Engineering the Future of AI from Singapore to Silicon Valley
What do global competitions, cutting-edge research, and breakthrough AI technologies have in common? For Xhoni Shollaj, they have all been defining milestones in a journey that began in Albania and led him to one of the most influential companies in the tech world — NVIDIA.
A proud graduate of the NUS Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) Class of 2022, Xhoni now serves as a Senior AI Solutions Engineer at NVIDIA, where he develops internal frameworks, libraries, and automation tools that support the latest advances in large language models (LLMs), vision-language models (VLMs), and speech-related AI.
“The NUS MSBA programme helped me sharpen both deep technical expertise and the communication skills needed to thrive in one of the most exciting industries in the world.”
From EY and PwC to NUS: Why He Chose NUS MSBA
Before embarking on his NUS MSBA journey, Xhoni worked in data analytics and data science at EY and PwC, building deep learning applications and analytics pipelines for various clients. While his career was already steeped in data, he was looking for something more — a deeper dive into research, theory, and real-world application.
“I chose NUS MSBA for its world-class faculty, strong research output, and global reputation. Its location in Singapore, a fast-growing innovation hub, made it even more appealing.”
A Taste of Victory: Winning on the Global Stage
Among the highlights of his time at NUS, Xhoni points to his participation in international machine learning competitions as one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences.
During his time at NUS MSBA, Xhoni Shollaj was part of two award-winning teams. He clinched first place in the AIxImpact Case Competition (Finance stream) hosted by QuantumBlack, a McKinsey Company, and also won the SgTech-SoC Innovation Prize for a finance app developed with fellow NUS MSBA graduates.
“Representing the NUS MSBA programme and winning first place in global AI case competitions was incredibly gratifying. It was a chance to apply what we learned in the classroom to solve complex, real-world problems — and do it as a team.”
These achievements not only showcased the calibre of talent within the programme but also gave students like Xhoni the opportunity to stand out on the national and global stage.
Applying NUS MSBA knowledge to AI Research & Real-World Impact
Right after graduation, Xhoni had the opportunity to collaborate on AI and blockchain research projects with Dr. James Pang from NUS, deepening his expertise in emerging technologies and laying the groundwork for what would come next.
That next step came at NVIDIA, where he now works at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence.
“A lot of what I do today, from developing AI tooling to applying machine learning frameworks, draws on the technical foundation I built during the NUS MSBA. The programme was exceptional in combining theory and practical application.”
Advice to Future NUS MSBA Students: Be Strategic and Open-Minded
To those considering or preparing for the NUS MSBA experience, Xhoni offers thoughtful advice:
“Figure out where your interests intersect with industry needs. If you’re aiming for a technical role, build a strong portfolio — contribute to open-source projects and showcase your work. And don’t underestimate the power of in-person networking — NUS MSBA gives you incredible opportunities to connect with industry leaders.”
He adds that success also comes down to mindset:
“Work hard, stay optimistic, and be open to growth. With the right attitude and focus, the NUS MSBA can be a transformative experience.”
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