HEC Paris MBA : Essay Tips, Analysis, and Strategies

HEC Paris MBA is a comprehensive 16-month full-time program where peers with 6 years of average work experience gain hands-on experience in a class with 93% international students.

In this in-depth Essay Tips for the HEC Paris MBA program, we cover:

•    HEC Paris MBA: Vision, Mission, and Values
•    Ideal Candidates for the HEC Paris MBA Program
•    What to Highlight in Your Essay
•    Essay Tips

HEC Paris MBA: Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

HEC Paris aims to "IMPACT business and society through research, education, and action, to contribute to a more inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable world." This vision underscores a commitment to blending academic excellence with real-world application, emphasizing responsible leadership and global impact. The MBA program is designed to develop leaders who can navigate complex business challenges while integrating social and environmental considerations into their decision-making.

Mission

The mission of the HEC Paris MBA program is reflected in three core principles:

•    "We THINK and push the boundaries of knowledge" – Encouraging intellectual curiosity and advancing business research to address modern challenges

•    "We TEACH, learn and grow together" – Fostering a collaborative learning environment where students, faculty, and industry leaders engage in knowledge exchange

•    "We ACT, to unleash human potential" – Equipping students with the skills to drive meaningful change through leadership, innovation, and action

Values

•    Curiosity: A culture of continuous learning and exploration, encouraging students to challenge norms and seek innovative solutions

•    Excellence: A focus on personal and professional growth, striving for self-improvement rather than competition

•    Diversity: A commitment to multiculturalism and cross-disciplinary learning to prepare students for global business leadership

•    Responsibility: A dedication to ethical business practices and sustainable decision-making

•    Entrepreneurial Spirit: Encouraging risk-taking, creativity, and innovation, both in corporate settings and entrepreneurial ventures.

Ideal Candidates for the HEC Paris MBA Program

HEC Paris seeks ambitious, well-rounded professionals who demonstrate strong leadership potential, a global outlook, and a commitment to making a lasting impact. The ideal MBA candidate should possess:

•    Academic Accomplishment: A degree from an accredited institution showcasing intellectual rigor and adaptability to an intensive academic environment.

•    Professional Experience & Career Progression: A track record of career advancement, demonstrating the ability to take on increasing responsibilities and achieve tangible results.

•    Leadership Potential: Evidence of leadership in professional or personal settings, showing initiative, problem-solving abilities, and a capacity to inspire others.

•    International Exposure: A global mindset with the ability to work effectively in diverse cultural settings, reflecting HEC’s international learning environment.

•    MBA Motivation & Career Objectives: A clear understanding of how the HEC Paris MBA aligns with personal career goals, demonstrating purpose-driven ambition.

•    Interpersonal Skills & Personality: Strong communication skills, humility, and the ability to collaborate effectively in teams, embodying respect and inclusivity.

What to Highlight in Your Essay

To craft a compelling essay for the HEC Paris MBA application, candidates should align their experiences, aspirations, and values with the program’s vision, mission, and requirements. Here’s how to structure your essay effectively:

•    Align with HEC’s Vision: Demonstrate how your experiences and ambitions align with HEC’s commitment to impactful business leadership. Discuss any initiatives, projects, or roles where you contributed to societal betterment, sustainability, or ethical business practices.

•    Showcase Leadership Potential: Provide concrete examples of when you took initiative, led teams, or drove innovation in a professional or extracurricular setting. Highlight moments where your leadership had a lasting impact.

•    Highlight International and Cross-Cultural Competencies: Share experiences of working in global environments, collaborating across cultures, or handling international business challenges.

•    Demonstrate Career Progression and Ambition: Illustrate your professional growth with key milestones, leadership roles, and strategic career choices. Clearly outline how the MBA fits into your career trajectory.

•    Emphasize Entrepreneurial and Problem-Solving Mindset: Whether through launching initiatives, improving processes, or overcoming business challenges, showcase how you embody an entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving.

