Category: Featured in the Media

JAKARTADAILY.ID – The Asia School of Business (ASB), in partnership with the MIT Sloan School of Management, invites Indonesian professionals to apply for its unique 12-month MBA program. The program, the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia, combines rigorous academic coursework with hands-on Action Learning projects across the region.

Various research indicates that Indonesia is facing a growing demand for skilled business leaders, with local companies increasingly supporting employees pursuing higher education. An estimated 80% of businesses in the country back such initiatives, while MBA graduates see average salary increases of 25–40 percent, among the highest in the region.

“In an era where Indonesia’s need for qualified business leaders is more critical than ever, ASB’s MBA program offers a rare combination of theoretical and practical learning,” said Sanjay Sarma, CEO, President, and Dean of ASB.

The program includes an immersive experience at MIT Sloan in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Action Learning projects across Southeast Asia, providing participants with a blend of global and regional insights. Tuition is set at $35,000, covering course materials, accommodation during the MIT immersion, and travel for international projects.

For those seeking additional expertise, ASB offers an MBA+ extension, allowing students to pursue an extra semester or a Master of Science in Management Studies at MIT Sloan.

Jakarta-based graduate Ivan Ramdhani, 37, praised the program’s impact.

“The ASB MBA experience was transformative. The combination of intensive coursework, practical Action Learning projects, and the MIT Sloan immersion provided me with a comprehensive understanding of global and regional business practices. This holistic experience not only broadened my perspective but also played a crucial role in securing my current leadership role,” he said.

Originally published by Jakarta Daily.

JAKARTA – Asia School of Business (ASB) memberikan kesempatan kepada para profesional asal Indonesia untuk menjadi calon pemimpin bisnis masa depan di Asia Tenggara. Bekerja sama dengan MIT Sloan School of Management, ASB melihat potensi dan tantangan yang besar untuk menghadapi pertumbuhan dan transformasi bisnis di Asia Tenggara.

“Di era di mana kebutuhan Indonesia akan pemimpin bisnis yang berkualitas semakin mendesak, maka program MBA (Master of Business Administration) ASB menawarkan perpaduan langka antara pembelajaran teoretis dan praktis,” kata Sanjay Sarma, CEO, Presiden, dan Dekan ASB, dalam keterangannya kepada media di Jakarta, Kamis (28/11/2024).

Sanjay menjelaskan program MBA ini memiliki durasi selama 12 bulan. Program ini, kata dia, merupakan satu-satunya di kawasan ini yang menggabungkan pembelajaran akademis yang ketat dengan pengalaman langsung dalam action learning di seluruh Asia.

Ajakan pendaftaran ini, menurut Sanjay, sejalan dengan momen penting Indonesia, dimana terjadinya peningkatan permintaan terhadap pemimpin bisnis yang terampil dan terus berkembang. Ia melihat saat ini para pengusaha lokal semakin menghargai nilai pendidikan manajemen tingkat lanjut.

“Diperkirakan 80% perusahaan di Indonesia yang kini mendukung karyawan mereka untuk melanjutkan studi ke jenjang yang lebih tinggi. Bagi lulusan MBA, hal ini menjadi keuntungan besar karena gaji rata-rata setelah lulus MBA di Indonesia dilaporkan meningkat sebesar 25-40%, salah satu yang tertinggi di kawasan ini,” tuturnya.

Sanjay memahami adanya peningkatan permintaan regional untuk keterampilan dalam mengelola bisnis ini. Sebagai contoh, kata dia, pada 2024, rata-rata kenaikan gaji di Indonesia mencapai 6,5%, dengan kenaikan serupa diperkirakan akan terjadi pada 2025, didorong oleh kekurangan talenta dan tekanan inflasi.

“Hal ini menempatkan lulusan MBA dalam posisi yang unggul untuk memanfaatkan tren tersebut, terutama di bidang-bidang dengan pertumbuhan tinggi seperti teknologi, keuangan, dan manajemen,” ujarnya.

Sanjay mengatakan dengan desain praktis dari program maka memungkinkan siswa untuk terlibat langsung dengan tantangan bisnis yang berlangsung di berbagai pasar serta memberikan landasan kuat untuk kepemimpinan yang efektif.

Untuk program kurikulum yang diberikan, kata dia, mencakup program imersif di MIT Sloan, serta proyek Action Learning di seluruh Asia Tenggara, yang memberikan beragam pengalaman yang jarang ditemui di program MBA tradisional.

Originally published by Sindonews.

EDUKASI –  JAKARTA. Asia School of Business (ASB), yang bekerjasama dengan MIT Sloan School of Management, membuka kesempatan bagi profesional Indonesia untuk mengikuti program Master of Business Administration (MBA). 

Program ini dirancang untuk mempersiapkan pemimpin bisnis masa depan dalam menghadapi tantangan pertumbuhan dan transformasi di Asia Tenggara. 

