Question: You have recently been brought in by the CEO of your company to act as the new project lead for a high-profile team charged with bringing a new product to market. The team has become dysfunctional and risks missing the project deadline. How will you go about turning the situation around? You have one month to make the deadline. (Answer must be no more than 2 typed pages, double-spaced.)
As a project lead brought in by the CEO to lead a dysfunctional team charged with bringing a new product to market within a month, I would attack each of the following tasks to make sure that the project is completed in a timely manner and within the expectations of management:
Meeting with Management: Define Expectations
Teams can become dysfunctional due to a poor understanding of their goals and how those goals fit into the overall corporate strategy. My first task as the project lead in this situation would be to work with management to define their expectations of the team beyond the project deadline.
Meeting with Project Team: Define Goals, Timelines and Roles
A team cannot function properly if there is confusion regarding the team’s goals, a misunderstanding of each individual’s role within the team, disorganized timelines, or poor motivation due to a lack of understanding of the importance of meeting the team’s goals for both the company and the team. In order to combat these issues and get the team on the right track, I would meet with the team to organize and discuss the following:
Project Management: Reinforce, Review, Reward
Projects that are not properly monitored by the project lead can quickly lose momentum. As the project lead, I would perform the following tasks on a continuing basis to be certain that each team member stays on top of their tasks:
In the past eight years, I have worked on teams with goals as diverse as designing a global specialized IP management system for [Company A], re-branding a corporation to reinforce a position as a market leader and creating a new sick leave policy better suited to a growing company. The most effective teams have project leaders who act as facilitators by providing the necessary infrastructure so that the individual team members can effectively contribute to the overall success of the project. In my experience, teams who understand their goals and values, are organized and communicative and are empowered by management, outperform all others.
The layout of this essay immediately conveys a sense of organization, professionalism, and purpose. The candidate outlines her task by first prioritizing and defining the problem. Proper problem definition is necessary for proper problem resolution. The use of subheads is effective because the reader is drawn to the key points. It highlights how well thought out her approach is.
Her diagnosis and assessment is thorough. She considers the consequences of her action plan and the roles of her team members. This essay conveys keen business acumen and sensitivity to team dynamics. It reads like an executive summary, and an impressive one at that. In her last paragraph, she jumps out of her role and wisely tells us of her real-life experience in leading and working on diverse teams. We’re convinced she’d be an asset to any team and to our school.
Question: You have recently been brought in by the CEO of your company to act as the new project lead for a high profile team charged with bringing a new product to market. The team has become dysfunctional and risks missing the project deadline. How will you go about turning the situation around? You have one month to make the deadline. (Answer must be no more than 2 typed pages, double spaced.)
“Mr. [Smith], thank you for agreeing to introduce me to the New Product Development team. Effective leadership will bring this product to the market in the next month. As the new project lead, I believe that it is important to establish quickly my credibility, trust, and respect with this high profile team. By clearly defining my role and authority, your support will help ensure our success.
“However, before we meet with the team, I would like to review my action plan with you. First, I intend to triage the situation. I do not need to understand all of the reasons for the team’s dysfunction, but it is essential that the team recognizes a problem exists. I want to hear from them, both individually and as a team, that we have hit rock-bottom and it is time to pull together. I want to see their commitment and know they are willing to put forth the extra effort. If necessary, the team members may need to be changed and I will consider that option when I review the project’s resource requirements.
“Secondly, I believe that it is vital for everybody to be on the same page with respect to the scope and amount of work that must be completed in the next 30 days. In other words, our expectations must be the same. Since they are the experts with this new product, we will develop a strategy to meet the original deadline as a group. We will define new tasks and due dates. We will reconstruct the original timeline, establish new milestones and determine the critical path necessary for project completion.
“Given the workload, I will review our staffing levels and determine whether additional resources will be required. Assignments will be based on competence and area of expertise; responsibility will be delegated based on experience and performance. Some of the activities may be channeled to outside services or different teams, but I will try to keep the work in-house and the launch costs to a minimum.
“The re-organization process will take a few days. Once we are re-focused I will establish an improved system of communication. Effective communication can prevent unnecessary delays and stimulate team cohesiveness. Based on my past experiences, a visual system works best. People can quickly identify action items and response dates without spending extra time replying to emails or reading memos. I will develop charts, timelines, and a message board that will be displayed in my office and the team center. These visuals will also serve as good reminders for the team and they will be updated daily.
“Additionally, there will be a weekly review to measure progress and address new issues. The review will be brief, but highly focused. Each team member will be required to update the team on his or her activities, as well as provide feedback for the other team members. I will moderate the discussion to ensure that a healthy measure of creativity and collaboration exists. Often with high profile teams, this meeting becomes very dynamic and stimulating. You are invited to attend any one of the four reviews.
“Finally, throughout the week I will follow up with each team member to provide encouragement, motivation and accountability. I recognize that this action plan borders on micro-management, but until the team proves that they are capable of functioning together, or the deadline is met, I will monitor this project launch closely. You have asked me to bring this new product to market in less than a month. Thank you for your confidence in my abilities and our team. We will not let you down.”
