Changing lives through lifelong learning

From studying psychology as an undergrad and running a concept Mediterranean cuisine restaurant, to spearheading talent management strategies and pursuing postgraduate studies in labour and industrial relations, Giorell Christian de Jesus has always been suited to people-oriented pursuits.

Having accumulated working experience in both large corporations and smaller enterprises, Giorell realised that effective management was crucial, from engaging with stakeholders and customers to driving continuous improvements in a company’s offerings.

“I then asked myself: with what I have learned, what would be the best next step for me?” The answer he arrived at was to enrol in the Master of Science in Management (MiM) programme at Singapore Management University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business.

A HR specialist for over three years with German multinational software corporation SAP, Giorell is now straddling full-time work commitments with the blended version of the MiM programme. Launched in 2020, the programme melds an efficient online learning experience together with in-person campus interactions with peers and faculty.

“That offers a huge amount of flexibility for me, as I still need to focus on many tasks and priorities in my career,” he says about the programme, which offers the flexibility for students to learn at their own pace while still pursuing their careers.

“I also wanted to challenge myself to build self-discipline in learning. Maintaining my engagement with the classes is not easy, but what has helped are the friendships I have been able to build with my course mates. That makes it more fun to learn.”

He started the MiM programme in 2020, but had been mulling the decision for a few years. He had first encountered SMU in a Manila roadshow in 2014, and had even attended a Business Analytics trial class in 2016. “I enjoyed it,” he remembers. “From then on, I knew I had to find my way to becoming part of the school and strengthening my knowledge and expertise in management.”

As an outgoing student in the Philippines, he was an enthusiastic participant in many socio-civic activities, and eventually decided to study psychology as an undergraduate.

Upon stepping into the corporate world, a stint in the learning and development department of human resources led him to pursue post-graduate studies in labour and industrial relations, so that he could deepen his HR knowledge.

He has since remained in the field of HR and is currently working in a team responsible for managing employees’ lifecycle in multinational software corporation SAP.

Giorell has also dipped his toe into entrepreneurship, which has long been a passion for him. “I love diving into different ventures and exploring industries that I am curious about,” he says.

True to his sociable nature, he chose to test the waters by venturing into the food and beverage and event management sectors. He was a managing partner for a fast-food eatery serving Mediterranean-style food, where he helmed marketing and communications and was able to learn more about other aspects of running a business, such as operations and finance.

He also joined his family business, Stagepro Events Management, at one point, helping to streamline the company’s HR operations and ensuring its HR policies were aligned with local regulatory processes. During this time, he was able to demonstrate his expertise in other facets of HR, such as talent acquisition.

The MiM programme appealed to him because its curriculum focuses on the foundations of management. “As someone whose background is in social sciences, and who has extensive experience in corporate, business management and entrepreneurship, I felt the programme could equip me with the knowledge and skills that I need in order to succeed in the many pursuits I am pushing for,” he explains.

He also likes that the programme does not just focus on theories and concepts but drills down on how these can be applied in real life. Indeed, his classroom learning is already making a difference in his professional life.

He recently added a presales role to his portfolio at SAP, and the concepts of marketing he learned in the MiM programme have proven beneficial. “My manager has shared that I have been doing great in presales.”

“The MiM’s curriculum is so extensive and helpful, and I can’t wait to complete more courses and see what other opportunities I can unlock as I go along.”

As to what the future holds for Giorell, the entrepreneurship dream is still percolating, and his new role in presales has reinforced his aspirations.

“Our company’s purpose is to improve the lives of others through technology, and that inspires me,” he says. “I want to keep this aspiration as I continue in my professional life. I hope that someday I can maybe develop an enterprise that will make a huge impact in many societies.”

To working professionals like him who are juggling many responsibilities and considering the blended MiM experience, here are his two cents on the topic: “You must be disciplined about finishing your assigned topics on time, collaborate with your classmates as much as possible, and enjoy the journey!”

“Both the campus and faculty are amazing, and the SMU community is so friendly. Try to find time to connect with the community so that you can get the most out of this experience.”