Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Personal statement
My career began much like that of a 'sword-swallower' at the circus. Wells Fargo's recent hostile takeover of First Interstate Bank significantly disrupted service and caused system-related errors. Our customers were hopping mad, and they let us know it. As a Customer Service Representative for the bank, I was performing in the center ring. Fortunately for me, this highly volatile situation gave me my first opportunity to take initiative and assume leadership for Wells Fargo. I developed a team of customer service representatives to address the most common - and the toughest - customer questions and complaints by creating a set of uniform responses and methods for resolving the various issues. This initiative blossomed into a series of rapid promotions from Trust Service Representative to Associate Portfolio Manager, and then Portfolio Manager 1 and later Assistant Vice President. At this stage, I showcased my analytical skills by taking on the lead analyst role for the Entertainment and Media industry and consequently made one of my largest contributions to Wells Fargo. Following Disney's ongoing weakness within certain operating divisions, I downgraded the company to a hold. That is when the 'fun' began. I received heated phone calls and a great deal of pressure from more senior portfolio managers to reverse my recommendation. They saw the situation differently, but confident in my analysis of the company's performance, I stuck by my decision. Disney's subsequent decline enabled Wells Fargo portfolio managers to avoid massive losses on a total position with the bank of more than $5 million. My 'sword swallowing' skills had been tested, only to earn a standing ovation! Building upon my prior achievements, I gained my first formal leadership experience as Team Leader of a five-member individual issues group. In this position, I have negotiated interdepartmental employee conflicts, implemented new initiatives to improve team morale and set stretch goals and rallied the team to exceed them. As much as I have enjoyed my career with Wells Fargo, I realize that investment research and stock-picking are my true passions. Whether it's engulfing myself in the analytical challenge of thoroughly researching a company or industry, scrambling madly in reaction to breaking market news or riding the roller-coaster of risking capital and executing trades, I have found my calling. This industry and lifestyle has sucked me in and grabbed a hold of my very soul. Through my experiences, training and education to date, I have developed an iron-clad belief that investor capital is best utilized in an international hedge environment, where the utilities of risk and return can be maximized. Long term, I intend to build an international hedge fund that puts this strategy to work on a global scale. By developing and leading a team of specialized and highly-skilled experts in fields such as trading, international corporate accounting and both quantitative and qualitative research, I will build the intellectual resources and expertise to successfully execute my hedge strategy for institutional investors. I passionately believe that the future of institutional asset management relies on this method of investing, and my international hedge fund will be out in front of this new, cutting-edge (essential for a 'sword-swallower' like me) industry. Prior to launching this fund, however, I will need to acquire a firmer grasp of managing international assets for institutional investors, rather than private clients. After graduating from business school, I plan to work for a top-tier firm such as Fidelity Investments or the Vanguard Group to learn the fundamentals of international investment management. An MBA education is critical for me at this juncture. To achieve my goals, I must continue to develop an intellectual yet actionable understanding of the intricacies, operations and global strategies of companies at a level that exceeds my future competition. A top MBA will provide me with the foundation for this level of business acumen, broadening and enlightening my perspective on the rapidly evolving global business environment. It will also allow me to develop a network of friendships and allies that will be essential to launching an international hedge fund. Kenan-Flagler offers not only a well-rounded, world-class business education but also the ideal concentration in Investment Management that I seek. This focus will provide me with a level of breadth and depth of the investment management industry unmatched by other top business schools. Additionally, Kenan-Flagler's Investment Club will permit me to hone my skills by managing real money, without any micro-management from the wings. My conversations with Professor Jennifer Conrad, Investment Management Concentration Advisory Board member Gregg Ireland and students such as Travis Robins have reinforced and solidified my burning desire to be a part of this club. Finally, my visit to Kenan-Flagler in April of this year allowed me to meet faculty and representative students who impressed me with both accomplishments and attitudes. These bright, dynamic, good-natured people are exactly the type of individuals whom I want in and around my future, industry-leading international hedge fund team. They are the mentors, peers and colleagues with whom I hope to develop life-long relationships. When one is a 'sword-swallower', trusting those closest to you is very, very important.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Past Experience, Future goals and Why Johnson.
Whether it's immersing myself in the analytical challenge of researching a company or industry, scrambling to capitalize on late-breaking market news or riding the roller-coaster of risking capital and executing trades, I have found my calling- investment research and stock-picking. Long term, I intend to build an international hedge fund that maximizes the utilities of risk and return on a global scale. By developing and leading a team of specialized and highly-skilled experts in key financial fields, I will build the intellectual resources and expertise to successfully execute my hedge strategy for institutional investors. Prior to launching this fund, I will need to acquire a firmer grasp on managing international assets. After graduating from business school, I plan to work for a top-tier firm such as Barclays Global Investors or BlackRock Financial Management to learn the fundamentals of international investment management. A rigorous MBA education is critical for me at this juncture. I must continue to develop a theoretical yet actionable understanding of the intricacies, operations and global strategies of companies at a level that exceeds my future competition. A top MBA will broaden and elevate my perspective on the rapidly evolving global business environment. It will also allow me to develop a network of friends and allies essential to launching an international hedge fund. The Johnson School offers not only a well-rounded, world-class business education, but also the ideal immersion in Research, Sales and Trading that I seek. The practical application and focus on research and asset management offered by this course would provide me with a level of breadth and depth of the investment management industry unmatched by other top business schools. Additionally, election to the Cayuga MBA Fund would allow me to participate in managing real money alongside a group of dynamic peers and under the brilliant guidance of Professors Lee and Swaminathan. My conversations with current students such as Michael Fishkin, David Weinstein and Lisa Wright, as well as alumna Sandra Draper, have only reinforced and solidified my burning desire to play a key role in managing the fund. Finally, my visit to the Johnson School in April of 2003 allowed me to meet faculty and students who consistently impressed me with their accomplishments, passion and ideas. These bright, engaging and energized people are exactly the type of individuals with whom I want to refine and pursue my goals. They represent the mentors, peers and colleagues with whom I hope to develop life-long relationships.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Leadership
Effective leadership encompasses vision, anticipation and inspiration. It demands insight, team-building, ethical grounding and the willingness to make difficult decisions. This is both my definition of leadership and the foundation for my greatest professional achievement as a leader. Just prior to my promotion to Team Leader of the Individual Issues Team at Wells Fargo Private Client Services, our division was beginning a major restructuring. Unfortunately, the reorganization quickly had a negative effect on the direction and morale of my team members. It was under these circumstances that I stepped forward to add value to my team, my division and the Wells Fargo organization. Specifically, I orchestrated the implementation of a series of new policies and procedures. In doing so, I replaced the team's negative morale with focused enthusiasm for the company's new vision. I began by enhancing communication at off-site team meetings by establishing an 'open forum' environment. My approach encouraged candid questions, frank discussions and shared understanding of the policy and procedural changes about to unfold. I used these meetings to candidly articulate the company's vision in a setting free from interruptions and intrusions. Earning the group's buy in, I then assigned discrete tasks based on my assessment of strengths and weaknesses. This instilled a strong sense of ownership and accountability. In addition, I held one-on-one sessions with each member to help them better define and clarify their individual goals. I assessed the needs of each individual and made sure that he received the critical resources to be effective. Together, we devised and outlined action plans to achieve success. For example, one of my teammates expressed a strong interest in analyzing fixed-income investments. So, I put him in contact with several of our senior portfolio managers and worked with them to facilitate landing him a position on Wells Fargo's Fixed Income Team as an analyst - a win/win outcome! I believe that the best leaders lead by example. Therefore, I influenced my team and added value to the organization by serving as a beacon for quality and ethics. I modeled professionalism in my own performance by thoroughly researching investment decisions and managing money with the client's best interests in mind. Committed to doing my best, I have exceeded the goals set for myself and thus encouraged teammates to do the same. Leaders look to the future. My decision to leave a promising career track with Wells Fargo to attend the Johnson School confirms my desire to lead on an even higher plane.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement and why?