•    Convey Passion and Motivation for HEC Paris MBA: Clearly articulate why HEC Paris is the right fit for you and how its program aligns with your long-term aspirations. Connect your goals with HEC’s global network, diverse learning environment, and leadership development opportunities.

By integrating these elements, your essay will reflect a strong alignment with HEC Paris’s values and demonstrate your potential as a future leader in its MBA program.

Essay Tips – HEC Paris MBA

Essay 1: Why are you applying to the HEC MBA Program now? What is the professional objective that will guide your career choice after your MBA, and how will the HEC MBA contribute to the achievement of this objective?

How to Approach

1. Define a Clear Career Objective with Specificity

A strong essay starts with a well-defined career objective. Instead of vague aspirations like “I want to work in business,” specify your target industry, function, and companies. Show that you have a clear roadmap for your post-MBA career and that your goals are both ambitious and achievable.

Example: Karan, an engineer with experience in financial risk, might state his goal of transitioning into technology-driven logistics solutions. He could highlight companies like Amazon, HelloFresh, or Uber Freight and roles such as Senior Program Manager or Logistics Strategy Lead. By defining his career path with precision, Karan presents a focused ambition that aligns with HEC’s strengths in technology, analytics, and global business.

HEC Program Alignment: Karan could mention HEC’s “Digital Innovation for Business” specialization and data-driven decision-making courses as key academic resources that will equip him with the strategic and analytical skills needed for his transition.

He might also reference HEC’s strong network in Europe as an asset in securing leadership roles in tech-driven logistics firms.

2. Justify Why This is the Right Time for Your MBA

HEC looks for candidates who can clearly articulate why they need an MBA at this stage in their career. Discuss your career progression, highlighting key promotions, leadership roles, or industry shifts that make this the ideal moment for an MBA. Link your decision to broader market trends and skill gaps that HEC can help you bridge.

Example: Karan, now working in public policy consulting, has gained exposure to large-scale operational challenges but needs a deeper business foundation to transition into technology-driven supply chain management. He would emphasize how his work on COVID-19 response strategies revealed the potential for AI and automation in logistics, making an MBA necessary at this stage.

HEC Program Alignment: Karan could reference HEC’s supply chain and operations management courses, which will strengthen his ability to lead technology-driven logistics initiatives. He might also mention HEC’s consulting practice, where he can refine his problem-solving skills while working on real-world business challenges.

3. Explain Why HEC Paris is the Right Fit

Admissions committees want to know why you chose HEC over other top MBA programs. Instead of generic praise, reference specific aspects of HEC that align with your goals. This could include unique courses, extracurricular activities, career resources, or alumni engagement.

Example: Karan, who aspires to lead in logistics technology, might highlight HEC’s strong emphasis on strategic innovation and entrepreneurship. He could mention the “MBA Consulting Practice,” where he would gain hands-on experience solving industry challenges, and the “Entrepreneurship & Innovation” track that aligns with his goal of reviving his logistics startup.

HEC Program Alignment: Karan could discuss how HEC’s access to Station F, Europe’s largest startup incubator, and its industry partnerships provide unparalleled opportunities to refine and launch technology-driven logistics solutions.

4. Highlight International and Cross-Cultural Experience

HEC values candidates with a global outlook and adaptability to diverse business environments. Highlight experiences where you worked in international teams, managed cross-border projects or demonstrated cultural agility. If your career goals have an international dimension, make sure to connect this to HEC’s global strengths.

Example: Karan, fluent in five languages, has worked across India, Singapore, and Dubai, adapting his communication strategies to diverse professional settings. He could discuss how leading global consulting projects strengthened his ability to collaborate across cultures and industries.

HEC Program Alignment: Karan could highlight HEC’s international student body, global immersion programs, and multilingual learning environment as key factors that will prepare him for leadership roles in multinational logistics firms.

