At UCL School of Management, careers support is central to the Flex MBA experience. To mark an exciting new chapter, I sat down with Janice, our newly appointed UCL Flex MBA Careers Lead, to find out more about her background, her approach to careers, and what makes the UCL Flex MBA careers offering truly distinctive. Whether you are considering an MBA or already on your journey, Janice’s insights offer a refreshing and honest perspective on what career growth really looks like.
In Conversation with UCL Flex MBA Careers Lead, Janice TAN yiING
Tell us about your background and what attracted you to the role of Careers Manager on the UCL Flex MBA.
I’ve had what many would describe as a non-linear career path. I began my career in legal practice before pivoting through an MBA into human capital consulting, and later into career services and executive education. Along the way, I’ve worked across different regions and industries, supporting individuals at pivotal transition points in their careers. What has remained constant is my interest in helping people make sense of their experiences and translate them into meaningful career direction.
There were several factors that drew me to the Careers Manager role. Firstly, UCL’s reputation as a top 10 global university, alongside the academic rigour of the Flex MBA, was highly compelling. Secondly, I was particularly drawn to the profile of the students. These are experienced professionals navigating complex, often multi-dimensional career decisions, not just “what’s next,” but “what’s worth pursuing at this stage of my life, and why.”
The opportunity to shape a careers offering that meets that level of depth, while supporting individuals in asking deeper questions they may not have previously considered, is really meaningful to me.
What advice would you give to someone considering an MBA right now?
Be clear on what you want to achieve from the MBA.
An MBA can open doors, but its true value lies in how intentionally you engage with it. Those who gain the most from the programme tend to see it not simply as a qualification, but as a platform to reflect, experiment, and reposition themselves.
I would also encourage prospective students to think in terms of a career portfolio, rather than a single next step. Consider the skills, perspectives, and experiences you want to build, and how an MBA can help accelerate that.
Approaching the programme in this way allows you to make more deliberate choices: from the modules and projects you take up, to the network you build - and ultimately extract far greater value from the MBA experience.
What makes the UCL Flex MBA Careers support stand out?
What distinguishes our approach is that we do not view careers as a one-off intervention, but as an ongoing, integrated journey.
We work closely across careers consulting, executive coaching, and employer engagement to create a holistic experience for students. This means we are not solely focused on immediate outcomes such as job transitions, but also on longer-term career clarity and leadership development.
Given the seniority of our cohort, the conversations are often more nuanced. Some students are looking to pivot industries, others are scaling businesses, and many are redefining purpose and what success looks like at this stage of their careers.
Our role is to meet them where they are - with tailored support that combines practical strategy with deeper reflection. It is this balance that drives meaningful and lasting impact.
What’s one common misconception about MBA career outcomes?
For many professionals, the most valuable outcomes are not always immediately visible. These may include greater clarity of direction, increased confidence to pursue a different path, or the ability to reposition one’s experience in a way that unlocks new possibilities.
Those shifts can be just as valuable, if not more, than a change in job title alone.
A common misconception is that an MBA guarantees an overnight promotion. In reality, an MBA is an enabler, not a shortcut. It can open the door to new opportunities, build capabilities, and expand your network - but outcomes are ultimately shaped by how you walk through that door and intentionally engage with those opportunities.
Janice brings a depth of experience to the UCL Flex MBA — and a genuine commitment to helping ambitious professionals build careers with purpose and intention. Ready to take the next step? Explore the UCL Flex MBA today!