My greatest achievement was establishing my own fine-dining restaurant. The joy I felt when I led my startup restaurant to an ongoing success, despite many obstacles and competitive pressures, proved to me that my sacrifice was well worth the effort. Starting with limited capital, I learned how to allocate resources. Instead of hiring professional agents, I designed the floor plan myself and dealt with county officials to obtain the necessary permits. It was like a miracle to me when I realized that the business I established is worth many times more today than the capital with which I started. In the beginning, our performance was less than ideal because competition was fierce. I implemented weekly team meeting with my employees to brainstorm ideas to promote the restaurant and to review past performance. I created a family-like relationship for my employees and they treated the restaurant as though it were their own. After two years of struggling, we became the most profitable restaurant in the area. The challenges I faced made me more mature both professionally and personally. Acting as the key solution-provider in my first business gave me greater confidence in my potential for developing a successful consulting enterprise after my MBA graduation. Describe your most challenging experience while working in a group The most challenge when in a group relationship is to convince others to work toward a common goal. When I inherited my fathers business in China, I tried to change the worker's slacking behavior by switching the pay-by-the-hour system to the pay-by-the-unit system. When I announced the change, more than 50 workers protested and refused to work. To convince them that the new system would benefit them was the best solution to the dilemma. I decided to let the protesting workers debate with the supportive ones, with no intervention from management. Through the debate, workers who were previously against the new system finally understood the advantages that they would gain from it: Their daily working hours would be shorter while their compensation would stay at least the same as long as they worked efficiently, which would be something they could control. After only a three-hour debate, both sides were satisfied and the company was back to business immediately. With the new system, productivity and efficiency increased, while everyone was happier because they could now control their working hours without affecting their salaries. That experience made me realized that collaboration is the most challenging to achieve, and motivation is the key to making it happen in leading a group to reach a common goal. Of what skill or talent are you especially proud? I am especially proud of my skill to see a person's true value and to help him or her recognize it. My thirteen-year-old-housemate was an absolute reticent introvert. He hardly ever spoke. Nobody at home ever paid attention to him, or noticed his very existence. I let him know that I would listen to him. I observed him carefully and tried to start conversations based on topics in which he had an interest. After a year of my efforts, he finally began to speak up and share his school life with me. I noticed he had exceptional talent in drawing and writing. However, his works were extremely sad, even destructive: Ships were always destroyed and no one could ever survive. I did research and learned that his family's ignorance made him an extremely negative and destructive person. I decided to bring him along with me to the community service center every week. Gradually, he changed from a silent boy to a talkative artist. That talent makes me proud because it allows me to create hopes for others. People sometimes abandon themselves when they cannot recognize their own values. I will use that talent to save such people by helping them find their true worth.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Major Essay: Describe your greatest professional achievement and how you were able to add value to your organization.
I believe my greatest professional achievement occurred outside of the
workplace. By creating an alumni networking group, I have helped to bring
people
together in ways that benefit many professional organizations.
At a farewell party in October 2002 for my Alma Maters retiring president, I
realized that the event was not only fun but also a great networking
opportunity.
Seeking to replicate that experience, I co-founded and continue to serve on the
steering committee of the Bates College Business Network ('BBN'). In doing so, I
have helped to unite alumni in the spirit of friendship and enterprise.
I was effective because I organized a team that followed through on BBN. I could
contribute enthusiasm and focus, but needed others to support the idea with
financial backing, publicity and a broader base of contacts. I called the
College
Vice President for Alumni and External Affairs, a trustee, and several alumni
and
we organized the first meeting.
Consulting with a Bates parent who organized similar events for another
university, we devised a quarterly meeting structure that offered continued
learning via lectures, Q & A and networking. BBN targets alumni in New York City
who are pursuing careers in business and finance. More than 90 alumni registered
for the most recent event. In addition to the simple exchange of business cards,
BBN's format encourages alumni to share memories of times gone by and ideas for
collaboration in the future.
Effective leadership in this case meant creating momentum for BBN rather than
implementing every aspect of the idea. Sharing my concept with the alumni
community encouraged others to act. Now that BBN is in motion, the gatherings
are
gaining popularity by word of mouth. The chairman of The Bank of New York, a
trustee and parent, has offered us class A space for meetings.
My ongoing commitment is to sustain BBN as a conduit for the exchange of ideas.
By joining and supporting people with related interests, BBN is a haven for
relationship building. I have spoken with alumni who learned about new areas of
professional endeavor, who sought financial partners for a future filmmaking
endeavor and who were helped through a period of unemployment.
I am eager to bring my perspectives on relationship building to business school.
Collaboration with a large and talented peer group such as I would find at the
Johnson School is a key part of the investment I am making in a graduate
business
degree.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal?
