Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Specifically address your post-MBA short and long-term professional goals. How will Darden assist you in attaining these goals?
Immediately after graduating from college as a civil engineer, I went to work for Emcar, my family's business. There I applied my skills in engineering and leadership as general manager of the company, managing 15 employees. Emcar, created in 1969 in Monterrey, Mexico, is a $3 million acrylic and plastic materials distributor. Since my arrival at Emcar I have streamlined operations, finding ways to increase our margins, improve customer satisfaction and increase sales. Not many people have the opportunity to take over an existing company right out of college, and I have been fortunate to be able to demonstrate my leadership capability at an early age. All of the accomplishments Ive had at Emcar have lighted a fire inside of me to become a great leader and general manager. I love undertaking the challenges Emcar has placed in front of me and look forward to achieving many more successes. Therefore, after I acquire my MBA, I plan to return to Emcar as General Manager and apply my new management skills. My short term goal is to expand Emcar as much as possible. I want to help the company become the leader in sales, product quality, client services and product innovation throughout northern Mexico. My objective is to double our annual sales over 7-10 years by opening new branches in developing northern cities of Mexico. After accomplishing this milestone, I would like to penetrate very competitive markets, such as Mexico City and Guadalajara, and continue to build distribution centers in central and southern Mexico. To make Emcar grow, one of my objectives is to institutionalize it. As a family company, we historically have lacked certain governance programs, so I plan to create formal controls, policies and structures to enhance performance and coordination in the company. Developing good Human Resources practices, such as incentive schemes and payoffs, will also help me better manage and motivate our sale representatives. With our sales team we will develop an excellent marketing strategy to help us penetrate the markets we choose. This will help me reach my ultimate objective. My long-term goal is to transition Emcar from a distributor to a manufacturer of the products we have distributed for many years, enabling us to gain independence from some suppliers. This transition involves a great deal of risk, however. To implement it successfully we need careful planning, excellent execution and well managed financial resources. I plan to make this transformation after we have more distribution centers in Mexico and have a greater participation in the markets of those products. Although I have learned much about running a company, to reach my short and long-term goals I need to acquire additional skills in areas such as operational management, organizational behavior, financial management, and global business strategy. My experience has also showed me that I lack general finance and accounting knowledge. When my accountant shows me a balance sheet and monthly statements, for example, I don't know how to interpret the numbers. I need a deeper understanding of business knowledge to make informed decisions and take the company on the right path. The best means to acquire these skills is through an MBA. An MBA education will further my development in many ways. First, it will reduce the time needed to master specific skills that I could learn at work, but over a much longer period of time. A MBA will also give me the communication skills, credibility and confidence to make my family business grow. It will enable me to make smarter deals with suppliers, clients and lenders to make my business expand. I also think an MBA will give me stronger analytical skills and a wider business perspective than I have now, and will teach me how the whole of the business functions and fits together. An MBA will provide me with a conceptual and theoretical framework needed to operate a company. Besides providing me with more effective leadership skills, The Darden Graduate School of Business Administration will help me achieve my career objectives because of its focus on General Management. A General Management education will help me understand all aspects and departments of a business, and it will enable me to learn how all business areas interact with one another, fundamental concepts for a successful manager and leader. In addition to core classes that will prepare me to build and lead a company, I'm looking forward to classes such as Management of Smaller Enterprises, Crisis Leadership, Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity, Supply Chain Management, and Management of International Business. These courses will improve my knowledge in specific areas vital to Emcars future. The case method approach at Darden, also appeals to me. This specific approach to learning not only will enrich my academic experience, but it is a realistic portrayal of the business world and therefore is something for which I must be prepared. Darden also fosters effective teamwork by establishing Learning Teams. Having the same group of 6 or 7 members throughout the first year will help us work better because of the continuity of the same team. I also like the fact that Darden faculty is connected to business. Real business experience enables the faculty to create real world case studies and transmit their teachings and experiences to the students effectively. An MBA at Darden will also expand my social network. I will be able to talk with and learn from students and faculty with similar experiences as mine. I will love to interact with students who have learned the hard way like I did. I have no mentor or supervisor to tell me what actions to take. And it will be interesting to learn with those who need the concepts and theory like I do. Dardens clubs can also help me reach my goals. I am particularly interested in the Entrepreneurs and Venture Capital Club and the General Management and Operations Club because I believe they can help me surround myself with people with similar interests and develop my skills towards my interest areas. Because sports are a great hobby of mine, I also look forward to participating in the UVA Intramural Sports and the Outdoor Club. After speaking with Lynn Garnett, an admissions counselor, at the Monterrey MBA Fair, I am even more convinced that Darden is the place for me. Lynn told me that Darden emphasizes an environment of collaboration, cooperative learning and integrity. In my opinion, these characteristics are critical for every leader, and I am excited about the prospect of living and learning in that environment. Lynn also mentioned the great feeling of social responsibility at Darden, where students regularly participate in community service activities. Overall, Darden is the best fit for me personally and academically. I share the same values of the Darden community. I also share a background in entrepreneurial and general management, leading areas of study at Darden and areas in which I want to further my knowledge. I know that getting involved with the brightest students and faculty at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration will prepare me for any obstacle I will face in the future. An MBA from Darden will also help me accelerate my professional development and facilitate the realizations of my ambitions, and I very much look forward to my experience there.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
The Darden School seeks a diverse and unique entering class of future leaders. How will your distinctiveness enrich our learning environment and enhance your prospects for success as a leader?