“Di era di mana kebutuhan Indonesia akan pemimpin bisnis yang berkualitas semakin mendesak, maka program MBA ASB menawarkan perpaduan langka antara pembelajaran teoretis dan praktis,” kata Sanjay Sarma, CEO, Presiden, dan Dekan ASB, dalam siaran pers, Kamis (28/11/2024).  

Program MBA ASB berdurasi 12 bulan dan menggabungkan pembelajaran akademis dengan pengalaman langsung melalui proyek action learning di berbagai negara Asia. Menurut Sanjay, program ini relevan dengan meningkatnya permintaan akan pemimpin bisnis di Indonesia.  

“Diperkirakan 80% perusahaan di Indonesia kini mendukung karyawan mereka untuk melanjutkan studi ke jenjang lebih tinggi. Bagi lulusan MBA, ini menjadi keuntungan besar karena gaji rata-rata mereka meningkat 25%-40%, salah satu yang tertinggi di kawasan,” ujarnya.  

Sanjay juga menyoroti tren kenaikan gaji di Indonesia yang diproyeksikan mencapai 6,5% pada 2024, dengan kenaikan serupa diperkirakan pada 2025. Tren ini, menurutnya, membuka peluang besar bagi lulusan MBA, terutama di sektor teknologi, keuangan, dan manajemen.  

Program MBA ASB mencakup pengalaman imersif di MIT Sloan dan proyek action learning di Asia Tenggara. Biaya program ini sekitar US$ 35.000, termasuk akomodasi selama program di MIT dan biaya perjalanan untuk proyek di luar Malaysia.  

ASB juga menawarkan opsi ekstensi MBA+ bagi peserta yang ingin melanjutkan satu semester tambahan atau meraih gelar Master of Science in Management Studies di MIT Sloan. 

“Opsi ini dirancang bagi mereka yang ingin memperdalam keahlian di bidang tertentu dan mempersiapkan diri untuk peran kepemimpinan,” tambah Sanjay.  

Lulusan program ini, Ivan Ramdhani, berbagi pengalamannya. “Kombinasi antara mata kuliah intensif, proyek action learning, dan imersi di MIT Sloan memberikan wawasan komprehensif tentang praktik bisnis global dan regional,” katanya.  

Selain program MBA, ASB juga menawarkan inisiatif Agile Continuous Education (ACE) untuk mendukung pembelajaran seumur hidup. Program ini memungkinkan profesional mengikuti kursus fleksibel sesuai kebutuhan dan memberikan jalur menuju program MBA atau EMBA ASB dengan kredit yang dapat ditransfer.

Originally published by Kontan.

DIPERKIRAKAN 80% perusahaan di Indonesia yang kini mendukung karyawan mereka untuk melanjutkan studi ke jenjang yang lebih tinggi. Bagi lulusan MBA, hal ini menjadi keuntungan besar. Soalnya, gaji rata-rata lulusan MBA (Master of Business Administration) di Indonesia dilaporkan meningkat sebesar 25%-40%. Ini menjadi salah satu yang tertinggi di kawasan Asia.

Originally published by Media Indonesia.

ASB sebagai sebuah institusi tempatan, mengambil pendekatan langsung, memfokuskan pada Pembelajaran Tindakan atau Action Learning dalam ijazah sarjana, di mana pelajar menggunakan pengetahuan mereka dalam situasi dunia sebenar.

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Originally published by Astro AWANI.

Southeast Asia’s dynamic economies and intricate political landscapes pose unique challenges for leaders balancing stakeholder interests amidst resource constraints and global uncertainty. This makes mastering negotiation, fostering collaboration, and leading with diplomacy critical skills for navigating complexity and driving business success. In this episode with Professor Bruno Verdini, Executive Director of the MIT-Harvard Mexico Negotiation Programme at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, we explore practical frameworks and actionable strategies to overcome negotiation blind spots, and discuss the skills leaders need to thrive in politically and economically complex environments.

Listen to the full interview below.

Originally published by BFM.

Professor Joseph Cherian, a Malaccan, exemplifies a breed of influential academics with careers beyond the walls of academia, bringing global insights and experience to serve the communities he came from. 

As Deputy CEO and Practice Professor at the Asia School of Business (ASB), Cherian’s career spans roles as an electrical engineer, a finance executive, and a philanthropic advisor. His extensive experience bridges the gap between theory and practice, enriching his teaching, writing, and policy contributions.

In the classroom, Professor Cherian weaves his real-world financial experience with theory, creating a dynamic learning environment that brings financial concepts to life for his students. 

His approach reflects the “mind and hand” ethos of his alma mater, MIT, where he combines practical skills with theoretical knowledge to inspire flexible, hands-on learning.