My goal is to start a real estate development company that builds socially and environmentally responsible projects (green development). I want to establish green buildings as the new market standard that occupants demand. My post-MBA goal is to work with a real estate developer to build the reputation necessary to become an expert in my field. Since the real estate industry has overlooked the advantages of green development, exciting opportunities for innovation now exist. The entrepreneurial business model I envision relies on a) developing a repeatable process for green development, b) reducing industry path dependency and c) encouraging collaboration across the value chain to develop projects that align profit motives with green goals. The Johnson School's commitment to social responsibility provides opportunities to explore solutions that combine business and community goals. As a Park Fellow, I would collaborate with talented peers to enhance Ithaca's built environment. Why an MBA for a developer? Every property functions as a separate business and, as such, is a case for general management. Developers convert concepts into assets by assembling and managing a team of lenders, contractors, and designers. The job demands facility with asset valuation, contract negotiation, and public speaking. The Johnson School offers the best path to prepare for a specific entrepreneurial goal that builds on my experiences in land-use and public finance. The schools intimate setting and emphasis on analytical and experiential learning will expand my scope and capabilities. The Entrepreneurship & Private Equity Immersion is a perfect way for me to explore new business challenges. Beyond the Johnson School, electives from the Masters in Real Estate program and the School of Architecture, Art and Planning will complete my toolkit with industry specific skills. The Johnson School is the ideal setting to develop important contacts. Corporate leaders will be allies in advancing green development. For example, where Wal-mart uses natural lighting to cut costs, sales and employee satisfaction have increased. Private equity and opportunity funds, such as AIGs Brownfields Remediation Fund, will likely contribute capital to future projects. Ideally in a leadership role for the Associate Real Estate Council, I could discuss green development with future partners and network with peers pursuing related fields in other Cornell schools. At the Johnson School, I look forward to working with others who have a great deal to learn and also a lot to contribute in an exchange of ideas and experiences that will accelerate our ability to make a difference in business and in the world.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Tell us about what you feel most passionate
My passion is to seek and cultivate happiness in my life. It is a source of personal satisfaction, an important management tool and a catalyst for success. To me, this pursuit is more important than earning an MBA or becoming an influential real estate developer. However, striving for professional and educational goals adds to my happiness: I enjoy the process, I am excited about learning and I believe my objectives can add value to the community. Through my experience serving utility clients at Morgan Stanley, I learned that contentment improved my performance in leadership roles such as deal execution. I believe my focus on happiness, expressed as confidence, spirit and compassion, has improved my professional relationships. The effective leaders I have known use these qualities to bring people together. Entrusted with financial and cultural influence, leaders make decisions that affect working groups, corporations, nations and the world. A decision influenced by unhappiness and dissatisfaction can have a broad and negative impact. Making difficult decisions and moving forward become easier when a decision maker is content and sure of their motivations. The importance of happiness is undervalued. Too often, it is portrayed as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I try to make decisions in my personal life that will enhance my business performance. To me, this does not mean retiring early or avoiding hard work. Instead, my hope is that prioritizing happiness will guide me to success in my professional life.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Minor Please use the space to tell the Amissions Committee anything else that has not been addressed elsewhere in your application
In my freshman year of college, I began training to make the Olympic team.
While in school, I managed the demands of a full time student and an aspiring
world-class athlete. Often, I would wake up for morning practice as my
roommates
were going to bed. In many ways, the demands of training affected my academic
performance. My grades reflect my college priorities: competing in the Olympics
and a passion for art history.
I believe my non-major GPA is the weakest aspect of my application. To address
that and for my own satisfaction, I have enrolled in a Microeconomics class at
Allegheny County Community College (Spring semester, 2004). My focus and
capabilities have steadily increased since college and I believe this is
reflected in my application.
In August 2003, I left Morgan Stanley on good terms to pursue my passion for
green development and to apply to business school. Beginning in January 2004, I
will work as a consultant to Hergenroeder, Rega and Sommer ("HRS"), a Pittsburgh
law firm whose municipal client is completing a multi-million dollar mixed-use
development. My responsibilities over a six-month project term include
oversight, ad hoc financial analysis and review and negotiation of lease and
financing obligations.
I included my project at HRS in the Employment History to help readers keep
track of what I will be doing in 2004.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Describe your greatest professional achievement and how you were able to add value to your organization.
Being able to leave a mark is what makes it worthwhile to get up in the morning. Looking back, it's hard to pick just one thing that makes me most proud, as virtually every position provided a unique opportunity to make a difference. For instance, I once took initiative to update the security guidelines and electronic document handling procedures for an entire Engineering department at Slant/Fin Corporation. This effort had perhaps the most immediate impact on an organization, drastically cutting down on data loss and significantly increasing everybody's productivity. On another occasion, I compiled a database of over 5,000 relevant innovative small business research projects and made it available to managers throughout General Dynamics. This strategic initiative allowed many of them to discover promising new product ideas, and should continue to make an impact on our company's bottom line for years to come. So, what I would like to present here is simply the latest example of how I was able to contribute to my employer's success. Last February, I received a leadership role on a vendor selection effort for a crucial component of a Navy defense system. In a relatively short period of time, starting with 15 manufacturers and working our way through the bidding process, we were able to narrow the field down to just three serious candidates. Ironically, following a formal bureaucratic procedure, a preliminary internal decision was made to stay with the original supplier, which once again provided the lowest bid. However, fully convinced that going back to the incumbent would be a grave mistake, I took initiative to write a formal "white paper" on the subject. After a few sleepless nights and in just three pages of condensed analysis, I presented the numerous technical and financial risks of doing business with the current vendor. Among other concerns, I sited their prior history of cost and scheduling overruns as well as an unacceptably high rate of field failures that we've experienced in the past. Although initially reluctant, our upper management had to reevaluate the situation. Upon serious consideration, they came to agree with my conclusions and decided to award the contract to a more reputable manufacturer, despite a higher initial cost. In this case, I acted on principle and was able to reverse a decision that could have potentially cost our company millions of dollars in another recall, not to mention our reputation with the customer.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal?
My two major passions are technology and entrepreneurship. I believe that a Johnson MBA, in combination with my prior education and work experience, would finally make it possible to successfully integrate both of these passions into my professional life. My original experience running a technology venture was in 1997, when a friend and I founded BeShop.com. We were the first company to develop complete computer workstations specifically optimized for BeOS, an alternative operating system that was well ahead of its time. Since then, I've been mostly concentrating on a career in technology, working my way to becoming a proverbial "Rocket Scientist." My responsibilities now include executing thousands of guided rocket simulations, one of the most thrilling assignments an engineer can have. However, I am often bothered by the fact that it is rarely the engineers who make final technical decisions, but rather the people in management. Therefore, in my spare time, I continue to learn more about technology marketing and entrepreneurship. I often do case studies on diverse emerging companies, ranging from JetBlue to Hotwire.com to Alienware. I am especially interested in late entrants into developed industries that were still able to make a tangible difference in people's lives. I also constantly explore new potential ventures. For example, there are a few sizeable market niches that the online travel industry is still failing to address. To date, nobody offers a centralized system to make reservations for inexpensive, non-chain motels along major highways, or B&B's in resort states like Vermont. Still, as I contemplate my own business plans, I invariably realize that I am lacking the background and the connections to be truly successful, which are the very things I am hoping to gain at Cornell. What makes Johnson uniquely attractive is the strong technical background of the faculty. For instance, three out of five professors in Entrepreneurship have significant experience as technology professionals. Additionally, I'm intrigued by the concept of immersion learning. I also would like to participate in the activities of the Big Red Fund, the High Tech Club and TAG. For my internship, I hope to work for a Management Consulting company, which would allow me to get additional exposure to the opportunities available within different industries. I believe that all of the above would prepare me best for what I see as my ultimate career goal, which is to create and sustain my own innovative technology-oriented business.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Complete this essay if there is other information you would like to add regarding your candidacy. For instance, if you believe one or more aspects of your application (e.g., undergraduate GPA or test scores) do(es) not accurately reflect your potential for success at the Johnson School.
