Gabriella is a business student in SMU and has been an active member in SMUKI since 2012. She will be graduating from SMU in 2016 with Bachelor of Business Management (BBM), majoring in marketing and strategic management.

 

Experience in university live

 

Gabriella or Gaby, for short, was SMUKI's president from the period 2013-2014. She dabbled in SMU Extremist (SMUX) for a short period of time before committing herself to SMUKI soon after.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you mind sharing with us your other commitments, other than being in SMUKI?

 

"Now, nothing much except my internship. Last two semester was a bit packed with Smuki Gaya being TA balancing school work and other commitments like the SMU consulting project I signed up for."

 

So what is your greatest achievement and how do you think it has shaped you to becoming who you are now?

 

"It wasn't one particular achievement more of a collection of different task. For me, being president provided me with the highest personal growth. For example, in managing my time, learning my working style leadership style and handleing my stress.

 

Surviving Summer 2014 because I was juggling my part time work, internship, being summer TA fr MBA class and Smuki Gaya prep."

 

How do you define leadership? In what ways are you a leader?

 

"To me a leader is someone who inspires through action. That has been my motto all along. A leader must show that he/she is willing to hold his/her team member's hands when they need it and at the same time know when to let it go slowly for them to grow."

 

Do you prefer being a follower or a leader?

 

"You can't be a leader without first being a follower. To learn how it feels to follow directions allows you to sympathize and better hear what followers are saying. Because a leader has the responsibility to balance followers' personal interest and the organization's interest."

 

What is your favourite past time?

 

"GAYA 2012 2013 I was carefree and doing what I love."

 

Are there any regrets in your life that you can share with us?

 

"Doesn't matter because why waste time mourning over something that you can't change. Just reflect upon it and take it as a lesson. Over the years, I learn to forgive myself and appreciate how the past shaped me to be who I am."

 

How do you want others to look at you? 

 

"Always grateful and helpful."

 

What do you think is the biggest character turn off for you?

 

"Arrogant people."

 

Have you ever had working or internship experience? Do you mind sharing with us regarding it and what you have learnt from it?

 

"Yes. Did 3 internship. First was with an ad agency, Grey Group Singapore. This Summer 2014 was where i was streched. My first internship was quite intense but I was lucky to be assigned in a smaller team because I get to learn more. I get to manage my own press ad insertion and be a part of a TVC production. I loved it there... When I came back to school last sem I joined SMU UOB consulting with Shanny and Ferica. The project provided me with alot of learning opportunities both soft skills and hard skills.. As I strecthed myself, I know more about my capabilities and weaknesses. Now I am currently interning at 3M, doing research and marketing planning for some of their products. I want to have the whole rounded experience of b2c and b2b marketing and this internship didn't disappoint me."

 

What words of wisdom would you pass onto your juniors in SMU?

 

"Don't chase grades blindly and get lost in the GPA chase, if possible try finding your passion interest as early as possible, the rest would be an enjoyable time in your life, because you are doing what you love."