*The people and events described in this essay are more real than fiction. [Mr. Smith] is the President/CEO of [Smith & Co.], my current employer, and I was recently hired to coordinate activities between the New Product Development group and several manufacturing locations.
The art of telling a great story is, of course, in the way it is told. The wonderful twist to this essay is the ending where the candidate inserts a footnote that reveals that his well-scripted fiction is based on real events. It is all the more impressive that Mr. [Smith] is the CEO of the corporation and that the applicant is his direct report. As for the style of this essay, the use of fictional dialogue is fairly commonplace, so while it adds drama and interest, it is not standout.
Overall this essay communicates a strong sense of purpose, the ability to set priorities, and a keen talent for managing detail and execution. To ensure that the process is as rewarding as it is rigorous, the applicant also tells us that as team leader, he will emphasize creativity and collaboration.
It’s particularly impressive that this applicant immediately sets the team on a constructive path forward. The past failures of the team, and any griping about those failures or past dysfunction, he establishes as irrelevant, thereby creating a team culture that is performance-based and not focused on placing blame. He then sets up a system designed to create results—an agenda that aligns team incentives so individuals are not working across purposes, clearly defined objectives broken into discreet long- and short-term steps, and resources appropriately matched to objectives. He outlines a remarkable plan for a team turnaround.
Question: You have recently been brought in by the CEO of your company to act as the new project lead for a high profile team charged with bringing a new product to market. The team has become dysfunctional and risks missing the project deadline. How will you go about turning the situation around? You have one month to make the deadline. (Answer must be no more than 2 typed pages, double spaced.)
I am very confident that my extensive exposure to team oriented initiatives during the course of my academic and professional careers will strongly support my ability to fulfill the expectations of the CEO and of the team itself in bringing the project back on track and with renewed enthusiasm, coordination and creativity.
The first move would be to acquaint myself with both the product and the team by calling the team together for an initial briefing to familiarize myself with their backgrounds and the progress that the project has made. I would seek to instill a sense of professionalism and confidence in our collective ability to overcome the encountered problems and to achieve a very rewarding goal in the remaining time.
My approach in speaking with my new teammates would tend towards the informal side, but I would remain firm in my commitment to bringing this product to fruition and to serving the initial goals of the company. I would assert an air of authority but equally let my team know that I am approachable and that open communication between us would reduce confusion and enable the greater sharing of ideas through brainstorming and a fair criticism and discussion of views.
I would spend a considerable amount of my free time to evaluate the remaining work to be covered and set a plan to evaluate the quality and success of work already completed. Time is of the essence and progress cannot be stalled while I familiarize myself with the team’s, circumstances, but I would ask for more caution and interaction between team members to ensure that time was not wasted through rash decision-making. My plan would be make up for lost time through greater efficiency and cooperation between team members in the final weeks and I would break the team into its various divisions such as sales, marketing, manufacturing and logistics. By enhancing the team’s knowledge of the importance of interaction between various divisions each member will learn about how their work interacts with one another and when to seek assistance from other divisions when matters concern them, instead of blindly making decisions that could be ineffective and undermine the work of other divisions with which they are unfamiliar.
Taking each division in turn I would swiftly assess its strategy to meet the goal of the project and its time plan and if necessary I would revise this through suggestion to the division leader. At all times during the project I would seek to maintain constant motivation over the team by praising initiative and achievement. I would invite advice and comment from all members and see to set aside some time each week for relaxation and to strengthen the interpersonal development between team members. I demand 100% commitment from my colleagues because the company expects and demands nothing less, therefore I would ensure that the individual goals for sales initiatives, delivery and logistics networks and marketing promotions were all reached to the highest standards. My experiences of product launches have taught me that human interaction and mutual respect and understanding are key to the success of such interdisciplinary endeavors and I believe that I have the capability to instill such a characteristic to this team initiative. My firm yet approachable leadership will, I am confident, bring about an effective, enthusiastic and innovative response from the team and lead it to a solid and professional conclusion within the deadline, therefore ensuring a commendable product launch.
This applicant focuses on the interpersonal dynamics involved in leading a team to success. A primary goal in his plan is to motivate his team members and build mutual respect. He proposes facilitating a series of informal discussions to create a culture of open communication, build sensitivity to different work styles, establish a collegial atmosphere, and establish common goals. He identifies himself as being an open and accessible leader, one who intends to motivate his team with frequent praise for achievement. Overall, he communicates that he understands the key conditions under which teams achieve optimum results. Since teamwork is absolutely critical in business school, the essay communicates that this applicant is the kind of person we want to bring into our community and who will distinguish himself as a leader.
Question: What obstacles or major challenges have you overcome to achieve your goals? How do these life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? (one page maximum)
My most difficult challenge has been overcoming the habits and behaviors which were integral to my early successes but which ultimately were keeping me from becoming a better leader.
The overwhelming success of my first five years at [Company A] left me to believe that anything I touched would turn to gold. By the age of 25, I was a top engineer at the hottest company in Silicon Valley, with a fortune in stock options and seemingly limitless potential. My approach, which was echoed throughout the company, was brash, arrogant, and very technically focused.