The one part of my record that might warrant an explanation is the relatively mediocre academic performance in my Master's Degree studies at the University of Illinois. It stands in sharp contrast to the near perfect grades that I have earned in each of the four years of college, which fairly represent my ability to consistently perform at the top of the class. In graduate school, although I was able to maintain a solid GPA at first, a variety of circumstances contributed to a dismal couple of semesters in my second year. When the funding for my thesis research suddenly ran out, I had to take upon parallel responsibilities as a Teaching Assistant at the Physics Department, conducting laboratory experiments in Waves Physics and Quantum Mechanics. While I genuinely enjoyed teaching and was consistently rated as "excellent" by students, I still had to continue actively working on my thesis on a daily basis. At the same time, we were starting to actively pursue our start-up business, BeShop.com, which also required a lot of dedication and countless hours of self-motivated efforts. Many of my evenings were divided between studying for my Engineering classes and spending time at the library, reading books on entrepreneurship and refining our business plan. In other words, in addition to taking the demanding classes required for my degree, I had to handle a triple load of other responsibilities which, unfortunately, took priority at least some of the time.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Describe your greatest professional achievement and how you were able to add value to your organization
At Roux Associates, I helped build relationships with several clients through my commitment to delivering sound results, even when working with insufficient information under significant time pressures. Most notable was my contribution to the relationship with the international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom, LLC. Working for this client, I have helped to solidify the collaboration between the two firms. Soon after joining Roux Associates in 1999, I was assigned to a team of engineers and scientists working on the first project for this client. Even though I was a new employee, I assumed the intricate task of reconstructing the sequence of historical events that took place at a site in the 1950s, and determined our client's present day liability costs for remediation of the site. During this project, I developed several templates that Roux Associates has been using ever since, and was formally recognized for my excellent work. In 2000, I assumed management responsibilities on the second project awarded to us by the client. In addition to leading the team, I performed a cost allocation analysis of environmental liabilities, amounting to $19 million, for a group of responsible parties. I called upon my past experience and analytical skills to utilize an advanced numeric analysis method, and completed the challenging task in a cost effective and timely manner. My resourcefulness proved invaluable on the morning of June 14, 2002. In the course of just two hours, I completed a database research, performed a statistical analysis of the search results, and provided the client with the requested information. By the end of that day, the client awarded Roux Associates a third project with approximately $1 million in professional fees. Constituting over 25% of the annual revenue, it was the largest award in the history of Roux Associates' Massachusetts office. I was instrumental in both technical and managerial aspects on this demanding project and evaluated costs for sites with up to $100 million in environmental liabilities. I am currently working on the fourth project awarded by the client to Roux Associates, the second project awarded to us without competitive bidding by other consultants. My consistent performance contributed to the lasting relationship between the two firms, which helped the client to resolve several environmental liability situations and brought over $2 million in professional fees to Roux Associates.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal?
During my involvement in reorganization and bankruptcy cases for companies with environmental liabilities, I have come to realize that the problems I solve as an engineer are caused as much by shortcomings of technological processes and accepted industrial practices as by managerial near-sightedness and failure to consider environmental and social costs. My pursuit of the Johnson MBA is based on the intellectual quest to supplement my technical knowledge with financial and economic expertise for a successful career in international businesses related to extractive industries in general and the energy sector in particular. I feel a sense of urgency about fusing the values of economic growth and environmental sustainability and have crystallized my ambition to champion the economic benefits of corporate responsibility. My short-term career goals are to learn how to address the root causes of environmental and social problems. Upon graduation, I will pursue a career as an energy and infrastructure analyst with a global energy firm. I am particularly interested in working for British Petroleum and Royal Dutch Shell, companies with significant presence in the Russian energy sector. This will enable me to promote economically beneficial, financially sound, and environmentally and socially responsible projects in Russia and throughout the world. I see myself taking responsibility for the conceptualization and development of innovative responses to the challenges of sustainable development by identifying and evaluating financial, economic, technical, and institutional aspects of corporate initiatives. I believe that, by putting an economic value on reduced pollution and preserved resources, and by saving on ecological disaster relief efforts and medical costs, companies can minimize environmental and social costs while gaining competitive advantages. In the long-term, I would like to provide expertise to the International Finance Corporation, a World Bank Group, a global investor and advisor that promotes sustainable projects in developing countries, because I believe that abundance of natural resources should be a blessing, not a curse, for the developing world. The intellectual rigor and practical curriculum at the Johnson School would help me achieve my goals. I plan to concentrate on the courses in Management and Organization, and Global Business to prepare myself for a career in the heterogeneous extractive industries sector operating internationally in environments under economic and political risks. I am very interested in learning about implications of sustainable development for corporate and competitive strategies from Prof. Hart and about integrating these considerations in core businesses from Prof. Tebo. I also plan to learn about finance and economics of the energy sector from Prof. Haas and from my pears in the Johnson Energy Club. I am looking forward to the privilege of studying at the Johnson School.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
Describe your greatest professional achievement and how you were able to add value to your organization. non-major essay
My greatest professional achievement was managing Intel Capital's P&L in Q4 of 2001. Intel Capital confronted two major issues: 1) The 'Internet Bubble' had burst and the market for investment exits looked bleak 2) Since Intel Capital was continuing to invest at 'Pre-Bubble' run rates, the lack of liquidity in the market would cause our portfolio to balloon to unmanageable levels. I was given the project to exit over 100 companies while realizing as much profit as possible and hitting the P&L target that we had provided Wall Street analysts. Since Intel Capital was a corporate investor, we had to exit our investments without impacting the strategic relationship with each company. I added value by leading a cross-functional team and by leveraging the strengths of my teammates to exit over 120 companies, while generating over $300 million in profits. Prior to this project, Intel averaged a disposal rate of 25 companies per quarter. To motivate my team, I presented a clear and crisp outline of the roles and responsibilities, along with a succinct timeline. Leveraging my background in investment management, I developed a systematic process to analyze the entire portfolio. First, the analysts and I divided the companies by sector and each of us was responsible for analyzing the sector he/she covered. Next, we put together a list of companies to sell by determining the companies that were the most overpriced with the least strategic value. Since our attorneys were short-handed, I shifted resources by assigning our contract administrators to help the attorneys analyze various investment agreements to clear any selling restrictions. This gesture not only emphasized the importance of this project, it also inspired the attorneys to prioritize this project ahead of other deals. Then, I used my strength in building relationships by meeting with the CEO or CFO of each of the companies. When the Executives had concerns, I calmed their fears by assuring them that I would do my best to mitigate the selling pressure on their stocks. I leveraged the experience of our traders to devise trading strategies that met our goals while minimizing the impact on the individual stock prices. Anticipating questions from analysts and investors about the intent of our sales, I developed Q&A responses with our public relations team. By leading my team to hit our P&L forecast and keeping in tact all of our key strategic relationships, I surpassed management's expectations. Along the way, I developed a foundation for streamlining Intel's disposals process and developed a systematic approach to analyzing individual companies. My experience further developed my project management skills and improved my ability to influence, lead a diverse team, and delegate efficiently. More importantly, it enhanced my ability to not only lead, but to also contribute as a team member. I hope to share my experience with my classmates at Johnson, as well as learn from their experiences.
