Menyambung Masters: Halatuju dan Perancangan Hidup...

Kenapa saya begitu beria-iya untuk menyambung Masters, sehinggakan saya sanggup untuk tidak naik M48 seketika sekiranya itulah bayaran untuk saya menyambung Masters di luar negara? What so great about my planning to masters overseas? And why US and UK, not Australia or local? And why Finance or Financial Engineering, not Economics, MBA or others?

Kalau ada rezeki dan diizinkan Tuhan, saya berharap saya akan dapat peluang untuk ke Haas Business School, University of California, Berkeley di US dalam Masters in Financial Engineering. After 4 years in Econ Division, and with encouragements from my mentor like Dr. Sundaran, Dr. Siva and others, I must say that I prefer finance than other subject matter even economics. Of course, both subjects are closely related, which financial sector is part of components in macroeconomy and study of economics from perspective of finance can be called as Financial Economics. While Economics concern with breadth area of finance, but Finance or FInancial Engineering covers in-depth understanding of finance, applied with mathematical theories and quantitative analysis and forecasting.

The area in finance is very wide. You can choose either you want to be specialist in investment, corporate finance, derivatives, banking sector or treasury operations or specialist in some niche area like Islamic Finance (another area which I recently fall in love to, and the reason I choose CIFP).

But why Financial Engineering? First, I missed it lot (during my undergrad), and now I realize that I love the subject more than I know but i put a very less effort to pursue a knowledge and maybe career related to this. Now, me must understand that, the finance is more complicated than those days. Starting in 90s, the financial sector has developed very fast, accordance with rapid economic growth in most countries especially new comers (now is not really new) like China, India and even GCC Countries and some Eastern Europe. Along the way we have developed wide area of financial products, including hybrid-type and complicated ones like Asset back securities.

Even, the issues of financial sector is more complicated that what has been experienced before. With sub-prime issues in US, moderation of global economy, one of it due to market failure in financial sector, hike in commodity prices, particularly oil, rapid development in physical infrastructure due to economic growth that need proper invesment analyis and environment issues like carbon trading, the need of skill that can quantify and measures all benefits, risks and complicated financial model is more demanding than what we perceived.

OK, why Haas? Why UC Berkeley? According to my personal research, UC Berkeley is one of the top Business School in US and MFE in Berkeley is highly demanded by top recruiters. Apart of that, there is Internship programme for 3-months which I think I can benefit by getting exposure working with established financial companies and learning their working and thinking style which will benefit my job in Govt upon completion of the course (or widen my opportunity of working abroad later...:) ).

Second, my choice is LBS or London Business School. As one of the top business school in the world and the best in London, doing Masters in Finance there is one of the opportunity that I shouldn't miss.

Cost of living, considered high, but tip from my friend who is doing PHD in London and Leeds (Ainurul and Man), is not really a big problem if you know how to manage your life well.

Ok, cukupla hu-ha-hu-ha. What I need now? Kena score GMAT, tu paling penting. Cakap banyak2 GMAT (exam requirement untuk masuk business school) tak score pun tak guna. UC Berkeley (Haas), at least 703, LBS, at least 690. Looooong way to go, man. Thats why I dont sleep right now, need to brush up my GMAT.

Then, working for my scholar. This Tuesday (8 July), my JPA scholar interview. Harap2 aku berjaya lepas la.

InsyaAllah.

Setelah 10 tahun meninggalkan alma-mater...

How proud am I to be budak koleq?

Well, to tell you the truth, since I left my secondary school or koleq in 2007, I was quite lost of touch. Of course I had kept contact with some of my MCKK buddies in MMU but really, I don't give a damn for what happened in Koleq. Then, I joined TNB, sometimes (on Wednesday), I wore my koleq tie (tie zaman sekolah, sebab tak register MCOBA lagi). Then, I joined PTD (as is now), then I met some of the old boys in my PTD Batch 1/2004.

Begitu saya telah meninggalkan kenangan tersebut dan lost touch sehinggakan satu peristiwa yang agak kelakar berlaku ketika kami (PTD) dalam perjalanan mengikuti PTD Unggul, introductory course untuk semua pegawai PTD yang baru dilantik. Surprisingly, borak punya borak, setelah hampir beberapa jam dalam bas, baru saya sedar rakan sebelah seat saya dalam bas tu adalah Fect Hafiznizam, prefect F5 ketika saya masih F2 pada tahun 1994. Dia adalah antara Fect yang dibenci jugakla ketika itu. Surprisingly, we talked to each other in the bus like nothing happened in the last 10 years.

Then, after that I continued my life as a PTD, finishing my Diploma Pengurusan Awam, regretting that all of us (ex Koleq) was unable to join MCKK 100-years celebration sebab masa tu all of us kena mengikuti program panjat gunung.

Thanks to some of our hardworking 9397 guys (to name few: Fei, Amir, Un), we able to have our discussion group. Even, sewaktu kenduri kawin saya pun tak ramai yg dapat saya jemput disebabkan tidak dapat menghubungi sebahagian besar daripada mereka dan kesuntukan masa untuk menghubungi rakan2 lama.

I also missed most of my friend's wedding and my 10-years MCOBA Weekend due to working and family commitment. But few weeks ago, I made another big step in my life, by joining MCOBA formally as a lifetime member. For others yang dah lama join, takde la apa sangat benda yang aku buat ni setakat register MCOBA, in fact they are so active in MCOBA like Bullet, Un and others. But better late than never. At least now I can wear true MCOBA Tie, instead of schoolday's tie yang dipakai sebelum ini.

It's not a tie or corporate symbol or assabiyah of the group or whatever they said about it. It is some spirit associated and memories attached to it. Whenever, I wear that tie every Wednesday, it is something that I will always remember, as ex-Koleq, wherever you go, you always carry a responsibility to safeguard your religion, race and nation. Now I understand,
the true meaning of "Once a Collegian, Always a Collegian."

At last I have my own blog...

At last I have my own blog. Actually, I want to start my own blog since last year, but it just materialized recently.Itupun selepas kerap dibisingkan oleh my wife. Dia sudah lama berkecimpung dalam dunia blog-memblog ni and has her own blog. She also has her own Internet-based business.

Even, my friend, Ghiya, the one that I encouraged to publish his own thoughts and experiences already has started his own blog, earlier than me. My boss, Dato' Dr. Irwan has his own blog. Not to mention, some of my MCKK and MMU colleagues, they are more advanced and can be considered seasoned bloggers. My beloved and idol, Tun Dr. Mahathir started to share his thoughts in this blogosphere.

Here, I will pen my journey of life, my thoughts on issues related to politics, economics and social as well as sharing knowledges and interests in finances, particularly development in Islamic Finance and other issues related to finance. Feel free to publish your encouragements and contructive comments. You may also reproduce or quote materials with regard that they are credited to iszadjeffri.blogspot.com.

Thank you.