A Mid-Career Leap Fuelled by Analytics
Kelvin Hwee never imagined that he would move from civil service into a high-impact role in the banking industry. But with a keen eye on emerging trends and the determination to future-proof his career, he took a leap of faith into upskilling. Graduating from the NUS Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programme in 2020 gave him the confidence and capability to land on solid ground.
Today, Kelvin is Vice President, Audit Analytics Lead at Citibank Singapore, where he plays a pivotal role in strengthening internal audit capabilities for financial crime compliance through data analytics and automation. Just a few years ago, he was a civil servant at the Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore, contributing towards the agency’s mission of keeping gambling honest and minimising harm from gambling.
Seizing the Right Opportunity with NUS MSBA
When his agency opened a sponsorship programme for staff development, Kelvin knew it was the right moment to level up. With a background in Applied Mathematics from NTU and seven years of experience in government, he was looking for a programme that would not only build technical depth but also unlock new career pathways.
After attending several information sessions from various schools and programmes, the NUS MSBA became the clear choice.
“I saw the growing importance of data analytics and decided it was time to equip myself with the right skills. The NUS MSBA stood out for its real-world relevance and practical curriculum. The course offerings appealed to me because I could see their business applicability. I knew these skills could help me advance, whether I stayed in the public sector or explored other industries.” shared Kelvin.
Late Nights, Lifelong Connections
As a part-time student, juggling work and study was never going to be easy — but for Kelvin, the people made all the difference.
Kelvin reminisced his cherished NUS MSBA memories, “There were lots of late-night project meetings, but I was lucky to find a group of amazing and like-minded classmates. They became my go-to team throughout the programme, and they made the experience better than I ever expected.”
Through hands-on projects and collaborative learning, he deepened his understanding of how analytics is applied in real-world business contexts — a foundation that would prove essential in his next career move.
Turning Learning into Action
Kelvin graduated in 2020, and soon after, he made a bold mid-career switch. He landed his first banking role as AI Solutions Lead at OCBC, working in Group Financial Crime Compliance. There, he led advanced analytics initiatives to enhance anti-money laundering (AML) risk detection — applying NUS MSBA knowledge directly in a high-stakes environment.
His growing profile also attracted attention from recruiters across industries, including tech and social media. Eventually, Kelvin chose to continue building his expertise in the banking sector, taking on a regional analytics leadership role at Citibank.
“The NUS MSBA gave me the knowledge and confidence to take on real analytics problems. It helped me break into an industry I had never worked in before.”
Advice to Future NUS MSBA Students
Kelvin is candid about the challenges of pursuing the programme part-time — but just as clear about the rewards.
“Be mentally prepared for hard work — it will be tough, but it will be over before you know it. Make the most of it. Learn as much as you can, meet amazing people, and get involved in industry events. If you’re considering a career switch, the NUS MSBA can be a powerful springboard.”
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