Michelle Ten
Industry Practice Master of Digital Economy (IPMDE) Alumna | Corporate Services Director, Accountingbpo.com Pte Ltd
A Journey That Started with Questions
For Michelle, enrolling in SMU's Industry Practice Master of Digital Economy (IPMDE) was not about earning another qualification. It was about understanding how technology, data and AI are reshaping the business world and how she, as an accounting professional, could stay ahead of the curve. Through IPMDE, she gained not only new knowledge, but also a new way of thinking that continues to shape how she works today.
Having spent many years in accounting and professional services, Michelle wanted to better understand technologies such as blockchain, machine learning and data governance. IPMDE offered the opportunity to explore these areas while helping her see the bigger picture behind the numbers.
From Financial Information to Data Flow
Michelle had always believed that accountants should understand the business behind the numbers. Through IPMDE, that perspective expanded further as she explored areas such as machine learning and technology.
She began thinking more about the journey of information itself, where data originates, how it moves through different systems and functions, how it is governed, and how it eventually becomes information used for financial reporting and decision-making.
As her perspective became more data-centric, the questions she asked also evolved. Instead of only asking what a report showed, she increasingly asked where the number came from, what it was connected to, and whether parts of the process could be improved or automated.
Michelle said,
The biggest change was not simply the knowledge I gained. It was the way I started thinking.
Applying IPMDE in Practice
Inspired by her learning experience, Michelle began applying technology to real business challenges through projects such as a financial analysis tool, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) applications for legislation, and a machine-learning model for classifying client enquiries. Through these projects, she gained a deeper understanding of how data is transformed into meaningful insights.
One project she continues to develop is a financial analysis tool that helps uncover the drivers behind business performance.
For Michelle, the real value of technology lies in helping people move beyond reporting numbers to making better-informed decisions.
Bridging Finance, Technology and Business
IPMDE also changed how Michelle collaborates across functions. She became more comfortable working at the intersection of finance, technology, and business, looking beyond accounting outputs to understand the entire process and how information supports decision-making.
She reflected,
Technology did not move me away from accounting; it moved me deeper into the business.
Inspired by Those Who Teach
Beyond the curriculum, Michelle credits the people she met through IPMDE for inspiring her continued growth. In particular, she is grateful to Dr Koh Niak Wu, Affiliate Faculty at SMU, whose passion and expertise encouraged her to keep learning and deepen her own domain knowledge.
She shared,
I have always believed that learning from people who are deeply committed to their domain can be very motivating, and Dr Koh has been one of those influences in my learning journey.
Beyond IPMDE: New Opportunities and Perspectives
The impact of IPMDE extended beyond the classroom. Motivated by her experience in IPMDE, Michelle continued her learning journey beyond the programme. She enrolled in the Advanced Certificate in Applied AI Programming and went on to learn Python programming and SQL, building on the foundations she had gained through IPMDE.
Her growing knowledge and continued learning also contributed to the ideas and perspectives she later shared at the ISCA Tech & AI Fair.
Looking back, Michelle believes IPMDE played an important role in preparing her for opportunities like these.
She said,
I would not say IPMDE simply gave me the confidence to stand on stage. I think it gave me the substance behind what I wanted to say.
Carrying the IPMDE Mindset Forward
Today, Michelle continues to approach her work with the same mindset she developed through IPMDE. Rather than focusing solely on completing tasks faster, she increasingly asks why a process is designed in a certain way, whether parts of it can be automated, and whether the information produced is helping clients make better decisions.
While her learning journey is far from over, she credits the programme for helping her see technology not as something separate from accounting, but as an integral part of its future.
As an IPMDE alumna, Michelle hopes to continue learning and collaborating with fellow accountants on how technology can strengthen professional judgement, improve the way professionals work, and create more time for higher-value conversations with the businesses they support.
Learn more about IPMDE.