As the company started to struggle and I joined a group of co-workers to study the root of our problems, I started to realize how the negative patterns in the company as a whole were reflected in my own behaviors. We were so confident in our ideas that we drowned out the quieter voices of our customers and non-technical employees. My involvement in this group not only gave me the chance to help the company, it gave me the chance to reflect on and change my own patterns. I learned that is just as important to listen to the opinions of others as it is to express my own. Through facilitation training, I learned how to be respectful and inclusive rather than aggressive and confrontational.
As a result of this transformation, I now possess a unique combination of skills I believe will benefit my fellow classmates: on one hand, I have very strong analytical skills and can present a strong case for my ideas. On the other, I have similarly strong facilitation skills and am able to bring together the diverse ideas of both strong-willed and less assertive members.
This is a wonderful example of an essay that runs counter to what most of us regard as obstacles to overcome in life: poverty, undereducated parents, broken homes, illnesses, career setbacks, etc. In fact, this essay wows with the unconventionality of the obstacle presented: the arrogance and ego of a twenty-five-year-old Silicon Valley hotshot, whose style (and that of his peers) had begun to create what he calls “negative patterns” of operation in his company. He writes of his transformation into someone who becomes more sensitive to other’s ideas and ultimately excels at facilitation and consensus. The self-awareness demonstrated in this essay and willingness to admit to this committee that he was once brash and inward-focused are truly refreshing and genuine.
Question: Please describe your career progression to date, highlighting leadership and management positions and reasons for changing employers or career paths, if applicable. How will an MBA assist you in achieving your short- and long-term career goals? (Answer must be no more than 2 typed pages, double-spaced.)
Having been exposed to various science and math after-school programs as a young child, it came as no surprise that I would enjoy the challenges of engineering as an adult. After successfully completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering, as well as six summer internships ([Company A], [Company B]), I decided to join [Company C] in [Location D] as an optical networking system engineer. [Company C] was a company known for its innovation, creativity, and great work environment, all of which made it an ideal place for me to begin my professional career. As a system engineer, I designed and developed requirements for fiber-optic communications systems targeted at the growing demand for integrated voice and data traffic.
At [Company C], I contributed to the success of my team beyond the average system engineer and my efforts were quickly recognized and rewarded. As a result of my effective communication skills and technical contributions, I was nominated to become an International Standards Representative (ISR), representing the strategic interests of [Company C] and the U.S. State Department at international telecommunications standards meetings. In addition to being one of only 15 ISR’s at [Company C], I also developed programs to aid the transition of new college graduates to the [Company C] culture and was nominated to the Corporate Review Board within our division.
After two successful years at [Company C], I had the desire to join an exciting start-up company, expand my leadership role, and return to the Bay Area, and thus I joined [Company E], an early stage optical communications company. At [Company E], I took on several leadership roles, including leading the system software requirements development, managing optical component vendor relationships, and becoming their U.S. Standards Liaison. I also was selected as one of their external technical conference speakers. Unfortunately, despite our team’s efforts and achievements, the [Company E] optics program was cancelled due to 2001 telecommunications collapse.
Due to my strong personal network and motivation to continue my career development path, I was able to join another optical start-up in the Bay Area, despite the limited positions and intense competition resulting from the telecom downturn. I joined [Company F] as a system engineer and product manager for optical sub-systems. This role provided the unique challenge of serving as the lead system engineer as well as managing the product development of five [Company F] products.
Throughout my career, I have served in leadership and contributing roles at both large corporations and small technology startups. A Kenan-Flagler MBA will be of great value to me as I make the natural transition to become a consultant and private equity investor, specializing in technology innovation and value creation. This short-term goal will serve as a vehicle to achieve my long-term interests. System engineering has allowed me to apply exciting technology to solve fascinating problems, but it is my involvement in community programs, including teaching engineering to kids and sharing the joy of problem solving with others, that truly motivates me. In the long-term, I will use the skills developed during my Kenan-Flagler MBA, combined with my own professional and teaching experiences, to develop, own and operate an international network of technology consulting and learning centers, focused on exposing youth in underserved communities to potential careers in engineering and science.
The UNC Center for Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation will provide an excellent curriculum that will prepare me for my future as a global entrepreneur and successful technology consultant. Kenan-Flagler will afford me the opportunity to share my own unique professional experiences as well as to learn from a diverse group of bankers, brand managers, entrepreneurs and consultants from fields in which I may have had limited exposure. In summary, the Kenan-Flagler emphasis on teamwork and practical experience, coupled with the opportunity to interact with leaders from around the world, will help me to develop skills for long-term business success.
Overall, this essay is written in a very positive, open tone. The writer’s thoughts flow well and cohesively. There is not too much detail or business jargon. This essay also does a good job of giving insight into what has motivated the student’s career to date. There is a nice summary (in the next-to-last paragraph) of his main theme or proposition to the committee: that he is a proven leader in both large-company and start-up business environments. Not only does he clearly communicate why he is a good candidate, but he actively and successfully answers the question “Why UNC?” He tells us that UNC is a fit for him because our Center for Entrepreneurship will provide the targeted education and resources he is seeking.
