Berkeley Haas MBA What Makes you feel Alive Essay Example: Pushing oneself until Failure and Learning from Diverse Teams
Author’s Note
I have explained about segue in my new MBA Essay Writing Series. I would highly recommend that you read them to understand the many contexts of Segues.
Theme: Entrepreneurial Thinking, Failure, Diversity
Theme (Explained): Applicants with entrepreneurial thinking and mindset are the target audience for startups. We have come a long way from candidates preferring Fortune 500 companies to those who are open to startups as long as they find meaning in the contributions.
A big reason an applicant with entrepreneurial thinking is attracted to startups is the autonomy and their thick skin to fail and pivot fast. These obvious qualities should be validated in one of the essays. For Haas, what makes you feel alive, or the goals essay, are two places to use the narrative.
Profile: Product Manager
Industry: Healthcare
Similar Narrative (Industries): Technology
MBA Essay Strategy: Not all ‘what makes you feel alive’ examples should start with your job or contributions to a non-profit. You can cleverly create a hook about any random experience that makes you feel alive and then segue into the learning experience in your professional, entrepreneurial, or volunteering engagement. It should be an extension of your personality trait.
When most essays are about the applicant, I have incorporated a line that clearly attributes a colleague’s input as crucial in improving the product. Use team collaboration narrative by crediting the right person.
Opener: I wanted to create anxiety with the opening paragraph so that the admissions person would be hooked and read the next paragraph. If you are from a competitive application demographic, find a creative way to phrase openers.
Background Information (Resume): Product Manager with 5+ years working in a revolutionary product in the healthcare diagnostic space.
Sample Haas MBA What Makes you Feel Alive (Failing and Learning from a Diverse team) (289 Words)
Are you ready to jump? I shouted, “Yes,” masking the risks with the adrenaline rush of jumping from 10,000 feet above the ground. It was the precise moment when my legs left
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