I was able to blend my past experience as a US academic and more recent experience in the financial industry to make the classroom come alive with finance theory blended with real-life experiences, financial lab simulations, and tools like Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters workstations. It was truly experiential learning for the students. – Professor Joseph Cherian

From Engineer to Executive to Educator

Professor Cherian began his career as an electrical engineer but soon transitioned to finance. He earned a master’s and PhD in finance from Cornell University and eventually served as Managing Director and Global Head at Credit Suisse in New York. 

While his career on Wall Street was impressive, his passion extended beyond professional success to making education accessible to others. 

Ever conscious of his own humble beginnings as a former scholarship student at MIT and the grim financial realities of a world-class education,  Professor Cherian has been committed to supporting students from low-income backgrounds in accessing world-class education.

I was a beneficiary of loans and scholarships from both MIT and the Kuok Foundation during my undergraduate years at one of the most expensive colleges in the US at that time (1982-86). The Kuok Family’s astounding generosity to aspiring Malaysian students, when such bursaries were fairly scarce, left an indelible mark in my mind. – Professor Joseph Cherian

In 2007,  Professor Cherian and his wife Emma (Yanfang) began their philanthropic journey by establishing scholarships for MIT and Cornell University students. Their foundation has since provided vital support to many young students, including setting up the Yanfang and Joseph Cherian Bursary at the National University of Singapore, where they were both based for 12 years.

When I saw my first Wall Street bonus check, I was shocked and said “I am not worthy”. My wife was also in the financial industry, and we have no children. In the US we are known as  DINKS (“Double Income No Kids”). So, what we did was to give back. – Professor Joseph Cherian

From Global Influence to Homegrown Impact

Currently, Professor Cherian serves as Deputy CEO and Practice Professor at the Asia School of Business (ASB) in collaboration with MIT Sloan and as a Visiting Professor at Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. 

He brings extensive experience from renowned institutions, having held positions at Boston University, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, the University of Amsterdam, and Tinbergen Institute.

Beyond the classroom, Professor Cherian has contributed to high-level advisory roles, including working with Singapore’s  Central Provident Fund and the Ministry of Manpower, Bursa Malaysia, and the Mercer-CFA Institute Global Pension Index. 

With deep expertise in investment science, retirement reform, and sustainable investing, Professor Cherian also serves as an academic advisor to Asia Asset Management. In this role, he underscores the need for science-driven economic policies that prioritise climate action.

To move the needle on climate action, mainstream economies need to get in step with climate science. Countries – and the asset management industry – should therefore not lose sight of the substantial economic benefits from investments in decarbonisation. It also means walking the talk. As fiduciaries, asset managers should avoid greenwashing and excessive public relations stunts involving sustainable and net zero investing. – Professor Joseph Cherian^[1]

Back to Homeland

Despite a successful international career and tempting offers from global institutions, Professor Cherian, who remains a Malaysian citizen despite leaving the country in 1982, chose to return to Malaysia in 2022, encouraged by his wife, Emma.

It was my wife, who is not even Malaysian, who convinced me to accept the ASB offer to move to KL. She said it was time for me to give back to my country. – Professor Joseph Cherian

While his academic achievements are numerous, his passion for advancing Malaysia’s financial education infrastructure shines brightest. He remains dedicated to nurturing future generations of Malaysians, equipping them with both knowledge and ethical integrity.

Revolutionising Education

He believes that flexibility in education is essential, especially in a world filled with uncertainty. Just as adaptability benefits us in career planning or financial investments, it holds equal importance in education, where the ability to respond to changing circumstances can add significant value.

To make learning more accessible and adaptable, Professor Cherian and his colleagues at the Asia School of Business (ASB) launched a platform called Agile Continuous Education (ACE). Designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s learners, ACE offers online courses that blend flexibility with hands-on learning. 

Students can engage in self-paced video lessons, join live interactive sessions, and work towards professional certificates or even credits that count toward ASB’s MBA or Executive MBA programmes.

For example, a student taking Professor Cherian’s Corporate Finance course can watch pre-recorded lectures at their convenience, attend live online classes for discussions and simulations, and then continue with their day—whether at work or at the park. 

ACE covers a broad range of topics, from Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics to Sustainable Finance, allowing learners to tailor their education to their career goals.

We hope to ACE continuous education learners’ keen interest in both having flexibility and acquiring high-quality knowledge. This translates to substantial economic value. A classic case of having your cake and eating it, too. – Professor Joseph Cherian

Professor Cherian’s journey from Wall Street to the classroom in Malaysia reflects his dedication to bridging theory and practice for real-world impact. Through his work at the ASB, he is reshaping education to be more flexible and accessible, equipping future leaders to make meaningful change. 

Explore our sources: 

1. Cherian, J. and Thambiah, Y. Funding Net Zero. Asia Aset Management (June 2022, Vol. 27, No. 6). Link.

Originally published by Wiki Impact .