Sample MBA Essays and School Specific Tips

In this example, we witness the journey of a growth marketer who found tremendous success early in his career by helping a start-up achieve its first growth milestone ($100M revenue). The experience of contributing both on the creative and analytic side of marketing is cited to demonstrate the candidate’s unique skill and mindset. The only doubt in his impressive career is sprinkled into the narrative while meeting the product manager.

In the second example, we look at the example of a candidate who was part of a four-nationality team for an online flight booking giant. With a universal customer booking form that worked for customers of all nationalities, the unique problem of ‘Dutch’ customers habitually using nicknames, became an identification nightmare for the airport authorities. The narrative demonstrates how the team’s diverse cultural exposure helped them find a permanent solution for a pressing problem.

In this example, we cite the example of a consultant working for the government of India to decode the high open defecation. Applying complex data models, the candidate and his team came up with a formula that involved attacking the problem in three areas – infrastructure, awareness, and project allocation. The extensive study and analysis led to the recommendation to prioritize an infrastructure-driven solution. However, the candidate failed to decode the complexity of Indian culture and their deeply held beliefs.

In the first example, we narrate the example of a candidate who is leading a dysfunctional high-performing team. As the third team lead to manage the complex dynamics and motivation of the team, the candidate felt the pressure to get things right. Through informal listening sessions, the candidate’s first attempt at leadership began. Understanding the ambition and creative aspirations helped the candidate turn around the team from warring factions to a cohesive team motivated to help the smartphone giant regain its lost glory.

In this example, we look at an engineer, who has worked in a transformative phase of the automotive industry and realized that the change in expectations of customers, who are exposed to Tesla’s software updates schedules and iterative improvements, would soon lead the incumbents out of business if they don’t redesign the supply chain.

In this example, we look at the fictitious profile of a Medical Doctor, who wants to be at the helm of real-change – Investment. A multi-faceted individual, who found impact in every engagement he participated as a Medical Doctor to Strategist, is finally seeking one of the most ambitious career transitions – to switch from someone serving the patients to leading investments in a value-based healthcare system.

In this example, we look at the fictitious profile of a Program Manager, who has five years serving in a US-based international aid organization that serves in resolving issues in global hunger, disease-control, extremism, and climate change. The impetus to change the career path from Government to Technology happened in 2017 while serving as the primary point of contact for a technology firm that was integrating technology in the organization’s fund allocation, beneficiary tracking, and project implementation.