5 reasons to take an entrepreneurship course

Text: Nur Isyana Isaman

1. Sharpen hard and soft business skills

An entrepreneurship course teaches a package of technical skills, from managing cash flow and navigating tax laws to creating legal structures, handling employee relationships, and writing business proposals. Apart from technical skills, you also learn soft skills.

This mix of skills taught in the FlexiMasters in Technopreneurship and Innovation has benefitted Pitrie Neo (MSE/2016), who pursued the course when he switched careers to join an advertising firm after years of working as an engineer.

Ptrie says: “Learning to calculate a business’ market capitalisation and pitch a feasible business idea are fundamental yet crucial skills that have been valuable my new role."

Pitrie Neo learnt important business skills during a FlexiMasters programme, which has helped him thrive in his new role.

"Learning soft skills have yielded the best returns of my time invested in the course. Understanding human desires, being able to relate to other entrepreneurs, honing negotiation skills, and being flexible are indispensable in navigating the industry.”

2. Be Bold. Develop an innovative mindset

One success story from the NTU entrepreneurship programme is Audrey Chew (NBS/2006), the founder and CEO of food manufacturer, You Tiao Man, which developed the world’s first wholegrain and Singapore’s first charcoal fried dough fritters.

Audrey Chew: the woman behind You Tiao Man.

“The mindset of innovation and problem-solving I picked up at NTU has helped me to navigate challenges and produce creative solutions that cater to the modern consumers. The course taught me that the best solution is not one that is obvious but one which I need to dig deep to find, and it needs to be executed with planning and precision,” says Audrey (NBS/2006), who was part of the pioneer batch of the undergraduate Minor in Entrepreneurship course.

3. Learn from practical experience

Beyond textbook learning, there will be plenty of practical projects such as pitching to investors and negotiating business deals. These experiences train you to articulate your ideas, improve your persuasion, and boost your confidence.

In preparation for such projects, you will delve into topics related to understanding consumer behaviour and market trends – which equips you with the resources to spot emerging opportunities, tailor your strategies, and make informed decisions to meet demands effectively.

Neelendra Jain understood the importance of strategic planning based on the practical experiences during his Master’s programme.

“NTU's programme is known for hands-on learning, with access to many experts in Singapore's SME industry, and the chance to learn from other entrepreneurs,” says Neelendra Jain (MSc TIP/2023), founder and CEO of F&B solutions company NJ Group, who took up the Master of Science Technopreneurship and Innovation Programme.

He adds: “During the course, I learnt how to conduct thorough market research and develop a strategic business plan, which helped me find the right market niche and secure initial funding to successfully launch my first startup.”

4. Stretch your resilience

From working around tight deadlines to staying focused under pressure, your resilience will be put to the test. With strong determination, you will learn to adapt and persevere through challenging situations, strengthening your ability to bounce back from setbacks and continue to move forward.

In other words, entrepreneurship courses not only build the tenacity that is essential for entrepreneurial ventures, but also turn non-entrepreneurs into valuable assets for their organisation.

Prof Boh Wai Fong addressing alumni at an appreciation event.

NTU’s Vice President (Lifelong Learning & Alumni Engagement), Prof Boh Wai Fong has a strong personal interest in the evolution of entrepreneurs. Prof Boh, who is also an alumna from Nanyang Business School, explains: “Entrepreneurship is a challenging journey filled with tough decisions in the face of limited resources. It takes great dedication and clarity of thought to navigate this path successfully”.

5. Grow your network

Through group projects and class discussions, expect to make friends and get connected with likeminded people who could potentially become your clients and business partners.

Rohan Pasari (MAE/2012) co-founded a one-stop college counselling and application platform called Cialfo with his classmate, Stanley Chia (NBS/2013), whom he met through an entrepreneurship course. “We decided to join forces to achieve our shared vision of empowering students worldwide in their journey to higher education,” says Rohan.

Cialfo’s co-founders Rohan Pasari (right) and Stanley Chia (left) met each other at an entrepreneurship course.

Besides fostering collaboration, the network of people that you are exposed to during entrepreneurship courses also bring you closer to industry experts who can offer advice and support. You might even find seasoned mentors to guide you and open more doors to your career.

 

This article first appeared in issue 5 of U, the NTU alumni magazine.