Graduate / "My technical focus" - MBA Essay Review [6]

Why are you applying to the MBA Program now? What is the professional objective that will guide your career choice after your MBA, and how will the MBA contribute to the achievement of this objective? (500 words)

My stint at X has seen me transition from a predominantly technical focus to consulting and project management. I have begun to realize that I have a profound interest in management consulting and strategy practices. I am attracted towards pursuing an international career, which requires a global outlook, exposure and relevant know-how in order to succeed. To achieve this, I am convinced in investing in my own abilities, and I see an MBA as the best investment that will allow me to develop the knowledge, ability and personal skills required.

Over the past 12 months, I have thought of pursuing an MBA but it is only in the last few months that I have begun to appreciate its potential benefits. I am currently at an early stage in my career but my decision is strategic considering my future ambitions. While my engineering major has served me well in my Consulting career so far, I am keen on getting a picture of how companies operate in an international business environment. Knowledge of strategy, operational finance, handling diverse teams and understanding of socio-economic perspective that affect business are thus imperative to my career goals. Most importantly, the credential will open up career paths and the learning will allow me to leverage my current experiences into a truly business context.

Post MBA, I envision myself to be in a top notch consulting group, such as Mckinsey, where I will have the opportunity to analyze complex business issues and hypothesize solutions that positively impact the client. As a strategic consultant, I will have the opportunity work with different clients over a wide range of industries which would, in turn, contribute a great deal in an international management role I plan to take in the future.

With experience under my belt, I want to turn entrepreneurial; use my skills to develop long-term strategy and support innovation within a social paradigm. My long term vision is to engineer a global program that would allow students in under-developed countries free access to educational resources and create a virtual classroom that will transcend language and geographical barriers.

Y MBA program offers the right mix of theoretical learning and group projects which would suit my learning style. The core program will allow me to gain a foothold in general management principles while the company consulting and the individual professional projects will allow me to draw on relevant experience upon employment. The bilingual nature of the course and emphasis on cross-cultural diversity is a key component in my choice. While the MBA will give the imprimatur of an Elite program, I'm excited about sharing student space with some of the Best in the world. I'm sure my professional and personal experiences will contribute to the rich and diverse body of the program which would, in turn, catalyze my growth- both personally and professionally.

Graduate / What do you consider your most significant life achievement (travel to Pakistan) [4]

I have always enjoyed pursuing challenges that seem daunting to others; an opportunity to make an impact and lay down an example for others to follow. In one of my professional assignments, we were asked to travel to Pakistan to facilitate client discussions for an important upcoming project. A hostile political situation notwithstanding, business was faced with the huge challenge in motivating employees to undertake the business trip. Security concerns and personal prejudices took precedence on professional prospects and business opportunities. Realizing this as an opportunity to be counted upon, I raised my hand and expressed my desire to undertake the trip. I was sure that my willingness would certainly create a positive stir among the rest of the team. But what really clinched the deal was how we empowered and motivated the rest of the team on their indispensability for the project. The next few weeks witnessed intense discussions where my teammates would eagerly discuss their roles and how they felt they could really be part of something special. Such was the energy in the team that we even agreed to complete the project in 4 months while the usual timelines ranged from 10-12 months! The project was a success and I was personally congratulated by our regional vice-president. I consider it to be among my finest achievements where I lead by example and everybody found my enthusiasm and dedication both motivating and inspiring.

Undergraduate / Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be? [6]

Please Suggest- Im not too sure if the flow of the paragraphs makes interesting reading...

When I was a kid, I watched The Jungle Book and it was love at first sight. Photography was a late hobby and experimenting with my father's camera took up most of my Time. If I were to go back in time, I would pursue a career as a freelance wildlife photographer as it would have been the culmination of two of my biggest passions. From visiting the sunderban deltas in eastern India to spectacular wildlife in South Africa, I would travel extensively to learn about the diverse set of wildlife species and natural habitats. Nothing would beat the thrill of watching a lion pride or a leopard in a tree with my camera. With pedigree, I would create a portal for like-minded professionals to exchange ideas and benefit from individual research. Such a network of dedicated professionals would allow us to spread global awareness on how we are unconsciously destroying the habitats we live in .by organizing photography exhibitions and partnering with NGOs, I would seek to empower local people on the holistic value of nature and wildlife, which is more important than mere scientific knowledge.

Innovation, imagination and thought are what make wildlife photography a refined art and I would love to pursue it sometime to have a creative remit in my career.