Essay Category:
Essay Question:
What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal? (major essay)
My short-term goal is to refine my management skills and build my network in the broadcasting and entertainment industry with a leading organization like Viacom or Time Warner. Specifically, I plan on working as a business development manager to increase my knowledge of distribution channels and marketing initiatives. Then, I hope to master the operational side of the business by working as a director of programming. Syndicating television shows and formulating programming strategies, I will solidify my industry know-how. My long-term goal is to leverage my broadcasting experience and venture capital background to build and manage my own Asian American TV channel. With my company, I hope to create a business that increases the visibility of Asian Americans in the media. While the accomplishments in my career have laid the foundation for building my future business, I have not acquired all the tools necessary to achieve this goal. With its innovative general management program, action-oriented learning approach, and emphasis in producing leaders, Johnson offers the ideal community to pursue my education. Johnson's curriculum will enable me to build upon my 8-year career. After analyzing complex investment deals and managing mutual funds for Intel's Treasury group and Mellon Capital respectively, I possess a strong background in finance. Besides sharpening my analytical skills with its rigorous curriculum, Johnson's flexible program will enable me to target my specific needs. Courses such as 'International Entrepreneurship' and 'New Business Development' will build upon my A2 start-up experience and enhance my entrepreneurial training. I plan on solidifying my hands-on experience through the Entrepreneurship Lab and by pitching the business plan for my Asian American channel to the BR Ventures Fund. The Leadership Skills Program will increase my capacity to lead. At Intel Capital, I led cross-functional teams across four continents to develop exit strategies for our venture portfolio. I also negotiated over 100 deals such as M&A transactions and follow-on financings with CEOs and Managing Directors. While my experience has developed my talent for building a team, making critical decisions, and influencing others, I need to hone my abilities. By interacting with the close-knit Johnson community and by assuming leadership roles in groups such as the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, I will polish my leadership abilities. Finally, the innovative program will round out my general management skills. Although I achieved success at A2 by marketing our television show to over 100,000 audiences, generating $500,000 in seed funding, and securing over 400 movies and videos from Asia, I realized that I needed more tools to generate the growth and revenue projection that I had envisioned. The Johnson curriculum will strengthen my knowledge in the areas of marketing and business strategy. I plan on fortifying my new skills through The Immersion Learning program by consulting for a leading entertainment company. In talking to various alumni and students, I understand that the Johnson community is helpful and the professors are easily accessible. Contributing to the diverse student body, I will share my entertainment start-up experience and my business development efforts in Asia with my classmates. Tapping my vast network in venture capital, I will enhance Johnson's entrepreneurship curriculum by organizing conferences and recruiting events. I may even inspire some classmates to partner with me in building my Asian American TV Channel. An MBA from Johnson will give me the tools to fulfill my future goals.
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Essay Question:
What is your greatest professional accomplishment? Major Essay
I consider my promotion to Consultant at Accenture as my greatest professional achievement. The project experiences that led to my promotion were some of the most challenging of my life and routinely tested my mental and at times, physical stamina. Despite these challenges, I was able to add new skills and consistently deliver value to my clients. Additionally, I was promoted at a time when Accentures strategy practice was executing significant workforce reductions. Overcoming the challenges presented by the position and excelling during a time of contraction make this one of my proudest achievements. I originally accepted the offer from Accenture because I viewed it as my first step in business training. Throughout the first year, I worked in scenarios that demanded tremendous analytical rigor under tight time lines. These situations required the ability to think quickly, work productively, and efficiently use all the resources at my disposal. Over time, I began to develop the craft skills of a consultant: structured problem solving, comprehensive problem assessments, and structured communication. It was the development and application of these craft skills, not one analysis or recommendation, which I feel positioned me for success at Accenture and eventual promotion to the Consultant level. During this time, Accenture's strategy practice was hit hard with workforce reductions. While I had initial concerns about my own job security, I quickly resolved to focus only on the factors directly in my control - my work ethic, my commitment to the task at hand, and the value that I delivered to my clients. To remain utilized within the firm, I focused on developing a personal brand. I emphasized my flexibility, creativity, and ability to focus on the bottom line and get things done. In the end, I was successful in becoming known as an Analyst with 'capable hands', dedication to a given task, and commitment to results. This reputation helped me secure high impact roles on projects early in my career, which gave me the opportunity to add value to Accenture and the clients that I served. I spent my analyst years at Accenture under trying circumstances. Through dedication, hard work, and an emphasis on the craft skills of consulting I was able to improve the organizations I worked with and find personal success. Because of the challenges I faced and the general business environment, my promotion to Consultant is my greatest professional achievement.
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Essay Question:
Describe your greatest professional achievement and how you were able to add value to your organization.
I was working at a Health Maintenance Organization, HIP, for only six months when I became involved in a major initiative, the implementation of a new time and attendance tracking system. Improving on the company's archaic system was not difficult, but we needed to build a system from scratch because our goal was to create an application that would not only add enhancements, but also serve as a model for further development of other applications. The implementation team consisted of our IT group, ADP consultants (the vendor of the system), Human Resource Department, Learning and Development Department, and the Payroll Department. As I am primarily responsible for HIP's Florida division, I was leading the implementation team in designing and testing the new system for all Florida employees. I sought to create a system that would react according to the unique set of rules of the Florida division and cater to the needs of the employees there. My first objective was to create a list of rules to be programmed into the application. What promised at first to be a simple task, turned into an exercise in negotiation. Since HIP Florida has both union and non-union employees whose rules vary, I needed to open discussion of the union contract and HIP policies with union representatives as well as with the staff from Human Resources to clear up details and interpretation ambiguities. Once the rules write up was over and ADP entered them into the test system, I went on to writing test scripts for every type of situation imaginable and then testing them. After I was satisfied with the outcome, I, as a primary user of the system, collaborated with Learning and Development and prepared training materials and class lessons to train all the users. On the go-live day everything worked perfectly. I was promoted to Assistant Manager, but seeing everything run smoothly was my reward for a job well done. The system's added value is easy to see. It allows for more accurate time keeping and up-to-the-minute accrual tracking, exponentially expands Payroll's previous reporting capabilities, and helps to process payroll faster. Most importantly, the system makes the work of all of its users easier. As it turned out, doing the implementation work was not what I consider to be my most significant achievement. Being able to work cooperatively with (and learn from) IT consultants, HR specialists, Trainers, and the users of the system, adjusting to peoples work styles, assuming responsibility for a major project after being at the company for only a few months - that is what made this experience so challenging and rewarding.
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Essay Question:
What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal? Major essay but had to be less then 400 words.
