Development Completed Bachelors Studies - Personal Statement Example

?Background All of us nurture some dreams and towards fulfillment of these dreams, we pursue a of action. Having completed the Bachelor’s studies in linguistics, I was looking around for a career. Along with the Bachelor’s studies, I worked as a marketing advisor with my father who is in the business of real estate. This role gave me a tremendous experience and motivation to hone my skills as a business owner/entrepreneur. I looked around, took opinions, read about the different institutes offering MBA courses, the potential that these courses had, and finally decided to enroll for one such MBA program. With a good GPA scored during the Bachelor’s course and work experience gained as the marketing advisor, I managed to enroll myself at University of New Brunswick. My tenure at this University has been one of tremendous learning, and this has contributed towards personal development along with high prospects in the professional career. I came to the university with an open mind with no assumptions and no expectations. I would first like to present what I learned through the academic courses and then move on to the other teachings that an MBA course offers. The environment itself has much to teach, and learning during the MBA stretches far beyond the academic module. However, one has to be open to learning, observing, perceiving and absorbing. Benefits through academic learning The academic course was divided into three modules and the first module comprised of accounting, marketing, statistics and research, and effective communication. I dreaded accounting as I had not fared well during the pre-MBA phase. However, to overcome the fear and to understand the accounting concept, I took up the two-week quant camp which definitely did a lot to develop interest in accounting. After that there was no looking back, and I pursued the subject seriously, making sure I solved problems after each class. This one of my biggest achievements in this course – I understood and overcame the fear of accounting. I am glad I did so because the basics of accounting are essential to run your own business. Marketing had been my domain and interest before I started this course. This course was very interesting and at the same time it helped me develop professional skills on how to actually market products or services. The course stretched into marketing for profit- and non-profit organizations. What I specifically enjoyed was the analytics that provide insight into marketing efforts and help the marketers further amend their strategy. Statistics and research, while essential for business, was a little difficult for me. I guess it is enough to understand its value and the basics, so that we can extract information when necessary. Not everyone can be an expert in every field, so I decided not to spend too much energy in a subject which I would not be keen to pursue later as a career. However, I did learn to use excel, which is very important in analytics. Analytics help in marketing decisions and statistics help to decide on the target audience. As a marketer, communication has always been my strength but this course taught me the finer techniques in communication. Business communication becomes essential for every professional, both in oral and written format. Communication is also essential in dealing with colleagues and subordinates. Thus, even though many may consider this as a natural or innate talent, I feel the course does provide a guideline on communication at different levels. The second module was even more interesting as it taught us how to apply the theories and technical knowledge in business. Management skills development is an essential trait because one needs to develop the competencies to manage and lead an organization. This course also taught us the difference between a manager and a leader. I never knew the difference between the two, before the course. The different leadership traits and qualifications essential in different circumstances was an interesting learning. Another major learning for me has been financial management, taking financial and investment decisions. Since my undergraduate studies and the work experience had nothing to do with finance, this definitely prepared me for future. We need to take personal decisions on our own finances as well. This subject provided the basics of financial management as well as how company reports are evaluated, which help in investment decisions. Production and Operations management was not very appealing to me although I did develop a basic idea. I would like to remain on the services side and not on the manufacturing side of business. However, it taught us how planning and control is essential in any business. Although I was not keen on manufacturing but logistics and supply chain management in operations was amazing. This will also be helpful in international trade because logistics is critical to the success of international business. I found international trade management extremely appealing especially in the dynamic business environment. The theories of international trade and their basis provided insight in to how different factors influence international trade. Small changes in the international or local markets can impact trade, and this was fascinating. Without this course, the exposure to such insights would have been limited. Besides, it was intriguing to know of the factors that influence entry decisions in foreign markets. International trade management has been truly engrossing, amazing and fascinating. It also takes into account workforce management and this is where knowledge and experience in diversity in culture and background is required. The third module comprised of management information systems, strategic management, prices and