Question: Please describe your career progression to date, highlighting leadership and management positions and reasons for changing employers or career paths, if applicable. How will an MBA assist you in achieving your short- and long-term career goals? (Answer must be no more than 2 typed pages, double-spaced.)
While witnessing my father’s fight against liver cirrhosis, I encountered many patients who were suffering, like he was, because they had been not been diagnosed early enough. These patients often relied on useless or even dangerous folk medicines, due to the lack of information they possessed about their illnesses. At [University A], I majored in pharmacy, and upon graduating, I decided to pursue a career in marketing so that I would be able to improve public awareness of illnesses and treatment options.
I began my career as a sales representative at [Company B]. My outstanding performance earned me a quick promotion to brand manager of a key schizophrenia medication. As the company’s youngest brand manager, I worked with a sales team of twenty employees. Through focusing on the message that schizophrenics could lead productive lives if properly medicated, my team significantly increased sales revenues of our product.
My achievements attracted the attention of another pharmaceutical company, [Company C], and I accepted a position there marketing insulin, one of the company’s top products. At [Company C], I worked to apply innovative marketing programs to raise awareness of diabetic diagnosis and blood glucose control, doubling the company’s insulin sales in two years. Based on this success, I was promoted to the position of New Product Planning Manager, and am currently responsible for all aspects of new product launches, including analyzing the profitability and feasibility of new products, as well as checking the progress of clinical trials and submitting related documentation to the [Country A] Food & Drug Administration.
Looking toward the future, my short-term objective is to become a global marketing manager at a multinational pharmaceutical company, which would allow me to deepen my insight into the international pharmaceutical market. After spending several years working as a marketing executive, I plan to select a company producing new medications vital to the health of [Country A]’s patients, and become the founder and general manager of its [Country A] affiliate. Serving in this capacity would allow me to contribute to [Country A]’s healthcare system, provide patients with needed medication, and conduct campaigns to improve diagnosis and treatment rates.
Through my work at [Company B] and [Company C], I have accumulated extensive knowledge of sales and marketing; however, I will need to strengthen my understanding of essential business functions if I am to achieve my ambitious career goals. The MBA program at Kenan-Flagler Business School matches my career goals seamlessly, offering a world-renowned business curriculum that would allow me to acquire the theoretical fundamentals of finance, management, and marketing. Additionally, the school offers courses that match my specific interests, including Brand Strategy and Implementation, Data, Tools, and Decisions, and Marketing Issues. Participating in Kenan-Flagler’s MBA program would enable me to build a foundation of business skills while delving deeper into issues concerning healthcare, on my way toward fulfilling my goal of improving [Country A]’s healthcare system.
This essay begins in an unusual and dramatic way, yet it is extremely effective in explaining the candidate’s passion for her chosen career. Her words immediately captivate the reader. This essay very clearly communicates her unique heritage, background, and professional experiences. You leave this essay wanting to meet this person and learn more about her perspective.
This is an example of how a relatively brief essay can still be very effective. This writer makes her points clearly and effectively. Her story and interests speak for themselves. The goals are realistic, the style of writing straightforward. The overall result is very genuine.
Question: Describe your three greatest accomplishments. What does each demonstrate about your personality? (Answer must be no more than 2 typed pages, double spaced.)
I was born modest; not all over, but in spots.
—A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
My three greatest accomplishments to date cover the three major areas of my life: my career, my relationships with others and my personal development. In my career, my greatest accomplishment has been my successful leadership of [Company A]’s Sales and Marketing Department. When I took over the marketing and sales department, morale on the team was very low. The former director had been very reluctant to try new marketing and sales strategies and the performance of many team members had stagnated. In the beginning, I had very little experience developing sales and marketing strategy, however I knew that I had a team with a great deal of combined experience and intelligence. I organized brainstorming meetings for the department often including senior members from other teams. The rich discussion and debate that these meetings provoked provided me with some of the best and most successful programs that I have undertaken as a director. Some of these projects include a re-branding effort that re-positioned [Company A] as the market leader, contract standardization procedures that improved communication of client customizations between the sales and programming departments, and suggestions for several new products as well as modifications to existing products. I learned that by getting more people on my team involved in these projects, they developed a sense of ownership of the corporate strategies and implemented those strategies more effectively in their day-to-day activities. I also worked individually with each member of my team to set specific goals and worked with them continually to help them meet those goals. As a result of these measures, many members of my team have expressed a greater satisfaction with their positions and have become better and more productive employees. I am most proud of the fact that every member of my team has shown marked improvement in productivity, quality of work and initiative during my tenure as director. In leading this team, I have learned the value of teamwork, initiative, strong management and leadership not only as a means to success for myself, my company and my department but also as a means of creating a pleasant and productive work environment for all concerned.
