Most alumni rely on emails and official functions to catch up with other alumni. For Mr Lim Chiew Wah (MBA 2004), Director of Welcome Trading Co Pte Ltd, and Mr Rajeev Baddepudi (MBA 2004), a Senior Analyst, they have found playing Poker a great way to stay in touch – and to learn something too.
“To me, Poker is not a form of gambling,” says Mr Lim. “It is a game of skill in resource management, game theory, statistics, psychology and more.”
The academia world has seen, in recent times, a flux of writing on the educational aspects of Poker. Researchers have turned to the game with interest, seeing how economics and artificial intelligence possibly play a role in the game. Comparisons were drawn between decision making in poker and striking a bargain in the market and to the clashes in war.
The game has even drawn the attention of Harvard Law School Professor Charles Nesson who believed the positive attributes of the game.
Mr Baddepudi finds poker to be a mind-engrossing exercise and believes various elements of the game to be relevant to decision making in business scenarios.
“I find it fascinating that poker combines so many different, interesting aspects,” says Mr Baddepudi. “It has elements of game theory, a bit of mathematical calculation in the permutations and probabilities and most importantly, the interplay of various human personalities at play during the game.”
Like Mr Lim, Mr Baddepudi does not see poker as a form of gambling in the purest sense. He sees more value from poker in a gaming perspective and helping the alumni to stay in contact in other ways, apart from the normal networking sessions.
Both Mr Lim and Mr Baddepudi play poker once a month with their batch mates from NUS MBA program. These sessions aid in continually building their relationships and serve as a regular meet-up for them in their busy schedules. They also welcome new members to join their informal club.
“If anyone is interested in playing poker, please feel free to contact myself or Rajeev. Don’t worry - we are very kind to ‘fresh meat’!” jests Mr Lim. |