Meet the Trailblazers: Introducing UCLA-NUS EMBA’s 20th Cohort
As the academic year unfolds, the UCLA-NUS Executive MBA (EMBA) program eagerly welcomes its 20th cohort, a group of accomplished professionals poised to embark on an enriching journey of personal and professional growth. With a diverse array of backgrounds, experiences, and expertise, these incoming students promise to infuse the program with fresh perspectives and dynamic energy. Let’s take a closer look at some of the trailblazers who will be shaping the narrative of this milestone cohort:
Kohan Alexander McNab
Originally from a remote spot in New Zealand’s central South Island (if you are a Lord of the Rings fan think Edoras!) my wife and I have been living here in Singapore for 7 years. I’ve found it an awesome place to live and build a career – for the last few years, I’ve been lucky enough to return to my roots in New Zealand agribusiness, while remaining in the Lion City – working for Zespri, a New Zealand Kiwifruit company. If you catch me looking lost in thought, I’ll likely be thinking about: my ‘Singapore Special’ dog Doris, the prospects of the All Blacks rugby team, what movies are screening at The Projector this weekend, or where my next Coke Zero is coming from.
William Yen
I’m a SoCal-based fintech enthusiast who gets a kick out of demystifying the complex world of payments and risk for Mad Mobile Inc. When I’m not deep diving into the latest in fintech, you can find me perfecting my golf swing, spinning up a storm, or cooking up culinary delights that are as inventive as my strategies at work. I’m on the quest for an EMBA to turbo-charge my career, all while keeping it cool, casual, and absolutely compliant.
Stephen Edward Terzolo
Hello! My name is Steve Terzolo, and I am a Senior Director of Leasing for Westfield shopping centers in Los Angeles. I have been in the commercial real estate industry for the past 15 years and started my career working in real estate private equity in Europe. I previously earned a master’s in real estate development from George Mason University and bachelor’s in entrepreneurship and in international relations at Syracuse University. I am an avid reader and language learner. I enjoy traveling, running, and hiking in the hills of Southern California.
Sourav Dasgupta
I chose UCLA NUS EMBA because it was an accessible program for me because of the locations – Los Angeles and Singapore. Second of all, it has a focus on Business creation and Venture initiation which I want to pursue. At the end of my journey, I want to have learnt the tools to give me the ability to understand how a business operates, what threats it faces and how it tackles them, what strategies really mean and how they can impact the value; and how decisions are made.
River Jangda
I began my career by starting an ecommerce business in undergrad, eventually selling it to a private buyer. Afterwords I started a small marketing firm catering to blockchain startups. Throughout the crypto frenzy of 2017 – 2018 we helped startups raise money and successfully execute initial coin offerings. When the Bitcoin market crashed in 2018 I decided I needed a break from entrepreneurship and went to work for a boutique management consulting firm. We specialize in blue-collar lower middle market companies (under $100M in revenue). For the past four years I have criss-crossed the U.S. visiting clients in over 100 cities and small towns.
Wycliffe Hall
Originally hailing from Jamaica, my journey led me to spend a decade soaking in the vibrant energy of Los Angeles before embarking on a new chapter in London where I currently live and work. As the first of 10 siblings to pursue higher education, I hold a deep reverence for learning and the doors it can open. Alongside my commitment to personal growth, I cherish my role as a devoted family man, supported by my wife and 8-year-old daughter on this EMBA journey. Beyond my professional pursuits, my interests are sports. All sports. Basketball, soccer, cricket, golf, etc.
John Paul Garry
I am originally from Fresno, CA and grew up a diehard USC fan (all my jerseys have been burned as I transition my loyalties to UCLA). I attended boarding school at St. Albans School in Washington D.C. for high school and Rhodes College in Memphis, TN for University. I have lived in Atlanta now for 11 years. I thoroughly enjoy traveling and experiencing new places, cultures, and cuisines I love to make people laugh. Admittedly though, sometimes my jokes don’t land. So maybe some awkward silence sometimes. My wife does tell me I can talk to a brick wall, but I haven’t found this to be true yet.
Dan Sarbu
As a devoted husband to an exceptional wife and a proud father of two extraordinary children, I’m fuelled by passion and ambition in all my endeavors. I find joy in embracing new learning opportunities, relish in overcoming challenges, and take great satisfaction in solving problems.
Michael Stephen Brown
Born in Australia, currently residing in Singapore. Michael is fanatical about all sports, and business. He has worked in the Sports Industry for close to 15 years, making significant efforts to grow the global appeal of Table Tennis. Outside of work, Michael enjoys travelling, history and geography – while exploring new cultures and cuisine.
Kaneyoshi Nakajima
I’m Kane. I’m Japanese working for Hitachi. I like to travel with my family, especially to Southeast Asia where we lived before. I also love California where I stayed for a month when I was a student.
As these remarkable individuals come together to embark on their EMBA journey, they bring with them a wealth of knowledge, experience, and aspirations that promise to enrich the UCLA-NUS EMBA community. United by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility, the 20th cohort stands poised to make a lasting impact on the world of business and beyond. Stay tuned as we follow their progress, get to know the rest of the class, and celebrate their achievements in the months and years to come.
More information about The UCLA-NUS EMBA Program
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