I completed my bachelors degree in electrical engineering and electronics from Nanyang Technological University and then joined MUFG Bank Singapore as an analyst on the information systems team. We perform business analysis and provide automation solutions to expand our internal digital transformation. My team has worked with several departments at the bank, including Trade Finance, Anti-Money Laundering, and Compliance.

When I made the decision to enroll in the CQF program, I had already spent over a year working at MUFG Bank, built up my coding knowledge, and gained business insights from the different departments we interacted with. Over that period of time, I started to have a sense that in the future finance and technology would become increasingly intertwined, creating endless possibilities for new advancement. I was enthusiastic about the opportunities that may lie ahead and was eager to acquire more skills and knowledge. After exploring several educational options, I arrived at the conclusion that the CQF program was the best match for me, and that it would provide the knowledge and skills I needed to excel in this rapidly evolving field. I did consider other qualifications such as the CFA. However, while the CFA is a well-respected professional designation, I felt that the CQF would offer a deeper focus on the areas that were of greatest interest to me and that had the greatest potential for advancement in quantitative finance over time.

Balancing a full-time job with the demands of the CQF program was certainly challenging, I tried to be as disciplined as possible, spending most of my evenings and weekends studying. I accessed the lectures mainly via the recordings, as the time difference between Singapore and Europe is significant. Not long after I enrolled in the CQF program, I was fortunate enough to receive a contract offer from the endowment fund of Singapore Management University to work as a portfolio analyst where I had the opportunity to apply my newly acquired knowledge from the CQF program to practical portfolio analysis scenarios. Subsequently, I transitioned to my current role as a risk analyst at United Overseas Bank, where I build and maintain liquidity and banking book interest-rate risk models using both statistical and machine learning techniques. My role involves analyzing large volumes of data and identifying key risk parameters. It is an exciting and challenging role that allows me to apply my quantitative skill sets to real-world problems in the banking industry.

The CQF program opened up many doors for me in the world of quantitative finance. It provided me with a deep understanding of financial modeling and helped me develop the skills needed to work in roles such as risk analysis and portfolio management. In addition, the CQF program introduced me to cutting-edge techniques in machine learning and data analysis, which have become increasingly important in the financial industry. These days, I try to access the Lifelong Learning every month to keep myself updated with the latest trends in the risk management industry. This is a great resource for working professionals who follow cutting-edge industry developments closely.

I would highly recommend the CQF program to anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in quantitative finance. The curriculum is comprehensive and relevant to the industry's latest trends and demands, and the faculty is top-notch, providing practical insights and guidance. Looking ahead, my goal is to continue developing my skills in financial risk modeling and to take on increasingly complex and challenging projects. I am particularly interested in exploring the use of machine learning to develop new solutions for risk management in the financial industry.