My greatest accomplishment in my personal life has been my development of strong and diverse relationships with family and friends providing my life with great meaning and depth. Each of these relationships with my mother, sister, two closest friends and my husband adds a totally different outlook to my life and experiences. Their openness and honesty as well as their unique intelligences and talents adds so much color and depth to my perspective, giving me the ability to be more tolerant and to empathize with people who lead lives very different from my own. I have had the privilege of supporting each of these individuals when they needed me and have learned how much joy can be gained by a life filled with such acts. I have also learned to lean on each one of them and gain strength from their support and confidence in me when I have needed it most. Each of these relationships has required a good amount of work to reach their current level. I have had to learn the value of compromise and flexibility and have had to swallow my pride more than once. However, the rewards have far outweighed the sacrifices and I cannot imagine my life without these people in it. I believe that these relationships say a great deal about who I am as a person. They demonstrate the value that I place on diversity, honesty, flexibility and tolerance as well as the importance of forming a strong network of people who you can count on and who feel confident that they can count on you.
My greatest accomplishment in my personal development has been my transformation from a shy and somewhat directionless young woman to a confident, happy and very focused adult. Growing up in suburban Louisiana, I never felt that I fit in. I was bright in a culture that did not value intelligence in girls and I felt constrained by my very insular and homogenous environment. Consequently, I grew up shy and very unsure of myself. I knew that I wanted to see what else the world had to offer and college was the perfect opportunity to explore. At [University B], I was exposed to some of the best and brightest people from all over the world and to many new ideas, both in and out of class. However, I was unprepared academically, emotionally and financially for the rigors of life at a large, highly competitive university and my grades suffered. When I started my undergraduate career, I had little idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I thought that I wanted to be a physician because, frankly, I thought that is what intelligent and ambitious people did. When I realized that I did not want to enter the medical field, I felt somewhat lost. I graduated from college with a degree that I was unsure that I would use but also with a larger view of the world, a sharper mind and an interest in technology that eventually led me to [Company A]. If was during my time at [Company A] that I really “came out of my shell” so to speak. My experience working with clients and later, acting as a manager and a company leader, gave me the communication skills that I needed to work in a team environment and succeed in each of my positions. This was also the time in which I formed stronger relationships with my family and friends and when my relationship with my future husband developed. All of this gave me confidence both in myself and in my abilities. The little girl who used to hide behind her mother’s legs at neighborhood parties now feels comfortable mingling with 5,000 strangers at a business reception. At [Company A], I found that I had a real talent for working with teams, managing and motivating people and offering ideas that would lead to a company’s success. In the last three years as Director of Sales and Marketing for [Company A], I have developed a strong interest in corporate and marketing strategy. This has given my career a focus that I have never had before. I finally know what I want to do with my life and I now have the confidence, the skills and the determination to achieve anything that I set my mind to.
This essay is particularly compelling because of the honesty and eloquence with which this candidate writes about her feelings and experiences. None of her accomplishments is extraordinary, but each is admirable. In each story of accomplishment, what resonates is her core character and perspective. She communicates that she is open, humble, honest, flexible, and self-aware. You read this essay and think to yourself, I’d like this person as a friend, as a classmate, as a colleague.
She also communicates strong business experience. In her first accomplishment, as head of her team’s sales and marketing effort, the applicant shows an innate knowledge of how teams operate and progress to success. She has a solid grasp of brand marketing and management principles. That acumen combined with her interpersonal strengths leads her to a successful outcome and a great learning experience.
In her second accomplishment she chooses to focus on a personal experience, the relationships she has with her immediate family and two friends. In this case, her essay might have been better served with another example. Writing about one’s family is so clichéd and overdone, it’s hard to get an admissions officer’s interest. The challenge is to express that what she learned from these relationships is genuine, vital, and most important, relevant. She clearly does this.
What is truly refreshing about this essay however, is the last example. The candidate gives us true insights into who she was and who she has become by sharing her background with us. Having grown up in a culture where she felt that women’s intelligence was devalued, she reveals the personal hurdles she cleared to get where she is. She is not afraid to admit that she was lost and directionless, that she was shy and overwhelmed by college, and that her grades suffered. But she doesn’t make excuses; she takes us on her journey. In the end, she communicates that she has emerged as an individual with a talent for team leadership and a strong interest in strategy.
Question: Describe your post-MBA career plans. How will a degree from the Simon School help you to achieve these goals? How does your past education and experience support your career objectives?
After completing my MBA I plan on pursuing a position as a buy side research analyst with the long-term goal of running my own fund. Spending the last few years analyzing the performance of client companies as an auditor has helped me to discover my passion of financial analysis. Auditing, however, does not provide the challenges that a career in investment management offers. The challenge of combining advanced financial tools with economic analysis for the purpose of making investment decisions motivates me to pursue a career in investment management.
Over the past few years I have worked to refine my interest in financial analysis and markets including recent coursework in Intermediate Portfolio Management at [University A]. This coursework, in addition to my independent research, has reinforced my desire to enter the field of investment management. I plan on further pursuing this interest by sitting for level I of the CFA exam this coming May.
My accounting education and career have given me an in-depth understanding of business transactions and financial reporting. However, I lack a detailed understanding of, and the quantitative tools necessary to perform, security analysis. Accounting has provided me with an understanding of the relationship between corporate performance and financial information. The Simon MBA program will help me make the link between financial information and security prices.
