Growing Up with Global Perspectives
For Maanas Prabhakar (NUS MSBA Class of 2018), his journey has been anything but linear. Born and raised in Oman, he was immersed in a world of diverse cultures that shaped his worldview from an early age. After completing his undergraduate degree in Computer Science in India, Maanas found himself drawn toward the world of data. That curiosity eventually led him to Singapore, and to the NUS Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programme, a decision that would define his career.
Today, Maanas leads the Analytics team for GrabFood, GrabMart, GrabExpress, Dine Out, Business & Transaction Platform managing a team of close to 30 across Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Choosing NUS MSBA: A Defining Decision
Maanas’ path to analytics began with inspiration from the rise of Facebook and the movie The Social Network. His passion led him to co-author a research paper published in the International Journal of Computer Applications (New York), but breaking into the analytics industry without prior experience was a challenge.
When the offer from NUS MSBA came through while he was in transit at the Dubai airport, it meant walking away from another programme in New York he had already committed to. Trusting his instincts, he made the bold choice to pursue NUS instead.
“Singapore and NUS had always been on my wishlist of places to live and study, I even contemplated moving here for my undergraduate degree,” he shares. “I truly believed Asia would be the hub of global innovation in the future, and the NUS MSBA programme was already highly recognised in the region. It felt like the perfect launchpad for the career I wanted.”
Ever since Maanas took the leap of faith, he has never looked back.
Memories that Shaped a Career
Beyond the rigorous academics, Maanas recalls how his time at NUS was filled with moments of collaboration and innovation. He and his team clinched 2nd runner-up at the 12th Annual STEPS, organised by NUS School of Computing, with a text-mining model that analysed what makes content go viral. They also received the Entrepreneurship Grant from the I&E Practicum, sparking nights of brainstorming and experimentation, even if the startup didn’t take off.
His capstone project with DBS became another turning point, as he saw classroom theories translate into real-world impact. “My time at NUS wasn’t just about knowledge, it was about networks, discipline, and applying learning in practice,” he reflects.
Building an Impactful Career at Grab
Upon graduation, Maanas joined Grab as a junior analyst. Over the past seven years, he has risen through the ranks to become a leader in analytics. “The journey from an Individual Contributor to a People Manager has been both challenging and profoundly rewarding,” he shares.
Today, his focus is on creating an AI-Accelerated analytics team, harnessing the power of the technological advancements to achieve higher productivity and deeper, bolder impact across Grab’s businesses. For Maanas, the opportunity to drive positive change in Southeast Asia alongside a talented team remains a source of energy and pride.
Advice for Future MSBA Students
Reflecting on his journey, Maanas encourages aspiring students to embrace both intuition and innovation:
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