To All -
I am in the midst of applying to an MBA Fellowship through Deutsche Bank. The fellowship is for graduate students at Columbia, Wharton, and Darden Schools of Business that are interest in a career in Investment Banking. I've attached my responses below. The word count is capped at 750 words total for all three responses combined. I would love if somebody could read through my essays and provide feedback on whether or not my prompts meet the prompts and what you would change or do differently.
Thank you in advance for your help,
-Matt Priest
- How will your academic and professional background and experiences, coupled with an MBA degree, prepare you for a career in investment banking?
I am not certain that one can ever fully prepare themselves for a career in investment banking. While my undergraduate finance degree from Texas State University, my three plus years of banking and consulting experience, and my upcoming MBA from the Darden School of Business will provide me with specific attributes and skillsets that will be useful in my investment banking career, I believe that the transition into this career will be one where "only the strong survive." Establishing oneself in the ultra-competitive world of I-banking will take sheer dedication, perseverance, and an attitude of quiet confidence, trusting in our own strengths and capabilities to make it. It's not about being intelligent or qualified to get into the discussion; the rigorous application process instituted by the three business schools Deutsche Bank has targeted for this year's fellowship certainly take care of that component. Preparing for and succeeding in investment banking is a mindset: will an individual take the time, expend the energy, learn the process, build the relationships, and make the sacrifices necessary to be successful at one of the top investment banks in the world? If those questions are asked of me, the answer is undoubtedly yes.
- How will your professional passions, unique qualities, strengths, and capabilities benefit Deutsche Bank?
After spending the past three plus years of my career in banking and consulting, I have determined the passions of my career. Simply put, I am a financial junkie, or what some may call an economics nerd. I enjoy nothing more than researching companies and industries, understanding business models and determining whether or not I see them as a viable investment option with a future of success. I constantly observe market conditions and the interconnectedness of interest rates, government regulation, commodity prices, consumer confidence, supply, demand, and inflation. Some may call my habit quirky, but for me, it's something I am passionate about, want to perpetually learn more about, and devote myself to.
Other than my financial passion, I guarantee that I will be one the hardest workers and the strongest leaders brought in through the MBA Corporate Finance Fellowship. I pride myself on living my life in a manner that I know I will be proud looking back on. Through this, I demand excellence from myself, working tirelessly until tasks are not just marked as done, but they are a result of the highest level of effort and accuracy that I can provide as an individual or as part of a team. I often find myself in positions of leadership, not because I've lobbied to be named the head of a team or organization, but because people see me as an example that they can follow.
Lastly, I value the power of relationships. Ultimately, I believe life and our relationships are like a complex machine. Each of us has a specific action we execute. Independently these actions do not account for much, but when all parts move together, we form a massive machine, capable of producing large amounts of effort. Living and working this way allows us to accomplish tasks that cannot be completed by a single person - whether it is completing a large client transaction or establishing our firm as a place where young leaders can find a home, be given responsibility, and begin adding value from day one.
- How have you demonstrated a commitment to diversity (either in the workplace, at academic institutions you have attended, or in your community)?
A commitment to diversity does not have to translate to specific participation in an organized multicultural, diversity initiative. A commitment to diversity happens with every encounter, meeting, decision, conversation, and action we take as individuals. To create and further this commitment, an individual must work each and every day to be inclusive of all others, their thoughts, opinions, ideas, values, and beliefs. Decisions must be based on what is best for the organization as a whole and this decision must be carried out by the entire organization, not a segment or fractured piece of the organization. From playing youth baseball as a child, to my time spent in leadership positions at Texas State, and my work with a global innovation consulting firm, this message rings through in all of my actions. Being raised in an area that segmented those of different races and ethnicities, my goal has always been to create an environment and a culture where everyone is accepted, everyone is included, and each person's thoughts and ideas are considered. In today's society, if we do not commit to diversity, our organizations will fail and be passed by those who are more inclusive of others and work as a team to build a better future.