5. Showcase Past Experiences that Align with Your Goals

Your essay should demonstrate that you have the background and motivation to succeed in your chosen career path. Highlight past roles, internships, or projects that have prepared you for your future ambitions.

Example: Karan, who co-founded a logistics startup at 15, might discuss how he developed an algorithm for dynamic pricing based on surplus stock. Though the venture dissolved, the experience gave him valuable insights into supply chain optimization, reinforcing his interest in logistics and technology.

HEC Program Alignment: Karan could reference HEC’s strategy and analytics courses that will enhance his ability to build scalable supply chain solutions. He might also highlight HEC’s hands-on consulting projects as opportunities to apply his experience to real-world business challenges.

6. Express a Long-Term Vision Beyond Immediate Roles

While short-term goals show direction, long-term aspirations reflect ambition and alignment with HEC’s mission of creating impactful leaders. Your long-term vision should showcase how you plan to grow and contribute to your industry or society.

Example: Karan, now set to join Amazon, could outline his long-term ambition of launching a technology-driven logistics platform that enhances supply chain efficiency and sustainability. He might highlight how his past entrepreneurial experience and MBA training will enable him to build innovative logistics solutions with a global impact.

HEC Program Alignment: Karan could mention HEC’s focus on responsible leadership, sustainability, and digital transformation as key elements that will support his journey toward leading impactful supply chain innovations.

Essay 2: What do you consider your most significant life achievement?

How to Approach

This essay is an opportunity to showcase a defining moment in your personal or professional life that highlights your leadership, problem-solving skills, resilience, and impact. HEC Paris values candidates who demonstrate adaptability, cross-cultural collaboration, and a strong sense of purpose. The achievement should align with these values while also demonstrating your ability to drive meaningful change.

1. Choose an Achievement that Demonstrates Leadership and Impact

Admissions committees want to see how you influence people, solve problems, and create tangible results. The achievement you select should reflect the skills and qualities that align with HEC’s mission of developing global leaders who drive innovation and progress.

Example: Karan’s most significant achievement was leading a crisis response initiative for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a public policy consultant, he developed a government-backed support program that helped over 5,000 struggling businesses secure financial aid and operational resources. This initiative had a direct economic impact, saving jobs and sustaining businesses during a critical period.

2. Highlight the Challenges Faced and Your Role in Overcoming Them

Strong essays don’t just describe the achievement—they detail the challenges that made success difficult and how you navigated them. This is crucial because it provides insight into your ability to overcome adversity, a key trait valued by HEC.

Example: Karan faced several challenges in executing this initiative:
•    Navigating Bureaucracy: Government processes were slow and rigid, making it difficult to implement the program quickly.
•    Stakeholder Coordination: Convincing policymakers, financial institutions, and business owners to collaborate requires extensive negotiation and persuasion.
•    Data-Driven Decision Making: Identifying which businesses needed the most support required advanced analytics and economic modeling.

To overcome these, Karan leveraged his analytical skills to develop an AI-powered risk assessment tool that prioritized businesses based on financial vulnerability. He also built relationships with key stakeholders, securing fast-track approvals from policymakers and financial institutions.

3. Demonstrate Leadership and Strategic Thinking

Admissions officers look for candidates who take initiative, influence change, and think strategically. The essay should clearly demonstrate your ability to lead through complex situations.

Example: Karan’s leadership was evident in his ability to:
•    Mobilize a Cross-Functional Team: He assembled and led a task force of economists, policymakers, and business leaders to design and implement the program.
•    Innovate Under Pressure: He designed a financial aid application system that reduced approval times from weeks to days.
•    Measure and Optimize Impact: He continuously analyzed data to refine the program, ensuring resources were directed to the businesses that needed them most.

4. Connect Your Achievement to HEC’s Values

HEC Paris seeks candidates who are not just high achievers but also those who align with its mission of responsible leadership, innovation, and global impact. Show how your achievement reflects these values.