Everyone is unique. We each have character traits and experiences that have shaped us as individuals. In my case, I have within myself two vastly different cultures - Mexican and Italian - and my background and experience with these cultures, along with other traits I've developed over my life and my work experience, will enable me to contribute in a special way to the Darden learning environment and will enhance my leadership success. My Italian heritage is extremely important to me. My father, Emilio, was born and raised in Italy. He was 15 years old when, after suffering through WWII, he left his homeland for an unknown Mexico. He ultimately became a successful businessman in Monterrey, starting our family business, Emcar. Over the years, Ive loved hearing stories from my father and grandmother about their life in Europe. Learning about my background became such a passion for me that, several years ago, I became a dual citizen of Italy and Mexico. I continue to study the Italian language and learn about the culture. I want to preserve my family's history for future generations. In fact, this aspect of my life is so important to me and has had such an impact that I consider my Italian passport my most important possession. It represents so many things: my past, who I am now, what I have learned, and who I hope to be in the future. My father has taught me about more than just another culture. Because of his experiences, he learned never to take anything for granted. This trait, along with an appreciation for everything we have and generosity towards others, are characteristics he instilled in me. I believe that my most important characteristic is my generosity. I believe in giving and sharing the most I can with others because eventually that generosity will be returned. I help other people in many ways. For example, every December a group of friends and I organize a 'KILO OF HELP,' collecting food and selling it for a fraction of its value to thousands of the poorest people in Monterrey. We've learned that selling the food rather than simply giving it away preserves people's dignity while at the same time providing desperately needed assistance. Another character trait that defines me is my creativity. I learned creativity from my mother, Maria. Born and raised in Mexico, she is the best flower and garden designer in Monterrey. Just as my mother creates beautiful and unique designs from ordinary flowers, I also like to transform ordinary things into extraordinary ones. I try to think creatively every day and, throughout my life I have had several opportunities to prove my creative skills. During college, for example, I won a creative writing contest, beating out 1,000 participants. More recently, as part of the team helping a governmental candidate run for office, I designed a logo by completely transforming one of Emcars products into something original. Faith is also an important aspect of my life. For me, faith is a passion, conviction and guide that gives my life orientation and sense. I've always believed that success comes first from within, and that when all my beliefs, objectives and directions bond together I will achieve success. My faith keeps my final goals clear in my mind, helping me to overcome any obstacle that gets in the way. My work experience is also unique. Unlike many other MBA applicants who work for a consulting firm, investment bank or other large corporation, I work for a small family business, Emcar, that will be my own in a couple of years. Assuming this leadership position at such a young age and with no experience was challenging. My entry into the company caused some initial resentment among the employees. This challenge was motivating. I was eager to prove that I could be a successful manager. As a result of my professional experience, I will bring a different point of view to classroom discussions. In addition, what I learn in the classroom will be for my own benefit to make my familys company grow; my MBA will not be just a step in my life to move up a big company's career ladder. I believe my character traits and experience will contribute to the learning experiences of fellow Darden students. My work experience in a family owned business will bring a different perspective to the classroom. My two different cultures, Italian and Mexican, will enable me to adapt, get along with and identify myself with other fellow students. With my broad international experience, both European and Latin American, I will offer interesting perspectives about different cultures. My creativity can also help Darden students to see or solve case studies and homework in a unique way. With my generosity and teamwork I will help other classmates by sharing my knowledge and integrating groups to work together. The same characteristics that will enable me to bring a distinct perspective to Darden are the ones that will help me, and have already helped me, succeed as a leader. Throughout my life I have developed the foundation for effective leadership. I have participated actively in a community service non-profit organization and have taken charge of an existing company. These experiences have enabled me to develop my interpersonal skills. I also have demonstrated creativity, persistence, broad global experience and a continuing passion for learning. And Darden, specifically, will help me perfect the soft skills and knowledge needed to develop into a much better prepared leader. I look forward to sharing all I have of myself to help others learn. Even more importantly, however, I know I will learn much more from my future friends at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Describe a significant leadership experience, decision-making challenge, or accomplishment. How did this experience affect your professional and personal development?
