The Educator Who Went Back to School: How EMIM Is Shaping Matthew Quinn’s Global Ambitions 

With a background that spans credit analysis at a Fortune 300 company to over a decade in the classroom teaching IB Business Management in Beijing, Matthew Quinn came to the Executive MSc in Management (EMIM) programme with a specific goal: to become one of the greatest business educators in the world. 

We spoke to him about what that journey looks like from Beijing, and why the EMIM programme at NUS Business School was the only programme that made sense. 

What is your background and what made you decide to pursue this programme?  

Professionally, my career has spanned from financial services to education. I started as a Senior Credit Analyst at Discover Financial Services, a Fortune 300 company, where I eventually moved to the Executive Office assisting the C-suite with delicate credit and legal matters.

During my undergraduate studies, I studied abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, an experience that left me with a constant pull to return to Asia. 

That drive eventually brought me to Beijing, where I transitioned into education and discovered my calling. I’ve been teaching for over a decade now, and I currently teach IB DP Business Management at Beijing Huijia Private School. 

My journey to the EMIM programme started by taking NUS’s gateway courses in Finance and Business Analytics. As an educator, I was deeply inspired by the passion Professor Lee Yen Tik brought to Finance, as well as Professor Tung Yi-Liang’s ability to demystify highly complex analytics using Excel. Their instruction was so effective that I integrated their approaches to teaching and methods into my own classroom. 

Why EMIM specifically, what made it stand out from other options?  

When I started looking at master’s programmes, I wanted something with a true international perspective. 

Singapore is where East meets West; it’s a global hub where business gets done. Since I teach business to primarily Chinese students, I wanted an elite education that offered an Asian perspective, rather than just the Western lens found in most textbooks. 

The logistics and ROI were also unmatched. 

I looked at alternative programmes, but some options can cost over SGD$200,000 in tuition alone and require significant time away from work. 

When you teach 120 students in one of China’s largest and most established IB programmes, being away for a month at a time simply isn’t an option. 

The NUS EMIM programme offers a Master of Science in Management from the top business school in Asia for a reasonable cost, and the programme structure only requires four weeks out of the office in total, split perfectly into just two weeks during the first year and two weeks during the second year. It was the perfect fit. 

What’s it like being a full-time teacher while pursuing the programme entirely online from Beijing? How do you stay connected with your cohort?  

I have a highly demanding job, but the EMIM schedule is incredibly workable. Classes run for three hours, twice a week in the evenings. 

Because Singapore and Beijing share the same time zone, I’m not logging in at impossible hours, and it leaves the rest of my week open for working, active activities, and my family. 

You might think being in Beijing means I’m isolated from a cohort largely based in Singapore, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We are in constant communication via WhatsApp. 

Because we spend our first two weeks immersed together at NUS in person, the bonds are already built. Even the students based in Singapore are accessing the programme online because they are just as busy with their careers as I am. I feel completely included and connected. 

How has your teaching background shaped the way you approach learning as a student yourself?  

Completing my master’s in education and actively pursuing continuing education has taught me the rigorous discipline remote learning demands. While I hold myself to high standards, navigating complex coursework keeps me grounded and more empathetic to the daily challenges my students face. 

My strategy is strict timeboxing. I look at my week, identify my work and family commitments, and block out non-negotiable study time. 

Another crucial rule I follow: I always prioritise group work over individual assignments. 

Because we are all busy professionals working asynchronously across different countries, I make sure my portion of a group project is done promptly so I never bottleneck my peers. 

The modules have a strong business and management angle; as a teacher, what made you feel this programme was relevant to you?  

Essentially, I am getting a master’s degree in exactly what I teach. I already hold knowledge across most business functions, but the EMIM gives me profound depth. 

Learning cutting-edge analytics and management strategies from world-class professors and highly experienced peers elevates my classroom instruction every single day. 

How would you describe the workload; what does it actually demand of you?  

The workload is rigorous, but very reasonable. You have about six instructional hours a week during focused, concentrated semesters. 

NUS has figured out virtual, synchronous learning: they use cutting-edge software like Examplify for secure virtual assessments, giving professors all the tools they need to run great classes. 

That said, the programme demands your full commitment. You cannot treat this as an afterthought. 

If you want to get the full value out the programme, and want to build a strong network with your peers, you have to prioritise it. But if you are diligent, curious, and have good time management skills, it is entirely manageable. 

How do you stay on top of everything; do you have a routine or system that works for you?  

Along with my personal timeboxing system, the secret is leaning on the cohort. 

The culture in this programme is incredibly supportive. Very early on, classmates were creating shared calendars mapping out every single assignment, quiz, and due date for the semester, and sharing them with everyone. 

We remind each other of deadlines in the WhatsApp chat and troubleshoot assignment questions together before going to the professors. Everyone is flexible and willing to jump on a quick weekend call to get group work done. You are never navigating the workload alone. 

How do you see EMIM helping you get to where you want to be?  

My goal is to be one of the greatest business educators in the world. To achieve that level of global influence, I need absolute authority and credibility in my subject. 

I regularly speak to audiences about topics like the integration of AI tools in education or the importance of identity in subject teaching. When I am introduced as studying at NUS Business School, I instantly command the respect of a room, even among esteemed professors, industry leaders, and executives that hold advanced degrees from the likes of Stanford, Columbia, or Cambridge. 

Having this elite experience and credential opens doors, gives me a seat at the table, and allows me to go toe-to-toe with anyone. 

What’s the one thing you hope to walk away with by the end of this programme?  

I want to build a deep, lifelong connection with Singapore and NUS. But most importantly, I know I will walk away from this programme with profound personal pride and great friends for life. 

If you look at an average human lifespan which is 4,000 weeks, this two-year programme potentially represents just 2.6% of my total life. Yet, that 2.6% is going to shape the trajectory of my next 40 to 60 years on earth. It is a massive milestone, and knowing how immensely proud my wife, my son, and I will be when I graduate makes the investment of time, resources, and capacity worth it all. 

Your next chapter starts here 

Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise, grow your credibility, or simply get more intentional about where your career is heading, EMIM is designed to help you get there. If that sounds like the right next step, it’s worth finding out more. 

Learn more about the Executive MSc in Management at NUS Business School here.