Example: Karan’s initiative aligns with HEC’s commitment to responsible leadership and economic sustainability. His ability to drive impactful change through policy and analytics mirrors the skills taught in HEC’s strategy and finance courses. 

Additionally, his experience leading cross-border collaboration resonates with HEC’s strong emphasis on international business and multicultural teamwork.

5. Explain How This Achievement Shapes Your Future Goals

Your essay should conclude by linking your achievement to your long-term aspirations. Admissions committees want to see how past success informs future ambitions.

Example: Karan’s experience tackling large-scale economic challenges reinforced his ambition to drive innovation in logistics technology. The problem-solving skills he honed will be instrumental in developing AI-driven supply chain solutions post-MBA. 

At HEC, he aims to refine these skills through courses in digital transformation and global strategy while leveraging the school’s network to transition into a leadership role at a multinational logistics firm.

Essay 3: Leadership and ethics are inevitably intertwined in the business world. Describe a situation in which you have dealt with these issues and how they have influenced you.

How to Approach

This essay challenges applicants to demonstrate how they have navigated ethical dilemmas while exhibiting strong leadership. HEC Paris seeks individuals who uphold integrity, make principled decisions under pressure, and lead with impact. A strong response should highlight the ethical conflict, the decision-making process, and the lessons learned. By effectively articulating how ethical leadership influences business outcomes, applicants can demonstrate their ability to drive responsible decision-making in their future careers.

1. Choose a Situation that Showcases Ethical Leadership

Your response should center on an experience where you had to make a difficult ethical decision while leading a team or influencing an outcome. The situation should demonstrate moral reasoning, strategic thinking, and long-term impact. The goal is to highlight a moment where ethical judgment was tested, requiring courage and foresight to address the issue without compromising values.

Example: Karan encountered a critical ethical challenge while working in HSBC’s Financial Risk Department. A high-profile project involved reviewing transactions for regulatory compliance. During an audit, he discovered irregularities in financial reports that, if unaddressed, could lead to potential regulatory violations and severe fines. The ethical dilemma was clear: reporting the discrepancies could delay the project and anger senior leadership, but ignoring them could lead to legal repercussions and financial instability. This situation required Karan to evaluate the trade-offs between professional risks and long-term corporate responsibility.

2. Highlight the Ethical Dilemma and the Challenges It Posed

Strong essays go beyond describing an issue—they analyze why it was difficult to navigate and what was at stake. Discuss the pressures involved, such as conflicting interests, stakeholder expectations, or career risks. Ethics in business is often complicated by competing priorities, and the response should reflect an understanding of these dynamics.

Example: Karan faced multiple challenges in addressing this ethical dilemma:
•    Pressure from Senior Management: There was an implicit expectation to meet project deadlines without disruptions. Delays could impact financial reporting cycles, making the issue even more sensitive.
•    Potential Reputation Risks: Reporting the issue could lead to scrutiny from regulators and damage the firm’s credibility, potentially affecting investor confidence.
•    Team Loyalty vs. Integrity: His team had been working tirelessly on the project, and any delay would reflect poorly on their efforts. As a leader, he had to balance protecting his colleagues’ efforts while ensuring full regulatory compliance.

3. Explain the Actions Taken and Ethical Reasoning

HEC Paris values leaders who make principled decisions even in difficult situations. Clearly outline the steps you took to resolve the issue while maintaining ethical integrity. Ethical leadership requires not just identifying a problem but also taking decisive action to address it constructively.

Example: Despite the pressure, Karan prioritized ethical responsibility. His approach included:
•    Consulting Internal Compliance Teams: He sought guidance from regulatory experts to understand the severity of the issue and explore possible corrective actions.
•    Presenting a Risk-Mitigation Strategy: Rather than simply escalating the problem, he proposed a remediation plan that addressed the discrepancies while minimizing project delays, ensuring regulatory compliance without compromising efficiency.
•    Leading a Transparent Discussion with Leadership: He framed the issue as an opportunity to strengthen compliance rather than as a failure, ensuring buy-in from senior executives and fostering a culture of integrity.