The majority of problems faced by business today require a collaboration of ideas from a variety of management disciplines. The economics based, cross-functional approach at Rochester will enhance my understanding of the fundamentals of business. The finance curriculum and innovative faculty will expose me to the latest developments in equity valuation and financial markets, while the core coursework will provide me with the broad foundation necessary to excel in today’s business world. Access to resources outside of the classroom, especially the Investment Club and the Simon Meliora Fund, will provide me with further opportunities for growth and networking.
I am confident that the Simon MBA program can offer me the best business education and access to the greatest network of resources. I am incredibly excited at the prospect of studying at Rochester. Its exceptional finance curriculum, innovative faculty, and tight-knit community make the Simon School the perfect fit for me.
The admissions committee feels that this is a high-quality essay. The applicant paints a clear picture as to why he wants to pursue his MBA at this time given his past work experience and personal preferences. He states how a Simon MBA would help him achieve his post-MBA goals in both the short and long term. He also does an excellent job of tying in current business trends in his particular field of interest with Simon’s economics-based, cross-functional approach as well as its strengths in finance, renowned faculty, and small class size. This clearly demonstrates that the candidate has done sufficient research to identify Simon as a strong fit for the type of MBA program that he is seeking.
Question: Discuss three professional accomplishments that demonstrate your potential for a successful managerial career.
I set the goal of becoming a CPA during my undergraduate studies at [University A] because I felt that it would distinguish me as someone with the knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in the business world.
After months of intense studying, I passed the challenging exam. Earning my CPA license proved my mastery of accounting and dedication to a career in business. With this certification, I am identified as an ethical person with a broad based business understanding.
Recently, I was assigned to lead an audit team at one of the largest steel distributors in the world. The prior year’s audit was plagued with inefficiencies and as a result there was a significant delay in issuing financial statements. The client was left frustrated with the level of service received from the firm.
From the start of the engagement it was apparent that I would need to regain the client’s trust. I was able to develop this trust by maintaining a high level of communication. By keeping the client continually informed of the progression of the audit, I was able to avoid the bottlenecks that led to the delays in the prior year.
The client was pleased that the audit was completed ahead of schedule. Additionally, the senior manager and partner recognized me for my efforts in rebuilding the relationship.
In less than three years at [Company B] I have been promoted twice. My last promotion, to senior associate, came despite an extended absence from the audit group.
In the fall of 2001, I made the decision to pursue a special project run by [Company B]’s Forensic Consulting Group at the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. I chose to participate in this project despite the fact that my departure from the audit group would jeopardize my chance for promotion.
Upon returning to the audit group, I consulted with my performance manager to determine how I could better position myself for a promotion. With his guidance, I was able to secure a place on an engagement that would enable me to demonstrate my leadership skills. By excelling in this role, I was able to prove in a short period of time that I was capable of handling the responsibilities of a senior associate.
This applicant does a great job in highlighting his three greatest accomplishments. While obtaining the CPA is clearly a more academic accomplishment, he is able to successfuly tie this achievement to his ability to succeed professionally. He also gives an example of how he was able to take the initiative to successfully mend relations with a frustrated client by completing an engagement ahead of schedule through proactive communications. Finally, he demonstrates leadership potential through his successful promotion to the senior associate level.
Overall, the applicant has demonstrated his knowledge of the Simon MBA program and has shown that he would be a good fit within the University of Rochester community. His past experiences demonstrate his ability to succeed, and he has openly communicated how a Simon MBA would help him to achieve his future goals. Finally, he has clearly and succinctly answered the question asked, providing appropriate details while remaining within the standard essay length.
Question: Explain how obtaining an MBA at the McCombs School of Business will assist you in achieving your personal and/or professional life goals. Why is now the best time for you to pursue this degree? Your explanation should include, but is not necessarily limited to, a description of both your intermediate and long-term goals, as well as a current vision of your desired employment upon graduation.
I am pursuing an MBA for two reasons: to facilitate transition from the non-profit to the for-profit sector, and to earn skills that place me in an international corporation allowing me to work and live abroad. The realization that my career goals will be best facilitated by an MBA did not come easily, but the road I have taken makes me more certain that business school is the right decision, and McCombs is the right school for me.
I have worked in three industries: publishing, hospitality, and affordable housing. In each, I relished the opportunity to learn about a particular area of interest. However, intimidated by my own lack of technical skills in the business, I limited myself to entry level positions, but quickly discovered that my abilities and interests stretch farther that those opportunities could provide.
I recently left a job at a non-profit that provides below-market loans and technical assistance to nonprofits creating affordable housing. During my tenure at [Company A], the organization underwent a significant consolidation. Participating in this merger and the constant reorganization of our staff structure, I realized my passions for business run deep, and I perform best when large issues are at stake. At [Company A], we continually struggle to improve product delivery to our clients. At my publishing job, success frequently depended on the support of current legal issues, from bills passing legislature to protected access to public information. I taught myself to negotiate this access delicately but firmly with protective public information officers, then tailored that skill to fit my job in hospitality, mediating conflicts with guests or managers. In every case, I was happiest when calmly negotiating a contentious situation. Such cases, common during [Company A]’s merger negotiations, were rare in its return to everyday business.
