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MBA: Corporate Finance, professional goals and what to gain from the program [5]
hi,
this is a great forum to get insights from people that you don't know and who, in turn, don't know you. please comment on logic/flow/being specific/personal and of course use of language.
thanks
DG
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"Don't even try; you cannot jump over your head",
Many people in [country] tell me when I explain them my aspirations
"Willing person acts, unwilling - looks for excuses",
Academician K
After earning my MA degree in 2006, I had a clear vision of my action plan for the next several years. Since commodity derivatives markets were simply non-existent in [Country A] (and still aren't), I decided to start my professional career at Corporate Finance. A-nian economy was booming and presented opportunities in local M&A. By now, having worked in the field for almost 4 years, I can honestly claim that I made a correct choice: neither long working hours and challenging tasks, nor a global economic downturn had me reconsider it. Even more, striving for professional excellence I have already completed 2 out of 3 levels in the CFA Program. My own experience thus makes me absolutely confident that I can successfully develop my career within Corporate Finance track. However, I have always had some kind of desire to devote my intellectual efforts to complex financial markets, to participate in markets and study them simultaneously. I am only looking for correct opportunity to start. And this is what MBA all about: presenting new professional opportunities.
To combine my intellectual passion for markets and work, one day I hope to establish and head a fund or advisory company; perhaps, a Commodity Trading Advisor. Presumably, the company will trade and provide advice regarding trading and investment in currency and commodity financial instruments, such as futures and forwards, possibly commodity-related stocks and indexes, as well as their derivatives. Strategies will be based on proprietary rules and will involve both long and short, single- and multiple-instrument positions.
I understand that establishing and successfully running such a company is a complex task. It requires specific knowledge of operation procedures, regulations in different jurisdictions, fund raising techniques, HR skills, and so on, apart from profitable market strategies. In order to achieve my goal, I will need to obtain necessary experience, professional skills, and connections. Therefore, my strategic objective now is to make a career shift from Corporate Finance to Investment Management field and obtain a role within strategy development, asset allocation, or trading. I will also pay attention to opportunity to get departmental rotation in order to become acquainted with all aspects of business. As of now, I plan to stay employed for 10-15 years before establishing my own company. If necessary, I will pass specific securities examinations.
Regardless of my success in securing necessary job right now, I plan to undertake several tactical steps to attain my long-term goal. First of all, I am going to earn the CFA Charter: I have only 1 out of 3 examinations left. Second, I will study the basics of C++. Creating robust trading strategies (i.e. developing risk-management techniques, optimal position sizes, entry-exit timing rules, etc.) is difficult and time-consuming without programming, sometimes even impossible. Certainly, I do not plan to do all the coding by myself while developing strategies but I wish to be acquainted with the basics. Third, I will expand my current website by including section with own market analytics and types of trades that may be done with options. Forth, I will earn the ACCA Charter.
Given the above mentioned, [Name] MBA Program may significantly facilitate me in realization of all my professional goals. Namely,
(1) By earning a widely-recognized degree I will make desired career shift to Investment Management industry
(2) Due to executive-like organization of Program I will gain additional year of experience compared to me participating in any full-time program. Obviously, it is a significant advantage for any young professional, especially in today's job market environment. Also, I will have chance to make my career shift earlier
(3) I will fill in the gap in my management knowledge and skills with such courses as Managerial Effectiveness, Leadership, etc. The unique multi-term courses provide outstanding opportunity to sharpen skills outside the classroom. Also, if admitted, I plan to major in Finance and will customize my curriculum with appropriate electives
(4) I will use several MBA courses, e.g. Managerial Accounting, to get exemption from certain ACCA papers; specifically, F1, F2, and F3 in ACCA's classification. Also, I hope to use University resources to study C++
(5) After becoming CFA Charterholder, I will be able to apply for membership to the CFA [local] Society. Dual membership will allow me to benefit Society of my first choice, CFA A, where I chair Technology and co-chair Strategic Development Committees, by bringing experience from well-established organization
(6) Finally, being MBA student, I will join several professional clubs at []: Finance, Investment Management, and European Business Club among others.
Matching my professional needs so clearly, choice of [] as my #1 business school did not greatly depend on personal reasons. But I would like to mention them as well. The executive-like organization of educational process at MBA Program will allow me not only gain additional year of experience but also travel and see business capitals of countries that in many ways drive today's world economy. Hardly will I find another the reason to travel to, say, S., in the nearest future. In fact, before attending information session, I was preparing to apply to full-time MBA Program. The mentioned distinctive feature (1 more year of experience plus travel opportunity) determined my decision the moment I realized the advantage. Also, I find [] spirit of help very appealing; I never encountered it before from university staff.
Concluding, I know that I can comfortably stay within chosen field of Corporate Finance. But I feel the need to realize every bit of potential I might have. My permanent desire to be better and achieve more pushes me to new challenges. I am glad to have strategic career vision and the goal that spans more than 10 years ahead, desire not to limit myself by national borders and practices (in contrast with many of my classmates, friends, and colleagues), and to have true intellectual passion that challenges me. I know that [] MBA Program will significantly help me realize my potential. Some benefits of MBA will become evident immediately, while others will crystallize with time.