I plan to pursue a career in investment research and, more specifically, in asset management. Immediately after finishing the MBA, I will seek employment at a wealth management organization that runs a number of portfolios with different kinds of investment vehicles. There, I intend to do research and, while gaining knowledge and practice, I will spend the first few years attaining industry specific accreditations such as the CFA. The CFA, together with an MBA, will help me pave the way to an Assistant Portfolio Manager position. Bringing the research essentials required for understanding industries and companies to a team of Portfolio Managers will allow me to work with them and develop the tools required for picking winning stocks. My long-term career objective is to build the expertise and relationships that will allow me to become a head Portfolio Manager of my own large fund. I believe that a career in securities research and wealth management will combine my natural abilities with my interest in the market. I am interested in asset management because I want to work in a field whose dynamic nature will intellectually inspire me and keep me interested for years to come. Working as a consultant forced me to think analytically during every project in which I was involved. I learned to identify pertinent information, question the data presented, and make an objective conclusion. I believe that this skill, combined with my education in management, is an excellent foundation for a research analyst. An MBA will provide me with the quantitative skills that are necessary for my career transition. The Johnson MBA will help me achieve my objective. Johnson's cross-functional core curriculum will allow me to build upon my knowledge of management and help me develop skills that will lead to deeper understanding of the companies that I will be researching. At Johnson I will gain value from the most reality-based education available. Johnson's unique immersion learning program and real-world extracurricular activities such as the Cayuga Fund will grant me the practice that I need. Through these activities, I will be able to obtain the hands-on experience that will help me prepare for a successful internship. Johnson's world-class faculty and talented student body will provide me with an intellectually stimulating environment. The school's relatively small size will offer an atmosphere needed to build and maintain long lasting relationships. It is with great enthusiasm that I seek admission to the Johnson School at Cornell.
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Essay Question:
What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal?
My long-term career goal is to assume a CEO or COO position with a small, high-growth services organization, or to oversee the creation of a new division or business unit in a larger services organization. I favor opportunities in a smaller, streamlined environment where I can have a significant impact on growth and can remain connected to the employees. My current industry of preference is technology, as it continues to be a breeding ground for innovation. Ultimately, I strive to deliver continuous value and impact by leading the execution of a successful business strategy. Short-term, I plan to continue in an internal or external consulting capacity, but shift my focus toward strategy consulting. Pursuing strategic consulting opportunities following completion of an MBA program would be invaluable preparation for my long-term goal and allow me to continue to apply the knowledge gained through my academic experience. In my current role as an Organizational Consultant with Right Management Consultants, I investigate problems and execute solutions on a project basis. Following my entrepreneurial experience at Katron, I transitioned into consulting to increase my business acumen and knowledge of larger organizations. While my experiences at Katron and Right have strengthened my people, project and client management skills, I lack knowledge of the business fundamentals and management best practices necessary to achieve my goals. It is time to reinforce my six years of experience in the trenches with a formalized, general management education. To transition into strategy consulting and, ultimately, a senior leadership role, it is critical to expand my general management knowledge, as well as my business perspective via my fellow MBA classmates. Having broadened my knowledge and skill, it is time to leave Right and take my experiences into the classroom. I am energized by Johnson's real-world approach to MBA education. I am particularly attracted to the Immersion Learning opportunities, specifically the Entrepreneurship and Private Equity Immersion since small, growth-oriented opportunities are my preference. The applied focus on real business challenges is a strong match to my learning style, as demonstrated by my intense hands-on experiences at both Katron and Right. Johnson's size also allows for an intimate, team-oriented experience and greater access to professors. Upon a recent visit to campus, I had an opportunity to observe Professor Frank's Microeconomics course and was pleased to see a high-level of interaction and participation between the Professor and students. Johnson's practical learning model, coupled with the opportunity to be a part of a tight community of students and staff create the holistic experience I am seeking in an MBA program.
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Essay Question:
What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal?
As a Senior Associate at Deloitte and E&Y, I have always worked on improving clients' satisfaction by creating innovative solutions to resolve existing inefficiencies found during audit procedures. However, while I have truly enjoyed my time working at public accounting firms, I have realized that my current work is limited to improving only specific areas and is not providing the challenges that a career in consulting offers. I would like to move into a career that can utilize my creativity and problem solving skills further. My immediate goal after getting an MBA is to attain a senior role in a management consulting firm. I would like to help foreign companies to develop and expand in the Southeast Asian market. Although most of the major U.S. corporations have entered and built their presences in Southeast Asia, there are still many small and medium sized U.S. corporations that have not tapped into this emerging market. Working for a global consulting firm will develop my abilities to anticipate clients' needs and will teach me to create solutions that address these needs. I will not only diagnosing a problem but also developing and implementing the solutions. My long-term goal is to establish a full service consulting firm in Indonesia for foreigners who want to enter Indonesian market. Also, my firm will help locals who want to open, maintain, and expand their businesses. Throughout my professional career in the accounting industry, I have experienced many major financial decision making processes, which help me to gain exposures to many different industries. Despite my wealth of experiences, I do not yet possess all the tools necessary to achieve my goals. My reasons for pursuing an MBA are to increase my business knowledge and management skill set, gain credentials and credibility to run my own business, and be introduced to a network of potential business partners. Johnson School is an ideal fit for several reasons. First, the flexible curriculum offered enables me to construct a program tailored to my interests and career goals. Often, the challenge as a consultant is to develop cogent solutions to complex issues in which information is limited and incomplete. Johnson School's immersion learning curriculum focus directly on these real life scenarios and would serve to develop a refined expertise in methodologies required to efficiently and appropriately service clients. Second, I value Johnson School's focus on leadership. My professional experience has taught me that the most successful people in the business world are those who can effectively lead others. The Leadership Skills Program will provide me the qualities needed to be an outstanding leader. Third, the global focus of Johnson School's curriculum, and the diversity of the student body, would provide an excellent environment to meet today's culturally diverse workplace. Growing up in a male dominant society, I am a strong proponent for women in business, and I have continued my support for career women throughout my professional career where I become the event chair for E&Y minority women professional association. Joining Women's Management Council at Johnson School and actively participating in their events are definitely the next step to share my vision about women in business initiative. These attributes, taken in conjunction with many other incomparable benefits, such as access to the Johnson School's networking community and the credential associated with a degree from Cornell, would provide the perfect springboard to meet my professional goals.
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Essay Question:
What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal?
