Greetings! Really appreciate your help with this Leaderhip and Influence essay for Chevening application. Any input is welcomed. Thank you so much in advance for your time, feedback, and suggestions.
Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.
(minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 500 words)
LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE
To lead is to be responsible. I believe that being a leader bears more responsibility in making sure your team can work together to achieve the goals. I learn more about leadership not from attending workshops and training at college or work, but from leading my own business. Back when I was an undergraduate student, I established a clothing brand alongside a friend. I delegated the task of product development and marketing while actively maintaining the business performance. I was able to expand the brand by creating innovative products and adding sales channels through online and offline sales.
After graduating, I have consistently exercised my leadership skills throughout my career as business analyst at the Ministry of [insert name]. I was given a chance to organize the socialization of the [insert name] Holding Company for two-hundred members of the Board of Commissioners and Board of Directors. I coordinated with fellow colleagues, people from the companies, and external stakeholders to seamlessly assist the formation of the holding company. This event was successful in convincing the BOC and BOD to agree on the project and furthered the process to the government officials which later on resulted in the birth of [insert name], Indonesia's [insert name] holding company.
Currently, I lead a business in the food sector that was started in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic. My main functions were to develop a unique yet innovative recipe, formulate a branding and marketing strategies in the middle of major market disruptions, and actively collaborated with my partner to assist the day-to-day operational. I have used my leadership and coordination skills to bring the business to reach break-even point after less than a month operating. This has influenced business owners in my home city to open a similar business model.
My interest in exerting positive influence towards the betterment of society started when I was a member of social division under my faculty organization. I worked with my teammates to arrange a 'play day' with special needs children at a nearby Special School. I initiated a fundraising activity to support the project and collected around IDR 2 million in just one day. In addition, I also joined an AIESEC volunteer program over the summer period of my university study. I was a mentor for China's migrant workers who were struggling to maintain their job in Guangzhou in order to obtain a residence permit. As a mentor, I have been able to guide these workers in optimizing their capabilities. I was glad when my mentee told me she managed to increase her sales the next week after receiving the lesson and she eventually kept learning with the materials that I had prepared. Later on, I learned that there were some of my friends who followed through and applied for other volunteer opportunities.
In conclusion, I am confident that I have the leadership qualities that Chevening is looking for, demonstrated by my ability in managing a team, working collaboratively and actively spreading positive influence.