His actions not only prevented potential regulatory fines exceeding €17 billion but also reinforced a culture of transparency and ethical decision-making at HSBC. By proactively addressing the issue, Karan demonstrated that ethical leadership does not come at the cost of business success but rather enhances it.

4. Connect the Experience to HEC’s Values

HEC Paris fosters responsible leadership and global impact. Show how your ethical leadership aligns with the school’s mission and curriculum. Highlighting how the experience ties into the broader themes of corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and strategic leadership will make your response more compelling.

Example: Karan’s experience exemplifies HEC’s emphasis on responsible leadership and ethical decision-making. His ability to navigate complex financial regulations and uphold corporate integrity aligns with HEC’s courses in corporate governance and risk management. Furthermore, his experience working across international teams in compliance and risk strategy reflects the school’s focus on global business challenges. By joining HEC, he aims to refine his decision-making framework and gain deeper insights into ethical leadership in multinational organizations.

5. Demonstrate the Lasting Impact and Lessons Learned

Admissions officers want to see how this experience shaped your values and professional aspirations. Explain how the ethical dilemma influenced your leadership philosophy. The best essays show not just what happened but how the experience has driven personal and professional growth.

Example: This experience reinforced Karan’s belief that ethical leadership is non-negotiable, even in high-pressure environments. It also strengthened his strategic decision-making skills, teaching him that transparency and proactiveness can turn potential crises into opportunities for organizational improvement. At HEC, he aims to deepen his expertise in financial ethics and compliance, ensuring that businesses operate with integrity while driving sustainable growth. Post-MBA, he aspires to lead risk management initiatives in the technology sector, where ethical data usage and regulatory adherence are increasingly critical. His long-term goal is to contribute to industry-wide best practices, ensuring that ethical leadership remains at the core of business operations.

Essay 4: Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be?

How to Approach

This essay invites applicants to showcase creativity, self-awareness, and the ability to think beyond conventional career paths. HEC Paris values individuals who are adaptable, open to diverse perspectives, and have the capacity to reimagine their futures. A strong response will go beyond listing an alternative career choice and instead explore why this path is compelling, how it aligns with the applicant’s values, and what it reveals about their aspirations.

1. Choose a Life That Reflects Your Passions and Values

Select a life that is not just a random alternative but one that resonates with your core interests, personal values, and professional philosophy. The key is to ensure authenticity—admissions officers want to see what truly excites and motivates you beyond business.

Example: Karan has always been fascinated by urban sustainability and how cities can be reengineered to optimize resources, reduce waste, and improve quality of life. If he were to pursue an entirely different path, he would be an environmental urban planner, leading sustainable city development projects in developing countries. This alternative career reflects his deep-seated interest in environmental stewardship, data-driven urban innovation, and global impact.

2. Explain the Motivation Behind This Choice

A compelling essay will explain why this life is appealing rather than simply stating a different profession. The response should connect personal experiences, insights, or past engagements that sparked interest in this field.

Example: Karan’s interest in sustainable city development stems from his upbringing in Mumbai, where rapid urbanization has led to overcrowded streets, pollution, and infrastructure inefficiencies. His visits to European cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, where urban design incorporates green spaces, bicycle-friendly streets, and waste reduction policies, inspired him to think about how such models could be adapted to densely populated cities in India. This perspective shift made him realize that urban planning has the potential to improve millions of lives, not just by designing cities but by creating long-term systemic change in environmental conservation and economic opportunity.

3. Highlight the Skills and Mindset Required

Since the chosen life is different from the applicant’s current trajectory, it’s important to discuss the skills and mindset that would be essential in this new field. Admissions officers are looking for a thoughtful analysis of how skills from one career can transfer to another.