One of my most important leadership experiences and decision-making challenges has been establishing and managing a partnership with GE Polymershapes Mexico. GE opened a distribution center in Monterrey around the time I began working at Emcar. GE's products are identical to ours and, although we had most of the Monterrey market at the time, they were selling at prices so low it hurt our business immediately. I recognized that if Emcar did nothing to address the GE situation, we might not survive in the long-term. I had to create an action plan before it was too late. My idea was to contact GE and propose a distribution partnership. Emcar handled specialized GE products at that time, but GE was winning our market in other plastic and acrylic products; why not buy most of our products from them? Executing this plan would be challenging. A partnership with GE would force us to terminate long-term relationships with our other suppliers, something I was concerned and disappointed about but, at the same time, a risk I felt we had to take. The first step, however, was persuading my family and employees that working with the competition was the best course of action. To convince them, I arranged a meeting to discuss the advantages we would have if GE were to become Emcar's supplier. For example, we would be protected by a very powerful company, GE, right there in Monterrey. No other competitors in the area would have the back-up company like Emcar would have, thus providing us with a very strong market position. In addition, GE would be our stock warehouse. We could buy what we needed from GE and no longer be forced to bring truckloads of material from the US. Unfortunately, my first meeting with my family and employees was not enough to persuade them to see my point of view. So, at a second meeting, I showed that Emcars sales of the specific products Emcar and GE shared were decreasing because GE was winning our market share. I explained that we would recover that market share and increase our sales if Emcar and GE worked together. This argument finally convinced my family and my employees that partnering with GE was the correct thing to do. All of these aspects of working with GE would benefit us, but now we had to demonstrate to GE why this was their best option as well. I contacted GE. At first, the company was skeptical about Emcar's proposal but, after a series of meetings I initiated, my team and I persuaded them to work with us. The argument that convinced them was the fact that, if they partnered with us, they would only have to be concerned with one client. Because GE was still new to the Mexican marketplace, they were having trouble adapting to Mexican business culture. Working with their multiple Mexican clients was challenging; by partnering with Emcar, they would eliminate those problems. After lengthy negotiations both internally and with GE, I finally succeeded at creating a partnership where GE would be our supplier, and Emcar would handle product distribution in the area. Simply establishing the relationship with GE was challenging enough. Managing the partnership, however, has been even more challenging. GE is known for putting pressure on its distributors, and Emcar is no exception. They recently lowered our credit line and made our payment terms stricter. It is requiring much patience, energy and leadership on my part to manage GEs expectations and meet their requirements while at the same time motivating Emcar's employees to accept the new reality of our business. My biggest concern is that GE will back out of our relationship and again attempt to take over the market. Since GE now knows our clients, this concern is not unfounded. My obligation is to my company and its employees, and I must pursue all opportunities for survival and growth. As a result, I am doing my best to manage the partnership with GE and keep it on track, even in the face of their pressure. At the same time, I am not completely letting go of my relationships with previous suppliers. Hopefully they will be there for Emcar if GE is not. This challenging experience involved many tough decisions. I had to determine if terminating relationships with some suppliers was going to hurt us in the long run. I also had to consider the best way to approach both my employees and GE with my idea. As a result of this experience, I strengthened my relationship-building skills, my negotiation skills, and my leadership skills, among others. This situation also taught me life-long knowledge lessons. I learned to construct convincing arguments to pursue my objectives. I also learned to keep my head cool in difficult situations and back up my arguments with concrete evidence to convince others on what was best for our future. Moreover, I learned the importance of maintaining a good relationship with all business partners, whether current or former. Finally, the success of this relationship has also built my confidence to pursue my ideas to make Emcar grow and create more innovative solutions. Overall, this experience has shaped my professional and personal maturity and has helped me grow in many ways. Working on behalf of one company to maintain a relationship with another one, especially one as large and formidable as GE, has been quite a challenge for me. But I believe I am doing my company and my family proud.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Besides your academic and professional activities, what is important to you and why?