In business school, I want to learn the environment and issues endemic to a larger corporation. Eventually, I would like to take these skills and use them in a return to the non-profit sector. This desire is similar to that of someone raised in a small town who is ready to see the city. The benefits of a close-knit community are many, but one is well-served by moving beyond this security to a larger city to see what it has to offer. In the city, the pace is faster, the options are different, the people are new and diverse. Eventually, one returns to the small town with skills, knowledge, and point of view that allow one to solve small town problems with big city solutions. This, for me, is what education is about: closing the gap between the bigs and the littles, the haves and have-nots.
A practical application of this theory could be working as a strategic management consultant in a large corporation in Mexico after graduation, then using connections I make through that position to start a nonprofit providing job training, placing participants in internships within organizations where I’ve worked. This plan would allow me to exercise skills I could learn in the Spanish Language Track and in such classes as Business in Latin America or Nonprofit Strategic Management, and use my experience to increase another’s opportunities.
McCombs has demonstrated a strong commitment to global management education. As someone who will live in Mexico after I graduate, I’m attracted to a school that has a large and active Hispanic population and can support my desire to understand the business climate of Latin America. That McCombs was rated by Hispanics, and that UT Austin houses a stellar institute for Latin American studies, means the school takes my areas of interest seriously. McCombs’s location in Texas, its Texas Plus and study abroad programs, and connections to businesses in Mexico provide the opportunity to apply what I learn in the classroom to a challenging internship and a suitable post-graduate position.
McCombs is a fast track to a high quality of learning, from more dedicated teachers, than I could find in any on-the-job training. I have the intellectual ability and curiosity to take a lesson and run with it; what I need now is the right lesson. McCombs can provide me with a framework for the business community: a standard of how things work and what trends are prevalent. In return, I can use those skills to manipulate that standard and create outstanding exceptions to it. I will succeed wherever I go to business school, but I believe that success will be greater if I can take advantage of all that McCombs has to offer.
In this essay, we appreciated the overall writing style and we particularly liked some of the comparisons drawn and the essay’s creativity. It was clear and convincing, and it showed that the candidate did research about our school and how it fits with her professional goals.
Question: Explain how obtaining an MBA at the McCombs School of Business will assist you in achieving your personal and/or professional life goals. Why is now the best time for you to pursue this degree? Your explanation should include, but is not necessarily limited to, a description of both your intermediate and long-term goals, as well as a current vision of your desired employment upon graduation.
Sumimasen (excuse me), arigato (thank you), and konnichiwa (hello) were the only Japanese words that I knew when I first landed in Hiroshima, Japan, for a six-month work assignment. By the time I left, I had not only learned conversational Japanese but I also had a clearer vision of my career goals. My experience in Asia, combined with an e-commerce leadership position at [Company A], led me to realize the necessity of an MBA as I move toward my ultimate goal of creating a global corporation.
When I began my career with [Company A], I structured my assignments to develop both my engineering and business skills. The opportunity to develop these skills on a global scale presented itself in the form of the [Company A]/[Company B] [vehicle program]. During the vehicle development phase at the [Company B] Headquarters in Hiroshima, I served as a Powertrain Systems Team Leader. My primary task was to facilitate the issue-resolution process for the Powertrain Quality Team, a diverse group of engineers and managers from [Company B] and [Company A], as well as suppliers. For each of the numerous challenges our team faced, my tasks included leading the resolution process and presenting the solution to upper-level management.
My experience in Japan broadened my understanding of global business and led me to begin envisioning ways I could operate a company in the global marketplace. My assignment at [Company A].com further influences the development of my goals. This assignment unexpectedly catapulted me into a leadership position. When my supervisor suddenly left the department to join a joint venture ([Company C]), a huge chunk of his responsibilities fell onto my shoulders. My primary task was to lead and manage the [Company A].com “eMarketing Media Partnership Forum,” a group of approximately 30 members. I conducted meetings with managers of various [Company A] consumer business groups to review prospective companies for possible partnerships. Restructuring the core Partnership Forum process, I helped achieve a 200% faster deal flow. I communicated with multiple emerging dot-com companies daily, who in each case claimed to have the best business model since sliced bread. This assignment made me realize how much I needed a business education to further develop my business acumen.
Working at [Company A].com helped me develop my long-term goal of managing a large-scale global company. With an eye toward this goal, I launched my own e-commerce company, [Company D].com in July of 2000, primarily as a means of learning more about the industry and how to manage a business. While my limited project management skills help me successfully launch this company, a business education would help me acquire the full array of business management skills I need to ensure that my company succeeds. My short-term goal after attaining my MBA is to work for a management consulting company. Understanding how different companies operate and strategize will provide invaluable experience to apply towards my goal of operating a large-scale company.
My engineering education alone is not sufficient to succeed in this fierce business environment. My experience in Hiroshima, for example, revealed to me the technical and business expertise required to lead and manage a multi-cultural team responsible for two vehicles that are manufactured on two continents and sold in 130 countries. Through such experiences I have started to develop the global management, technical, and interpersonal skills necessary to manage people and projects. To successfully overcome the challenges I will face in the global marketplace, I need an MBA.