Example: As an environmental urban planner, Karan would need a deep understanding of urban infrastructure, environmental impact assessments, and policy frameworks. His background in financial risk management has given him analytical skills and a data-driven approach to problem-solving—tools that would be invaluable in designing smart, sustainable urban solutions. 

Leadership, stakeholder negotiation, and strategic decision-making honed in the corporate world would help him collaborate with governments, environmental agencies, and technology firms to drive large-scale city transformation projects.

4. Connect Back to HEC’s Values

HEC Paris emphasizes global impact, responsible leadership, and strategic thinking. Your response should subtly connect this alternative life to HEC’s mission, demonstrating that even in a different career, your values and leadership approach would remain aligned with what the school cultivates.

Example: Karan’s vision of sustainable urban transformation aligns with HEC Paris’s focus on responsible business leadership. The school’s commitment to sustainability through programs like the Inclusive & Social Business Certificate and its global business focus reinforces his belief that business acumen can be a tool for social good. Even if he were not in the corporate world, he would still strive to create large-scale, sustainable impact—an approach that resonates with HEC’s mission of shaping leaders who drive positive change.

5. Show What This Alternative Life Reveals About You

The final section should reflect on how this alternative path connects to your personality, ambitions, and overall worldview. Admissions officers want to understand how your aspirations and leadership philosophy extend beyond traditional business roles.

Example: Reimagining life as an environmental urban planner has reinforced Karan’s belief that impact is not confined to a single industry. Whether leading financial risk management initiatives or designing eco-friendly cities, his goal remains the same: to solve complex problems with data-driven, sustainable solutions. This alternative career path also highlights his adaptability, creativity, and willingness to challenge existing norms—qualities that will shape his contributions at HEC Paris and beyond. Ultimately, regardless of the path he chooses, his purpose remains centered on responsible leadership and systemic transformation.

Essay 5. Please choose from one of the following essays:

a) What monument or site would you advise a first-time visitor to your country or city to discover, and why?
b) Certain books, movies or plays have had an international success that you believe to be undeserved. Choose an example and analyse it.
c) What figure do you most admire and why? You may choose from any field (arts, literature, politics, business, etc).

How to Approach

This essay is an opportunity to showcase analytical thinking, cultural awareness, and alignment with HEC Paris’s values. Strong responses will demonstrate intellectual curiosity, originality, and the ability to engage with diverse perspectives. A well-structured argument should go beyond personal preference and connect with broader themes such as leadership, global impact, or innovation. Your choice should be backed by well-reasoned arguments, relevant examples, and connections to HEC’s emphasis on strategic leadership, ethics, and global perspectives.

Option A: What monument or site would you advise a first-time visitor to your country or city to discover, and why?

1. Choose a Monument That Represents Cultural or Economic Significance

Avoid generic choices like famous tourist attractions unless you can present a unique perspective. Instead, select a monument that reflects historical resilience, economic transformation, or cultural evolution. HEC seeks candidates who can think critically about their surroundings and articulate deeper meanings.

What to Include:
•    Historical context: Why was the monument built, and what does it represent?
•    Economic or cultural impact: How has it shaped the local or national identity?
•    Relevance to modern business or leadership: Does it symbolize innovation, resilience, or global influence?

Example: Karan could have chosen the Gateway of India instead of the Taj Mahal. While the latter is a globally recognized symbol, the Gateway of India represents India’s colonial history, its transition to independence, and its role in global trade. He could have explained how this site marks a significant historical turning point—the departure of the last British troops in 1948—symbolizing resilience and self-determination. Connecting this to HEC’s global outlook, Karan could have argued that understanding a nation’s history of economic and political transformation is essential for international business leaders.

2. Explain the Site’s Impact Beyond Tourism

A strong response moves beyond description to analyze the site’s broader influence.

What to Include:
•    How does it influence economic activity, tourism, or policy?
•    Does it reflect societal transformation or business relevance?
•    How does it connect to global leadership or innovation?

