1st Essay - Global MBA Program, Shidler College of Business (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

Core Leadership Values you represent

Hello guys! I am applying for admission to the Global MBA Program offered by the Shidler College of Business (University of Hawaii at Manoa). They require four essays. This is the first one. I would greatly appreciate it if you can provide any thoughts, tips, or corrections.

Question: What are the three most important values you demonstrate as a leader? Tell me a story that demonstrates each of these leadership values in practice within your workplace.

The three most important values I demonstrate as a leader are adaptability, courage, and commitment.

Adaptability

I worked as a project manager for XXX, from 2014 to 2018. Before this, I worked as a writer. One of my clients, XXX, saw my potential and asked me if I wanted to manage his start-up. A huge part of me wanted to say no because I did not possess the required knowledge and experience; however, a small yet powerful voice urged me to grab the opportunity.

The first four months were immensely difficult. Being a project manager was light years away from being a writer. My knowledge and experience about programming were limited, and yet I was managing a start-up that revolved around programming! In addition, I found myself leading a team of Indian and Eastern European programmers and American designers whose attitudes and work ethics were vastly different from that of the Filipinos'. The project was beyond my capability. I wanted to quit.

But once again, a small yet powerful voice urged me not to give up, telling me that if I wanted to survive I needed to adapt. And so I started learning as much as I can about programming, start-ups, and management by consuming online materials. More importantly, I started to have faith in myself. Every day, I would say, "I can do this".

Eventually, I learned my way around programming and became competent at managing our workers. I lasted as a project manager for four years not because I was super smart but because I learned how to adapt.

Courage

I am currently the president of XXX, which is an organization that helps people develop their leadership and public speaking skills. Last year, I got in conflict with the immediate past president (IPP) because he was micromanaging me and my officers. He was acting as if he was still the president. I tolerated his behavior for two months, but it eventually became toxic.

I wanted to confront him, but the norms of my society hindered me. Filipinos are known for being non-confrontational and onion-skinned. I was worried that he will get offended and leave the organization. I asked the senior members for advice, and their advice was not to disturb the status quo. They were also worried that if I confronted the IPP he will get offended and leave.

But I knew that the right thing to do was confront him and make him understand that his behavior was toxic not only for me but for the other officers. I needed to muster the courage to go against the norms of my society and risk losing him and displeasing the senior members.

True enough, the IPP got offended and left. The senior members got displeased too, but the risk I took paid off. The officers and I started to fulfill our responsibilities much more effectively; our trust and confidence as a team increased; there was less tension in the organization; and overall, the club functioned more smoothly. Eventually, the IPP realized that his behavior was toxic, and so earlier this year, we have reconciled. I am happy to say that he is now once again an active member.

Commitment

In October 2018, I had to move from XXX to XXX to set up a small factory for product development and production; however, XXX is located on a separate island and is two hours away from XXX by airplane and car. When I informed the club that I was moving to XXX, the senior members asked me if I wanted to resign. I told them that I was committed to the club and that I was going to finish my term.

Despite the fact that I am terribly busy because of my start-up, I always make time every day to make sure that the club is running smoothly, from organizing the meetings to mentoring new members. In addition, I fly to XXX once a month to attend the meeting and fulfill my role as president. It is costly and time-consuming, but I am willing to spend effort, time, and money because I am committed to the club. As I said to one of my officers who doubted my commitment, "even if things become tough, I will remain committed to the club and to my position as president".

I think you should remove the racial stereotype in 'Courage' part. From my perspective, You should be careful to write the second paragraph, try not to be pictured as arrogant. Wish u luck

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep it in mind.

Peter, paragraph one does not show any example of your adaptability. You cannot refer to your use of learning as a method of adapting. Rather being adaptable means that you are capable of moving and succeeding within an unfamiliar situation, without any prior preparation. Therefore, your story is not one that can be used for that description. Either show an example of adaptability in a solid sense based on a workplace situation or, change the description to something else.

The second paragraph, I agree, sounds highly arrogant. What you showed was not courage but, due to the descriptive words that you chose to use, a combative nature as a person. That is not really viewed as a leadership skill as no leader would want to make any of his subordinates feel uncomfortable nor show such high disrespect for past leaders. A true leader knows how to use discussion and compromise, not displeasing people and refusing to find a way to compromise. A true leader knows how to negotiate and compromise to reach a deal. Unfortunately, you showed that you are not capable of doing that. As such, you are not going to be viewed as an effective leader in this instance.

Being a Filipino is not an excuse and should not even be mentioned as a part of your "exception to the rule" situations depicted here. Nobody cares about your culture or where you came from. What matters is how you will show that you can function within an American academic system or workplace setting. Having a different culture does not mean anything if you cannot show that you can truly adjust to your new environment by adapting to the new culture you are existing in and knowing how to negotiate instead of offending others.

The third paragraph is the only one that actually has a narrative that fits the descriptive word. Don't change anything about that paragraph. Make marked changes to the first two descriptive stories instead. Those are the most problematic presentation points in this essay and could easily make you a failed candidate for admission.

Now, let me call your attention to an important aspect of the prompt that you failed to consider. The prompt indicates:

Tell me a story that demonstrates each of these leadership values in practice within your workplace.

A story. One story Story = Singular word form. That means you cannot present 3 separate stories that show how you embody separate leadership skills. You have to compose one verifiable story that highlights the 3 characteristics of a leader in a continuous presentation, not 3 individual stories. With that in mind, the observations I noted above should be used to help you develop a comprehensive story that will highlight the separate leadership skills you presented. Take note of the changes you have to make in the first 2 presentations and apply it to the appropriate story you will be developing.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. I will incorporate your observations into my second draft. Thanks again!