markets and readings in social commerce. The most interesting part of management information system was how technology should be managed. So far my exposure had been on how to use technology effectively. This was a new dimension and captured my interest because I learnt its management at different levels. Whether to be an entrepreneur/owner or work at an organization, strategic management holds the key to success. We were given exposure and learning experience through devising strategies for real situations. I had heard of terms such as SWOT and PESTLE, but to know that these are the tools that help in strategic decision making, was interesting. We were made to undertake case studies, read and then discuss them in a group to find solutions. As with accounts and finance, I was not very attentive in the macro-economic classes. Personal Development Apart from the academic courses, I derived immense benefit in working as a team player. Working in cooperation and collaboration are important to achieve business goals. Through different games and techniques, we were also made to develop leadership skills. We were often asked to present reports, presentation and projects at extremely short notice. This trained us to work under pressure but not succumb to the pressure. Initially I used to get agitated when we had to keep awake at night or cancel some entertainment schedules, but over time we realized that these were aimed at training us to adapt to sudden changes. We learnt to be calm, work against time but still manage to submit the projects. This involved team work as students had to work in groups for projects. We were given time bound projects which helped us to learn time management, to maintain schedules and to accept and discharge responsibility. Every student was expected to serve at least one community on the campus. This initially appeared to be a strain on the limited time that we had but then one realized the benefits of such service. It exposes students to such situation and realities that learning is an automatic outcome. We learnt to deal with real situations, real crises, real people and their problems. For instance, some of us were in charge of the food in the mess. We realized it is not possible to please all the people at the same time but we should try and work towards the maximum good. We had to involve people to give their input as we cannot take unilateral decisions. This taught us people skills and how people engagement is essential to achieve cooperation. In addition to being a team player, a manager must possess human skills, apart from leadership qualities. This requires having training in motivating and managing a group of individuals. International trade also involves business negotiations and this may also call for skills in handling crises and disturbances. While at the MBA we were not given much of theoretical training in crises management but we did have exposure to some practical situations where we were expected to use our skills. Human skills also include the ability to be a good listener. This is something what most people lack but the MBA gives you exposure to all such situations and opportunities to develop such skills. We may have made wrong decisions, we may have faltered but we experimented with approaches to problem solving and emerged winners. We learnt through mistakes and such learning is deep and long-lasting. We had students from different cultural backgrounds and this gave an opportunity to interact with and understand how to work with diverse cultures, essential for any manager. Our class comprises of students from different nationalities and culture such as Chinese, Indian, Mexican, French, Africans and from the Middle East. This exposure has been of immense value as it teaches us to understand and respect other cultures. It has helped us to learn how to work in harmony with people from different backgrounds. Diversity at workplace is ever-increasing as companies are becoming global in nature. In fact, this is one of the important benefits of an MBA course as a student is exposed to people from different backgrounds. I take pride in being an organized person, I believe in punctuality and have respect for people from all cultures, fields and all walks of life. Apart from my skills in marketing, through the course I developed affinity for human resources management. I learned how HR works and find it to be very interesting. The process of hiring people is appealing. I also find the performance appraisal process intriguing and realized the importance of strategic HR as it is now called. In fact, human resources are now considered valuable assets and hence the interest in HRM. In addition, along with the MBA, I pursued a course in business negotiation, which helped me a lot in my major. I also enrolled for and got the Google Analytics Individual Qualification Certificate. After the second module I developed interest in International Trade. In furtherance of this interest, I opted for the ‘student exchange’ program and am going to France for the next semester. Since I had prior work experience, MBA has been easier for me than those who come for it immediately after under graduate studies. I would strongly recommend work experience before an MBA course as it is much easier to follow the course. One can even participate in discussions and forums easily. The business administration knowledge and skills that I have developed during the course has made me more marketable to prospective employers. Although I had entered into the course with the mindset to start my own business, I now feel perhaps a few years’ of work in a structured environment would inculcate the necessary discipline essential for success in any business. Diversity of businesses is what one can see and learn during the MBA course. This is also because we had visiting