Hi, I'm applying Ms. in Business Analytics program and I would love to seek if any suggestion. Thank you in advance!!
Briefly describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Why are you choosing to pursue an MS in Business Analytics and Data Science at this time, and what are you hoping to accomplish by doing so?
Why are you interested in pursuing an MS at the Carlson School of Management?
What do you feel makes you a strong candidate for the program? How will you contribute to the Program overall?
I can foresee my career, in long term, towards the track of operating a large scale business in an international B2C enterprise, which satisfies the demand of the mass market. This foresight has evolved from my nearly 3-year overseas experience - running business in Southeast Asia, Nordic and China to experience collaborate across different resources and people from different countries, cultures and languages. I've enjoyed the process from market investigation, product and price strategy brainstorming to strategy execution in order to meet customer expectation.
I started my career in ASUS, an international electronic device brand, as Country Product Manager in Vietnam. Located in Hochiminh city, I took charge of the Notebook business. In daily business operation, accurate market information, correct price and product strategies, smooth supply chain management, a fair channel management policy and efficiently customer service are indispensable factors to reach the optimal goal-increase market share. I contributed myself in coordinating all involved people, including channel sales team, marketing team, and customer service team, and available resources to make those five factors happen spontaneously. Fortunately, the great result came within one year, ASUS reached No. 1 market share, rising from No. 3, with a growth rate increasing from 15% to 22%.
With such a fantastic performance, I was transferred to ASUS Nordic in Stockholm started to take charge of the tablet business in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway. To successfully launch Google Nexus 7 and another ASUS owned tablet in Nordic was another big challenge for me in this developed market. Since the two products were very similar, I had to set up different prices, channels and logistic strategies to avoid them to compete with each other. To be honest, because I didn't have sufficient knowledge to convert my sales data into business insight to clarify the real demand from the market, I faced difficulties in correctly making decisions only by relying on information collected from market players. A question came to me: how can I strength my ability to leverage my data into business decision making?
Switching to Getchee, a GIS-based, demographic data analyzing & software consulting company, was an attempt that I want to learn how a company utilize their data on business application. Plus, I wanted to experience the China market. As a business development manager, I clarify the business process to my potential clients and offer my company's solutions to help them improve the efficiency in decision making. However, I have spent much more time in dealing with unspoken rules to satisfy the "personal demand" from potential customers than in practically delivering data analysis and solution.
For the moment, I've realized that I'd prefer doing B2C business (as in ASUS) to B2B (as in Getchee) because I enjoy satisfying the demand of the mass market rather than that of certain specific groups inside companies. Besides, I'm still lacking of the ability to convert my on-hand data into business insight.
Hence, it becomes my strong reason to pursue an MS in Business Analysis. Carlson School of management is one of the best school all over the world. The highly-renowned faculty provides the best training not only in data analysis itself but in the application of real business. In addition to fundamental courses, I will specially take text mining, network analysis and analysis of unstructured data courses as electives, because I know that's the last mile I should conquer if I have to get very closely to the mass demand when operating a business. Besides, the STEM- designated program and the strong alumni network offer a great support to get internship or job opportunities. Apparently, the US stands the best ranking where most data-driven enterprises located in, so I'll try every opportunity to stay in the States after graduating. To become a business analyst, who can apply data into information for effective decision making, is my short term goal after I graduate from Carlson School. Later in my career, the lessons I learn from Carlson School and from business analysis will combine the experience I've had in the past, and will bring me to become a successful international business owner.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that my diverse experience in driving business, no matter in Vietnam, Nordic or China, represent a solid evidence that I'm capable to handle a business in different type of market. Besides, I also believe that the master degree in Business Analytics in Carlson School of management can offer me not only academic training but also the opportunity to experience the US market. I sincerely hope that I can join the Carlson family so that my story can become more impressive.
