Statement of Purpose
M. Yousuf Ghafory
I believe that one of my most distinguishing characteristics is the diversity of experiences and skills that I possess. I have experience in administration with a flair for arts. I have technical aptitude and an interest in international relations. I have acquired skills in translation and I have taught myself how to play Tabla and guitar. I also have a passion for traveling and understanding different cultures of the world. All these elements and my multi-cultural and multi-lingual background have given me a very broad outlook, with varying degrees of knowledge in a range of topics. I strongly believe that although some are not related directly, all these qualities will influence my graduate work.
I have been involved in the post-Taliban developmental issues and political processes in Afghanistan in various capacities. My professional experience in business development with the Afghanistan Competitiveness Project (ACP), a USAID funded project, has given a strong foundation to my analytical skills and a lot of knowledge about the prospects and enormous opportunities that exist in the private sector. Earlier than joining the OTF Group, I served as Special Assistant to the Advisor to the President and the Vice Chairman of the D&R Commission, as Special Assistant to the Minister of Communications, and as Assistant Political Parties Liaison Officer at the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) in Afghanistan. In addition, to have given back what I had learned to my community and help build the capacity of women who form the most vulnerable part of the society in Afghanistan, I worked for the Afghan Women's Welfare Organization as the English Department Supervisor and taught English, typing and computer operating to women who were high school students and women from governmental and non-governmental organizations. These experiences have not only built in me a great sense of confidence but have also improved my leadership skills extensively.
Working in the development sector in the recent couple of years has been a chance, a challenge, and a choice. A chance to develop professionally, and understand the development needs of Afghanistan in the medium to long term, a challenge to work in a post-conflict environment where people from different cultures and experiences have gathered together to build a state from scratch and a choice to diverge from the mainstream path to exclusive specialization in a single intellectual realm, not just on a spare-time basis, but with serious commitment. So, I believe a degree in Business Administration is the perfect academic supplement to my work. The knowledge I will gain during my BBA should help facilitate professional development and even a career change.
More than what I have studied in school and college, it has been these experiences that have shaped the person that I am today. I believe that this unique blend of experiences has made me a man with an original point of view. It has given me a broader perspective to and a good understanding of life and a goal to aim for. Among other things, I have this diversity of experiences to offer the (Bennington College). My most substantial accomplishment has been the success of the ACP, where I was working as Senior Liaison Officer during 2005 - 2006.
OTF Group, a Boston based consulting firm which implemented the ACP, invested significantly in my professional development by financing for me a degree program in Business Administration at Kardan University and offering me extensive trainings in business skills, market research, and project management. My primary responsibility at ACP was the management of the Commercial Competition Commission of Afghanistan (CCCA), a high level public-private leadership body which was comprised of 21 senior leaders from the public and private sectors including five ministers. I used significant organization and communication skills which enabled us to organize numerous full CCCA and sub working group meetings. I also coordinated media relations for the project and performed discreet research tasks.
I conducted research in medicinal herbs sector and trade and transit facilitation. Creating a research plan was a challenging task, but as I was confident on my abilities I worked hard and after putting together all what I had learned I built an exceptional research plan which helped me a lot with my research. I presented high quality analysis and reports after pulling the important insights from my research which helped with the project's decision making.
Moreover, based on my superior performance in the communications training, I was chosen to manage all of the press relations and handled training of the companies' clients in effectively communicating with the press.
Having worked with the private sector leaders, I realized the importance of the private sector growth and the privatization trend to act as the engine of growth of the economy in Afghanistan. I believe that popular discontent with slow reconstruction, pervasive corruption, as well as institutional and human resource constraints, a heavy reliance on aid and a very low domestic revenue base all remain terrifying challenges. Creating a private sector enabling environment and diversifying the economy remain the most sustainable crucial tasks for Afghanistan to align itself with the pace of growth in the region. Even though, there are qualified Afghan intellects in specialized fields, there are very few who have knowledge of modern organizational trends such as marketing, project management and macroeconomics. I believe that with the right tools and techniques from experts, the government can easily tackle the human resource constraints problem which in the long term also addresses the administrative and civil service reform. In addition, Afghanistan's private sector development require local entrepreneurs and investors with the right human resources who have expertise and knowledge to develop the private sector as it is the only way to get the country's economy truly growing.
In general, I firmly believe that this course would not only increase for me the prospects for a better and more rewarding professional career but will also develop my intellectual capacity and prepare me to undertake greater academic endeavors. I have benefited intellectually from observing the situation outside Afghanistan.
I also believe educational institutions in the United States provide an innovative and challenging environment where students acquire all the potential to develop. I want to pursue my graduate level education in the United States because I want to gain international qualification and live in a new culture and understand more about it.
Through language study and travel exposure, I have come a long way in getting myself prepared. With my diverse set of unusual ideas, experiences and capabilities, I would make a most valuable and colorful addition to the student body of XXX BBA.