McCombs’ dynamic curriculum and international affiliations make it the ideal environment for me to develop the management and leadership skills required to lead an international company. I can develop these critical skills through innovative courses such as “Management and Marketing in the Global Arena.” To achieve my career goal, I intend to specialize in entrepreneurship and to gain international experience, ideally through McCombs’ affiliation with the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) program. I attribute the success of such alumni as [Alumni A] and [Alumni B] (both ’98) with their startup, [Company F], to McCombs’ innovative faculty and international scope. I look forward to taking advantage of these opportunities at the McCombs School of Business to ensure that I develop the skills necessary to effectively establish and operate a world-class operation.
In this essay, we were impressed by the creative opening that is immediately relevant to the candidate’s career and his reasons for wanting to go to b-school. Furthermore, the essay, while offering details about professional achievements, doesn’t get too bogged down in those details. In the professional summary, the essay provides signposts (words like “tasks,” “leadership position,” and “my understanding”) that really help the reader grasp the main points quickly. Many poorly written essays are missing these conventions, and hence it’s sometimes hard to understand where the essay is going and why.
Question: All students bring a unique personal background to the classroom and study team that can prove to be as enlightening to fellow classmates as their professional skills. Describe what, outside of work, most distinguishes you as an individual and will most enrich the experience of your peers at McCombs from your background, life experiences, values, or interests.
As a brick crashed through our living room window, I quickly ran into the kitchen to get my mother. I can still picture the look on her face as she read the racist remarks written with chalk on the brick. The day afterward, our landlord gave us an eviction notice. I was six years old, and this was the first time that my mother had to explain to me how nasty and violent hatred could be. With a Caucasian mother and an African-American father, I received the hatred of whites who didn’t like blacks and of anyone who didn’t like to see the races mix.
Growing up in a multi-cultural family has allowed me to view society from many different angles. At a young age I found it extremely difficult to relate to either race. Both sides of my family expressed prejudices and hatred. Living in Detroit, where many neighborhoods are segregated, I didn’t know how or where I was supposed to fit in. Not until my teenage years did I begin to appreciate my ethnicity. Over time, I began to use it to my advantage. My early life experiences as a racially mixed child have led me to look for ways to build bridges between people of different backgrounds, colors, and cultures.
My ability to reach across cultural divides was tested while I was in Hiroshima for a six-month [Company A]/[Company B] joint-venture work assignment. There, where I rarely came across other African Americans, I clearly stood out from the crowd. Given my color and my height (6′3″), some people assumed that I was a famous athlete, and they often asked me to sign autographs and pose for pictures. A few times I was even mistaken for MBA-star Grant Hill. To function in such an environment, I drew on my ability to overcome others’ assumptions and stereotypes. I proved that I can smoothly integrate into any team setting. For instance, I recognized the need to build a relationship with both my Japanese and American team members in order to create a productive team environment. Unlike the average gaijin (foreigner), I learned and adopted the [Company B] working style (which included participating in morning calisthenics), followed by Japanese cultural practices (such as slurping Ramen noodles), and studied diligently to learn conversational Japanese. Being racially mixed has taught me the skills necessary in a multi-cultural setting. Applying this skill set to my professional life has enabled me to bridge cultural gaps and develop strong relationships with my colleagues, enabling us to become friends.
For the second phase of the [Company A]/[Company B] joint venture, our team relocated to [Company A]’s Kansas City Assembly Plant. Immediately, I noticed that my Japanese counterparts faced some of the same difficulties that I had faced while in Japan (ordering food, banking, etc.). Recognizing their struggles, I tried to help them bridge the cultural gap. One way I facilitated this process was by hosting “cultural exchange” dinner parties. I would prepare a “soul food”, Italian, or American entrée for my Japanese and American teammates. This would be the first time that some of the team members would taste collard greens, risotto, or Salisbury steak. After dinner, the group would socialize while playing UNO or Yahtzee. The team began to genuinely enjoy each other’s company and wanted to learn more about one another. The Japanese members also felt comfortable enough to begin inviting the team to their homes to share traditional Japanese food and to sing karaoke. Acceptance laid the foundation for friendships that we carried into the work place and have maintained well beyond the vehicle launch in Kansas City. My ability to create friendships that cross cultural gaps will, above all else, enable me to contribute to the McCombs environment.
The McCombs community consists of people from around the globe. What has attracted me to McCombs is what Business Week describes as “a strong cooperative environment.” My experience has taught me benefits of cooperation among people with differing backgrounds and perspectives. I anticipate learning from my peers at McCombs—in the classroom; through clubs, such as the International MBA Student Association; and through activities, such as barbecues at my residence. I will do my part to help foster “cultural exchanges” among my peers, allowing us to develop a global mindset and enjoy the McCombs experience.
We appreciated the strong, eye-opening introduction to this essay that wasn’t gratuitous, but sincerely relevant to answering the question. The essay had a strong structure and relevant connections to another essay in the application, which led us to believe it probably wasn’t cut and pasted from another school’s application. The third paragraph was particularly powerful as it demonstrated that the applicant took the extra step to understand the “learning” that took place. It answered questions such as: Why is all of this relevant? How did it change me? How will it contribute to my success at McCombs?