Example: Karan could have explored how the Gateway of India is not just a monument but a representation of Mumbai’s status as India’s financial hub. He could have linked this to how global business hubs, such as Paris and London, have similar historical markers, demonstrating his ability to think critically about business and cultural evolution.

3. Relate It to Your Personal and Professional Growth

HEC values candidates who integrate personal experiences with broader themes.

What to Include:
•    How has this site influenced your worldview or career aspirations?
•    How does it align with HEC’s global leadership focus?

Example: Karan could have connected the resilience and transformation symbolized by the Gateway of India to his own experience of adapting to global business challenges. By linking this to HEC’s emphasis on leadership in complex environments, he could have strengthened his case for why he fits the program.

Option B: Certain books, movies, or plays have had an international success that you believe to be undeserved. Choose an example and analyze it.

1. Choose a Work That Has a Broader Issue

Rather than choosing a work based on personal dislike, select one that highlights a larger issue—such as cultural misrepresentation, misleading narratives, or overrated commercial success.

What to Include:
•    Why do you believe the success is undeserved?
•    What are its cultural, business, or societal implications?
•    How does it compare to more deserving works?

Example: Karan could have chosen The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho instead of a controversial book. He could have argued that while the novel inspires many readers, its message of fate-driven success oversimplifies the complexities of ambition, hard work, and strategic decision-making. He could have contrasted this with books like Mindset by Carol Dweck, which emphasizes continuous learning and adaptability—qualities that are crucial for leaders.

2. Provide an Analytical Critique

Your argument should go beyond opinion and provide logical reasoning.

What to Include:
•    A clear explanation of why the work is overrated.
•    How does it shape audience perception?
•    What lessons can be drawn for business and leadership?

Example: Karan could have pointed out that The Alchemist romanticizes the idea that success is a matter of destiny rather than preparation. He could have argued that HEC values analytical thinking and strategic planning over passive optimism, making a strong case for why a more realistic approach to success is necessary for business leaders.

3. Connect It to Business and Leadership Perspectives

Show how this analysis ties into critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential for an HEC MBA candidate.

Example: Karan could have concluded by discussing how business leaders must distinguish between motivational storytelling and practical leadership strategies. He could have linked this to HEC’s approach to case-based learning, which emphasizes decision-making based on evidence rather than intuition alone.

Option C: What figure do you most admire and why?

1. Choose a Leader Who Embodies HEC’s Values

Select a figure whose leadership, innovation, or impact aligns with HEC’s mission. Instead of a globally famous icon, consider someone whose values and achievements resonate with your professional aspirations.

What to Include:
•    Why do you admire this person? Focus on leadership qualities, ethical decision-making, or innovation.
•    How has their work influenced business, politics, or society?
•    What leadership lessons can be learned from their journey?

Example: Karan could have chosen Dr. Verghese Kurien, the architect of India’s White Revolution, instead of a corporate leader like Steve Jobs. He could have discussed how Kurien’s vision transformed India from a milk-deficient country to the largest producer of dairy products, showcasing sustainable business leadership and long-term economic impact.

2. Analyze Their Leadership and Long-Term Influence

Move beyond listing achievements—analyze their decision-making, problem-solving, and long-term impact.

What to Include:
•    What key challenges did they overcome?
•    How did they create lasting change?
•    How do their values align with modern leadership?

Example: Karan could have explored how Kurien’s model of cooperative business helped uplift rural economies while maintaining ethical business practices. He could have drawn a parallel between this and HEC’s focus on responsible leadership in global markets.

3. Relate Their Leadership to Your Own Goals

Explain how their principles influence your own aspirations and how they align with HEC’s focus on leadership development.

Example: Karan could have connected Kurien’s ability to balance profit with social good to his own goal of building sustainable business models. He could have highlighted how HEC’s coursework in sustainability and social impact would help him refine his leadership approach.

Reference

• Student Profile - Karan