M. Yousuf Ghafory
I believe that one of my most distinguishing characteristics is the diversity of experiences and skills that I possess. I have experience in administration with a flair for arts. I have technical aptitude and an interest in international relations. I have acquired skills in translation and I have taught myself how to play Tabla and guitar. I also have a passion for traveling and understanding different cultures of the world. All these elements and my multi-cultural and multi-lingual background have given me a very broad outlook, with varying degrees of knowledge in a range of topics. I strongly believe that although some are not related directly, all these qualities will influence my graduate work.
I have been involved in the post-Taliban developmental issues and political processes in Afghanistan in various capacities. My professional experience in business development with the Afghanistan Competitiveness Project (ACP), a USAID funded project, has given a strong foundation to my analytical skills and a lot of knowledge about the prospects and enormous opportunities that exist in the private sector. Earlier than joining the OTF Group, I served as Special Assistant to the Advisor to the President and the Vice Chairman of the D&R Commission, as Special Assistant to the Minister of Communications, and as Assistant Political Parties Liaison Officer at the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) in Afghanistan. In addition, to have given back what I had learned to my community and help build the capacity of women who form the most vulnerable part of the society in Afghanistan, I worked for the Afghan Women's Welfare Organization as the English Department Supervisor and taught English, typing and computer operating to women who were high school students and women from governmental and non-governmental organizations. These experiences have not only built in me a great sense of confidence but have also improved my leadership skills extensively.
Working in the development sector in the recent couple of years has been a chance, a challenge, and a choice. A chance to develop professionally, and understand the development needs of Afghanistan in the medium to long term, a challenge to work in a post-conflict environment where people from different cultures and experiences have gathered together to build a state from scratch and a choice to diverge from the mainstream path to exclusive specialization in a single intellectual realm, not just on a spare-time basis, but with serious commitment. So, I believe a degree in Business Administration is the perfect academic supplement to my work. The knowledge I will gain during my BBA should help facilitate professional development and even a career change.
More than what I have studied in school and college, it has been these experiences that have shaped the person that I am today. I believe that this unique blend of experiences has made me a man with an original point of view. It has given me a broader perspective to and a good understanding of life and a goal to aim for. Among other things, I have this diversity of experiences to offer the (Bennington College). My most substantial accomplishment has been the success of the ACP, where I was working as Senior Liaison Officer during 2005 - 2006.
OTF Group, a Boston based consulting firm which implemented the ACP, invested significantly in my professional development by financing for me a degree program in Business Administration at Kardan University and offering me extensive trainings in business skills, market research, and project management. My primary responsibility at ACP was the management of the Commercial Competition Commission of Afghanistan (CCCA), a high level public-private leadership body which was comprised of 21 senior leaders from the public and private sectors including five ministers. I used significant organization and communication skills which enabled us to organize numerous full CCCA and sub working group meetings. I also coordinated media relations for the project and performed discreet research tasks.
I conducted research in medicinal herbs sector and trade and transit facilitation. Creating a research plan was a challenging task, but as I was confident on my abilities I worked hard and after putting together all what I had learned I built an exceptional research plan which helped me a lot with my research. I presented high quality analysis and reports after pulling the important insights from my research which helped with the project's decision making.
Moreover, based on my superior performance in the communications training, I was chosen to manage all of the press relations and handled training of the companies' clients in effectively communicating with the press.
Having worked with the private sector leaders, I realized the importance of the private sector growth and the privatization trend to act as the engine of growth of the economy in Afghanistan. I believe that popular discontent with slow reconstruction, pervasive corruption, as well as institutional and human resource constraints, a heavy reliance on aid and a very low domestic revenue base all remain terrifying challenges. Creating a private sector enabling environment and diversifying the economy remain the most sustainable crucial tasks for Afghanistan to align itself with the pace of growth in the region. Even though, there are qualified Afghan intellects in specialized fields, there are very few who have knowledge of modern organizational trends such as marketing, project management and macroeconomics. I believe that with the right tools and techniques from experts, the government can easily tackle the human resource constraints problem which in the long term also addresses the administrative and civil service reform. In addition, Afghanistan's private sector development require local entrepreneurs and investors with the right human resources who have expertise and knowledge to develop the private sector as it is the only way to get the country's economy truly growing.
In general, I firmly believe that this course would not only increase for me the prospects for a better and more rewarding professional career but will also develop my intellectual capacity and prepare me to undertake greater academic endeavors. I have benefited intellectually from observing the situation outside Afghanistan.
I also believe educational institutions in the United States provide an innovative and challenging environment where students acquire all the potential to develop. I want to pursue my graduate level education in the United States because I want to gain international qualification and live in a new culture and understand more about it.
Through language study and travel exposure, I have come a long way in getting myself prepared. With my diverse set of unusual ideas, experiences and capabilities, I would make a most valuable and colorful addition to the student body of XXX BBA.