I have a great appreciation for life and have always tried to be involved in things outside of college and work. I often feel that it is those activities that have shaped me the most. For example, community service has always been important to me. Not everybody has had the same opportunities and advantages as I have had. I believe it is my duty to give back to the community, to dedicate myself to making a difference in peoples' lives. That is why I worked for 5 years in Gente Nueva, a voluntary non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating values amongst youth through community service. Gente Nueva also promotes a healthy lifestyle and educates teenagers about important issues in adolescence. As a member of the board of directors, I spearheaded a number of community service programs. For instance, I coordinated teams to remodel schools in poor communities, organized large-scale regional youth conferences and organized international conferences with 3,000 attendants. More recently I have continued to participate in 'KILO OF HELP,' the food collection and sales program that has helped so many people in my community. In addition to showing me how great it is to give, Gente Nueva and 'KILO OF HELP' have taught me valuable lessons I can apply in other parts of my life; the value of teamwork and the importance of delegating, for instance. I learned that as a team we could accomplish higher objectives than I could reach by myself. Particularly in Gente Nueva, as I gained experience as team leader and manager, I learned to delegate effectively, making my teammates responsible for their actions. I also learned that working as a team would provide faster and better results in our events. Now, working at Emcar, it is my goal to have a positive impact on the community. I am doing that already through a scholarship fund I implemented for my employees. I am urging them to study a technical career or learn how to speak English. If they do, Emcar will pay for part of their education. I am aware of the general lack of education in Mexico and am trying to make a difference. Recently, as a result of this program, an employee of mine graduated from a technical school with a degree in computer engineering. Because of his efforts, he has gained confidence in himself as well as additional responsibility at work. Due to his example showing what people can accomplish with encouragement, another two Emcar employees are enrolled in a program to learn how to speak English. On a bigger scale, I hope to use Emcar as an example for the community at large. Mexico needs individual leaders and companies to promote business growth, creating jobs for more people and helping our population improve their standard of living. By following my dreams for making Emcar grow, I can have two-fold success. I'll make my family proud and my employees successful, but I will also be doing my part to help my community. Something else important to me is to be continually learning something new. I believe that a life full of learning is a valuable and exciting one, and I like to keep my brain active. As I mentioned in another essay, my Italian heritage is very important to me. This is why I recently completed a course on the Italian language, and plan to continue learning Italian after I finish my MBA. I look forward to the day when I can speak it fluently so that I can speak to my grandmother and father in their native tongue. I also like to collect Italian history books so I can further understand the culture. It is my continuing goal to be as familiar with the Italian culture as I am with the Mexican one. Another example of my desire for learning is my objective to pursue an MBA to further my knowledge of business management. In addition, throughout the day I keep myself up to date in the news so that my mind is busy thinking and learning new things. When I'm not reading I stay busy participating in sports and other outdoor activities. These activities keep my body and mind healthy and bring me to my other passion in life, sports. My siblings always participated in school teams, and I followed their example. In secondary school I was part of the representative basketball team. My love for sports grew, and throughout high school and college I participated in intramural soccer and softball tournaments. Sports distracted my mind from my studies and kept it healthy for further learning. My participation on softball teams throughout college paid off. I now am head coach and captain of a softball team in a local league. Being the elected head coach of a team where we are all friends is quite an honor and also quite challenging. I have learned how to keep friendship and competition separate and demand the best from my friends in the field. I have also learned to identify each person's best quality. This helps me to create a much more competitive team, because we all perform to the best of our abilities. The lessons learned as a head coach are helping me in life. At Emcar, I can better identify my employees' best skills, making the business more efficient and enabling my staff to work in positions they like. Doing this has resulted in a much more positive work environment. In addition, it has allowed me to create more effective teams within the company as individuals best suited for certain positions are placed on sales, administrative, inventory or stock teams. My participation in sports has given me a competitive edge as well. I always try my best to succeed and reach the greatest result possible. This is why I always plan to participate in sports, because I always learn new lessons. In conclusion, these experiences have made me a well-rounded person and shaped me into the person I am now. I have participated actively in the community, demonstrating my passion to make a difference in my society. I also have a conviction to seek a deeper understanding of life; an ongoing passion for learning. This demonstrates my self-motivation. And I love to participate and compete in sports. This teaches the value of teamwork and success. I have applied the lessons Ive learned from my extracurricular activities, and they have helped me grow both professionally and personally. My life is multidimensional, and my pursuit of interests outside my career will continue throughout my life.