I am in the midst of applying to an MBA Fellowship through Deutsche Bank. The fellowship is for graduate students at Columbia, Wharton, and Darden Schools of Business that are interest in a career in Investment Banking. I've attached my responses below. The word count is capped at 750 words total for all three responses combined. I would love if somebody could read through my essays and provide feedback on whether or not my prompts meet the prompts and what you would change or do differently.
Thank you in advance for your help,
-Matt Priest
- How will your academic and professional background and experiences, coupled with an MBA degree, prepare you for a career in investment banking?
I am not certain that one can ever fully prepare themselves for a career in investment banking. While my undergraduate finance degree from Texas State University, my three plus years of banking and consulting experience, and my upcoming MBA from the Darden School of Business will provide me with specific attributes and skillsets that will be useful in my investment banking career, I believe that the transition into this career will be one where "only the strong survive." Establishing oneself in the ultra-competitive world of I-banking will take sheer dedication, perseverance, and an attitude of quiet confidence, trusting in our own strengths and capabilities to make it. It's not about being intelligent or qualified to get into the discussion; the rigorous application process instituted by the three business schools Deutsche Bank has targeted for this year's fellowship certainly take care of that component. Preparing for and succeeding in investment banking is a mindset: will an individual take the time, expend the energy, learn the process, build the relationships, and make the sacrifices necessary to be successful at one of the top investment banks in the world? If those questions are asked of me, the answer is undoubtedly yes.
- How will your professional passions, unique qualities, strengths, and capabilities benefit Deutsche Bank?
After spending the past three plus years of my career in banking and consulting, I have determined the passions of my career. Simply put, I am a financial junkie, or what some may call an economics nerd. I enjoy nothing more than researching companies and industries, understanding business models and determining whether or not I see them as a viable investment option with a future of success. I constantly observe market conditions and the interconnectedness of interest rates, government regulation, commodity prices, consumer confidence, supply, demand, and inflation. Some may call my habit quirky, but for me, it's something I am passionate about, want to perpetually learn more about, and devote myself to.
Other than my financial passion, I guarantee that I will be one the hardest workers and the strongest leaders brought in through the MBA Corporate Finance Fellowship. I pride myself on living my life in a manner that I know I will be proud looking back on. Through this, I demand excellence from myself, working tirelessly until tasks are not just marked as done, but they are a result of the highest level of effort and accuracy that I can provide as an individual or as part of a team. I often find myself in positions of leadership, not because I've lobbied to be named the head of a team or organization, but because people see me as an example that they can follow.
Lastly, I value the power of relationships. Ultimately, I believe life and our relationships are like a complex machine. Each of us has a specific action we execute. Independently these actions do not account for much, but when all parts move together, we form a massive machine, capable of producing large amounts of effort. Living and working this way allows us to accomplish tasks that cannot be completed by a single person - whether it is completing a large client transaction or establishing our firm as a place where young leaders can find a home, be given responsibility, and begin adding value from day one.
- How have you demonstrated a commitment to diversity (either in the workplace, at academic institutions you have attended, or in your community)?
A commitment to diversity does not have to translate to specific participation in an organized multicultural, diversity initiative. A commitment to diversity happens with every encounter, meeting, decision, conversation, and action we take as individuals. To create and further this commitment, an individual must work each and every day to be inclusive of all others, their thoughts, opinions, ideas, values, and beliefs. Decisions must be based on what is best for the organization as a whole and this decision must be carried out by the entire organization, not a segment or fractured piece of the organization. From playing youth baseball as a child, to my time spent in leadership positions at Texas State, and my work with a global innovation consulting firm, this message rings through in all of my actions. Being raised in an area that segmented those of different races and ethnicities, my goal has always been to create an environment and a culture where everyone is accepted, everyone is included, and each person's thoughts and ideas are considered. In today's society, if we do not commit to diversity, our organizations will fail and be passed by those who are more inclusive of others and work as a team to build a better future.