Strobe lights pulsed as scantily clad women gyrated in metal cages. The interviewers from (Major Investment Bank) threw back tequila shots, while my fellow recruits waved dollar bills and whistled. I stood alongside, watching nervously; then I willed myself to grin and blend in. Taking the path of least resistance, I got what I wanted: a phone call offering me a position in (Major Investment Bank's) two-year financial analyst program. After hanging up, I realized that I had just made a Faustian bargain. In exchange for my dream job, I had volunteered to step back into the closet. Until then, I thought homophobia was about name-calling, gay-bashing, and outright discrimination. After fifteen months at (Major Investment Bank), I discovered a much more elusive and harmful form of homophobia; one that doesn't come from bigots, but from a non-inclusive work environment. Case in point: David, Terrance, Kate, and I had worked non-stop for weeks on the sale of a major telecom provider's subsidiary. Our managing director left a voicemail congratulating us on our work. He had never thanked us directly before, so we were all ready to celebrate. That's when our vice president, Dick, dropped by to invite us out for drinks at Scores, the ubiquitous topless bar. Kate and I begged off, mumbling excuses about needing sleep. I was really just tired of checking my identity at the door; couldn't I be myself, as long as my work was just as good as everyone else's? As I phased myself back out of the closet, it became clear that 'the game' was as important as the work. David and Terrance's late-night exploits had brought them closer to Dick. They would slap each other on the back and make jokes in the hallways, while Kate and I tried to feign understanding of their inside jokes. My decision not to hide my identity anymore had cut me out of the networks that could have allowed me to socialize my way into professional advancement. That's when I decided that, while I may not be able to reconfigure Wall Street, I could take smaller steps, one company at a time. With a J.D./M.B.A. from Cornell, I will be in a prime position to achieve this goal. After gaining a solid foundation in employment and securities law and amassing a base of knowledge in human resources and finance, I will be prepared to start my own legal venture firm. As an integrated organization offering legal services and financial capital, this company will allow me to shape the development of corporate cultures in startup companies and champion the selection of qualified individuals, regardless of sexuality, sex, or color, for senior management positions. By advising companies on human resource policies and hiring practices, I will help to create cultures better equipped to function as true meritocracies. After obtaining a J.D./M.B.A., I plan to gain legal experience in employment law at a diverse firm like Morrison Foerster or Davis Polk before transitioning to a private equity role at a progressive corporation like J.P. Morgan Capital Partners. Once equipped with the appropriate knowledge and networks, I will create a venture law firm that reflects the diversity of America. By offering legal and business advice to clients hungry for a more ethical, gentler work environment, I will successfully integrate my needs for professional success and social responsibility. As I develop corporate cultures one company at a time, I will help develop a new crop of leaders with names like Kate, Simbai, or even <<applicant's name>>. Only when corporate cultures that foster professional bonding inclusive of all minority groups exist will true equality for sexual-orientation minorities be possible. When that day comes, being gay at work will no longer make one an activist by default.
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Essay Question:
Tell us about a leadership experience.
As an undergraduate Economics-Political Science student, I watched many of my friends gravitate toward investment banking or consulting mainly because those were the companies that came to interview on campus. After I started working at Lehman Brothers, they would call me on the phone to ask for advice about resumes and interview questions, but many didn't really understand the fundamental nature of the jobs for which they were applying. When I was in their position, I had been lucky enough to benefit from a variety of internships during my academic semesters and summers in New York. After working at Salomon Smith Barney and Needham & Company as an intern, I knew that I wanted to work in a high-growth industry group at a major investment bank after graduation. I had been lucky enough to have had the experiences to know banking was right for me, but many of younger friends had not been so fortunate. They were eager and talented, but they were also confused; I resolved to design a recruiting event which would not only help Lehman Brothers identify the best and brightest from my alma mater, but also prepare graduating students to make informed decisions about their initial career paths. In short, I wanted to help them understand what they were getting into. I envisioned a case study recruiting event that would go through the various steps of an equity transaction in order to educate students about (i) the financial / strategic rationale and (ii) the actual work that first-year analysts contribute to the overall deal process. At Columbia Recruiting Team meetings, I sold my idea internally and generated enthusiasm for the event among my analyst peers. I told them about my friends who were confused by their career choices and how we could help them make more informed decisions. I think my message resonated with them, because the team supported my event in both word and deed. We organized committees to handle the logistics of the case study event and a cocktail reception immediately following it at a nearby bar. By leveraging a relationship I had developed with a Vice President working on the Verizon Wireless IPO, I recruited the event's lead speaker and ultimately designed a slide presentation to accompany his talk. As the event date drew nearer, I secured co-sponsorships with two student groups at Columbia to help advertise the event and bolster turnout. By all accounts, the event was a huge success. Feedback from students was uniformly positive, and Lehman Brothers built stronger working relationships with Columbia Career Services and the Student Economic Society. On a personal level, I made connections which enabled me to volunteer as an Alumni Interviewer and became invited to serve as a Class Agent in the Development Office's fundraising efforts. In addition, the event brought our recruiting team together and helped us to form stronger bonds for future events and networking. Integrating college and Wall Street in this event proved both rewarding, both professionally and personally.
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Essay Question:
Tell us about a community experience.
As I look through my clothes closet, a bright woolen scarf catches my eye. It is not fashionable. Knitted tightly together in a bulky mass of warmth and durability, its wool is weather-worn yet somehow brightly optimistic. In many ways, the red scarf personifies Mary, the woman who made it for me. Mary was a 42 year-old African-American woman from the Bronx when I first met her in 1998, and she was tired of working as a supermarket cashier. Without a high school diploma or substantive work experience, most higher-paying jobs were beyond her reach; therefore, she had enrolled in Community Impact's GED Program. As the GED math and science teacher that semester, I was responsible for preparing Mary and twenty other students like her to pass the high school proficiency test. Mary was not the most intelligent student in the class, but she had something the others didn't: she believed she could succeed, and she worked to hard to prove it. As she stayed after class to ask questions about the material and took practice exams on her own, I found myself in awe of her self-confidence and hard work. She had faith that everything would turn out all right, despite her lack of academic skills and disadvantaged socio-economic position. My thoughts would drift to her progress during my own classes and homework, and I began to devise lesson plans with her questions in mind. It was discouraging that many of the students attended lessons sporadically and most failed to complete even the most minimal of homework assignments, but Mary's quiet confidence and bright smile kept me going. That spring Mary distinguished herself as one of a handful of students in the program to successfully pass the GED test. When Mary dropped by to share her good news, I swelled with pride in my favorite student. But then it hit me: I was the teacher in this relationship, but Mary's persistence and defiantly optimistic scarf had taught me something. Mary owned almost nothing of value and would probably have a lower-income job for the rest of her life, but she did not let that get her down. When I think about Mary's red scarf, I am reminded to have faith that I will also be able to accomplish things which seem unlikely. The scarf reminds me of her optimism and diligence, and I feel inspired to dream: if I am determined and diligent, I too will be able to reach improbable goals.
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Essay Question:
Describe a significant professional achievement.
