a source of support. She also leverages the network to gain insights into her professional life.

For aspiring candidates who want to advance their careers but are still deciding, Sylvia suggests evaluating what it takes to pursue an EMBA. “Do a simple pros and cons list. It will be very obvious what you need to do,” she advises. She acknowledges the initial fear but assures that the program is designed to help students cope and succeed. A mother herself, Sylvia acknowledges that balancing school with work and family is challenging, but she is grateful for the support from professors and classmates. She has this to say to aspiring students who also play multiple roles: “The professors are there to ensure you learn and move along. Your classmates are there to help, too”.

Sylvia remains engaged with the UCLA-NUS community through informal interactions and staying connected with classmates. She appreciates the growing alumni network and the program’s continued relevance. “The program has grown in numbers and diversity, providing access to a wide range of knowledge and industries,” she observes.

As the UCLA-NUS EMBA program celebrates its 20th anniversary, Sylvia looks forward to its continued evolution. Her wish for the program? She says, “For a program to stay relevant, it needs to keep up with real-world changes and continue to offer valuable insights.”

With this in mind, we aim to continue educating the next generation of leaders, following the inspiring examples from alumni like Sylvia.