Although I have a number of professional achievements that I consider significant, I recall a recent event with my company, Vision Venture Fund, in which I use my problem solving and leadership skills to initiate a change in process and an eventual improved outcome. Medical Logics, one of the venture fund's portfolio companies, was close to completing development of a new consumer product, but it required further effort for a successful market launch. The product market launch was a critical step for the success of Medical Logics and many of the venture fund members got involved in the product's pre-launch planning. Although good sense implies that many intelligent people working towards a goal should prove constructive, a common saying comes to mind: 'too many cooks spoil the broth.' During our first product planning meeting, too many divergent ideas were presented and a conclusion seemed virtually unattainable. To move the project forward, I launched a 'two team' approach that required the identification of the product problems and the classification of each problem as either a business planning or product development issue. Contrary to our first meeting that created much confusion, our second meeting called to identify and classify problems proved successful, with all team members working together quite efficiently, quickly identifying numerous issues and generally agreeing on each ones category. The next step was to identify the specific skills of the team members. The senior partner and I analyzed each individual, accounting for their past successes and failures, and assigning him or her either to the business team or to the development team. Each team then received the appropriate task list of issues generated from the previous brainstorming session. Through our analysis, we realized that given one's specific skill set, he or she would be more efficient and productive in one area more so than the other. The key element to the 'two team' solution did not depend on whether everyone agreed on each issue's solution; rather, it was that every issue was solved by those best suited to do so. Knowing that the venture fund members were responsible for numerous unrelated responsibilities, I realized that the possibility of neglect existed. To ensure this did not become an issue, I made sure each team was on target by periodically reviewing its task list and verifying that the necessary issues were solved or appropriately attended to. I used this system of review not only as a timeline check, but also as a tool to spur competition between the teams. As simple as this method may seem, it actually created a strong sense of initiative toward achieving goals. The problems surrounding completing the product for consumer use while advantageously launching the product to market had been solved by the deadline. Medical Logics developed a product that has high value to the end user, and was successfully launched to the cardiology and ophthalmology markets through a combination of structured sales teams, marketing at regional conferences, and a support line at the company's headquarters. Playing an integral part in the triumph of this project, I learned that not only is leadership essential to the collaboration of a group, but also that every individual contributing his or her own talents, when done constructively, is critical to the overall success of every project. In no way do I take full credit for the success of the product. However, I believe that although I was one of the youngest members of the team, my quick and critical insight into the inefficient approach initially employed helped yield a more beneficial result.
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Essay Question:
Describe your future career goals.
My career goal in the near-term is to work with a buyout & turnaround group, and my long-term goal is to be a successful entrepreneur. Since my college days, I have wanted to start my own business. Although this sounds simple, in reality being a successful entrepreneur has proven quite difficult. With this goal in mind, I began a career path to provide me with the necessary industry experience and the opportunity to refine my business savvy. I started my career as an investment banker with McDonald Investments, where I learned how to critically analyze companies and interact with high-level executives. As a person with high entrepreneurial spirit, I wanted to learn more about ventures and how companies were formulated and built. I moved on to Vision Venture Fund, a company that provides startup capital to and plays a strong management role in its portfolio companies. At Vision Venture, I have had the opportunity to further develop my analytical skills while acquiring invaluable insight into building a successful business. Additionally, I have the opportunity to influence companies on a day-to-day and long-term basis, and manage employees of different backgrounds with differing perspectives. These experiences have led me to solidify my short-term goal of pursuing an MBA to seek a position with a buyout & turnaround company. For many buyout firms, the hiring requirement is an MBA combined with several years of investment banking or venture capital experience. A Georgetown MBA will further help me tailor my background to achieve this short term goal. My goal of working for a buyout firm is linked directly to my long-term goal of starting my own business. Working with such a firm will allow me to continue to improve my understanding of the intricacies of business and to build the necessary network of colleagues and fellow entrepreneurs to proceed with my own venture. My desire to start my own business stems from wanting personal fulfillment by seeing my own creation succeed, and also so that I have the opportunity to return to society the opportunities it has given me by providing jobs and supporting positive social programs. Although I believe that having an MBA is crucial for career advancement, attending Georgetown will be more than just a stepping stone on my career path. The McDonough School of Business is an excellent setting to continue to develop my entrepreneurial skills. I believe that continued education will increase my technical knowledge of business while polishing the many skills that I already possess. However, the MBA experience does not take place only in the classroom. I look forward to interacting with my classmates and creating the valuable contacts that are increasingly important in today's dynamic business world. Just as the associates built through professional relationships will be crucial in successfully pursuing my own venture, so will the lifelong friends I will make at Georgetown. In addition, because of my entrepreneurialism, my involvement in my personal ventures will continue. This gives me the opportunity to bring valuable real-world knowledge and experience back into the classroom, where I hope to share my lessons from both successes and failures with my colleagues. I truly believe that my real-world experience from the past and what I am continuing to learn, combined with a Georgetown MBA, will create an optimal balance of education and practical knowledge. These highly valued qualities will allow me to fulfill both my short-term goal and eventually my long-term goal of becoming a successful entrepreneur. In pursuing these goals, I keep in mind that 'success is a journey, not a destination.'
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Essay Question:
Why will you be an asset to our program?
I decided to write this essay to highlight my entrepreneurial spirit and my undertaking of several business ventures that make me not only extremely unique but also a valuable asset to the McDonough School of Business. In regard to professional ventures, my employment with the Vision Venture Fund has immersed me into the world of start-up businesses. Through VVF, I work very intimately with the operations and strategic planning of these portfolio start-ups. The experience that I have learned through these companies is invaluable, as I now know how to raise capital for a start-up, and how to plan the initial operations and strategy for such a venture. In addition to the start-up companies that I work with professionally, I am involved with a few ventures of my own. Either through being invited to join or starting the venture myself, I now am working with three new companies: a healthcare consulting firm, a firm that provides outsourcing of financial and analytical needs, and a clothing fashion & design company. Working on new ventures is rewarding not only due to the potential for high financial return, but also because of the great deal of practical knowledge that I have acquired. Through these ventures, I have learned the importance of strategic marketing, managed international networks, setup a national symposium of industry experts, and have immersed myself into graphic design projects (which I have been told I am quite talented at). My background of entrepreneurship will serve as a wonderful enhancement to the MBA program and my fellow students. I feel that the entrepreneurial spirit is an American tradition. I hope to be able to inspire other students to consider an entrepreneurial venture at some point either through learning about my past experiences or through my enthusiasm about this subject. Additionally, I intend to continue working with my present ventures to a certain extent while earning my MBA. I anticipate bringing this real-world experience to Georgetown, enhancing the classroom experience while keeping my peers aware of current business trends.
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Essay Question:
Describe a memorable experience.
My time as freshman class president in college is not only one of the most memorable, but also a very significant experience that taught me a number of important lessons. One particular experience taught me the importance of understanding another's position and perspective. This, in turn, taught me to find a way to always search for a compromise between divergent groups. At the end of freshman year, a conflict arose as to the allocation of the class year-end funding. Groups lobbied me for a donation to a charitable organization, while a majority of the students wanted a class-sponsored social event. In making a decision, I spoke to a number of people from both sides of the issue. From these discussions, I learned exactly what each side was trying to accomplish by analyzing the problem from each side's point of view. The party-supporters wanted an event, but not necessarily a free one. The philanthropy-supporters wanted a donation to a charity, but had not considered an event to raise additional funds. From negotiations, the executive committee and I decided to have a semi-sponsored social event that would generate funds through an admission fee and raffle. Ultimately the event was successful, as many students attended the event and enjoyed themselves; at the same time, a large donation was raised for a selected charity. This may be a simple undergraduate experience, but it shaped my personality in a way which has had considerable impact on my everyday life. Now, in professional matters or otherwise, I attempt to uncover a motive or a need that drives an individual to take a position on an issue. Not only does such insight allow me to be a better negotiator, but it allows me to solve complex problems creatively. Often a compromise is required in order resolve a problem between two parties. Whether this problem be a social conflict between friends or a hesitation that an individual may have regarding investing with the venture capital company I work for, I am able to use my skill of 'looking into' a problem to insightfully resolve such issues.