faculty from the industry who shared their experiences with us. This made the lessons interesting as we were also given real-life projects to work on. We were made to prepare business strategies for real companies, analyse their investment and divesture decisions, all of which provided insight into running of a business. Another major advantage of the course has been the professional connections that I have developed over the period. I now realize the value of networking in business. The associations that have been created during the course would remain with us for years and hence this has become a valuable resource, a major benefit from the course. I possess strong communication skills and interpersonal skills. Perhaps this is what had drawn me to marketing and now the interest in international trade. MBA has helped me further develop these skills through the numerous group work, presentations and projects that we worked on. As I reflect, I feel this course has helped me develop mastery over my skills and expertise, thereby enabling me to better conduct my life. However, along with the communication skills, as a manager/owner I would need to develop the qualities of patience, tolerance and perseverance. I do tend to be a little impatient at times and this is where I need to focus on. Another major learning during the MBA was how communication has to be handled different at different levels. For instance, we interact in different ways with our employees, customers, suppliers and differently with competitors. In addition, within the same category, we may have to deal with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and geographic regions. In the international trade this would be even more pronounced and perhaps a course on international communication would be helpful. There were other learning areas too. For instance, one learns that one has to fend for oneself. While people appear to be cooperating and collaborating, when it comes to individual career and growth, people tend to be selfish. At that point friendship and relations do not matter. Thus, I learnt that there has to be a point where one has to become selfish. However, this gave rise to a new meaning of the term ‘selfish’. In focusing on our own interest we are focusing on the self, on our self, to pursue our own interests and goals and there is nothing wrong in it, so long as we do not harm the interests of others. Then it is being ‘selfish’, not otherwise. Learning also came through the fun we had during the course. We participated in numerous contests, quizzes, debates and forums. We attended lectures by visiting faculty or industry leaders. In fact, the exposure was so immense that at one point I started challenging my own assumptions and ideas. This challenge and self-questioning or introspection made me turn and delve into international trade, a shift from marketing. MBA widens your horizon, offers you a world of opportunities and grooms to achieve and fulfill your aspirations and dreams. An MBA is like wings that allow you to soar to heights unknown, to realms unseen and inexperienced. This is what made the course so intriguing and interesting. What I have learnt so far will stand me in good stead as I proceed to France under the student exchange program. I proceed with an open mind and with no assumptions or ideas that could stunt learning. I have read about the French culture so that I am prepared how to deal with people but that apart, I am going with an open mind. I definitely look forward to interacting with people from different cultures and I am sure I would be interacting with students from different backgrounds. With or without the student exchange program, MBA course is an intensive program that prepares students for the challenges that lie ahead in the work field, be it as a manager or as an owner. It develops and inculcates the professional qualifications essential for business while also trains them in personal qualities towards a balanced growth. This course has not only provided me with a strong foundation in all management disciplines such as marketing, finance and accounting, in HR skills, in strategic management and leadership abilities, it has also helped me grow as an individual. I have learnt to be a team player, to accept challenges, to accept defeat and success in the same stride. I have realized that defeat has much more to teach than success. We learn through mistakes and we learn better. I would strongly recommend an intense two-year MBA over a one-year course because participating in integrated real projects teach us much more than we can learn in one-year theory based classes. We learn to face practical everyday business challenges, we learn to adapt to sudden changes in the business environment, we find solutions as a team and implement it as a manager, we learn to lead in different ways in different situations. When we are left in the middle of nowhere, we will find our way out and reach the destination. This is how we were taught through real situations. We were given a massive project to handle on the campus with limitations imposed on us. Everyone can work with resources; it is easy. To work without resources, to arrange for the resources and to work under constraints with challenges brings out the best in you. This is what an MBA course does to you. Personal satisfaction and fulfillment is yet another achievement that I have derived in pursuing MBA. While we all know that we come to learn how to be an efficient manager or how to run your business, the experience has been amazing and unexpected. The course actually provides an all-round development; it adds to the personality of an individual. It is not just the satisfaction or ego of having an MBA tag attached to your name. The learning that one acquires is phenomenal and something which no other course can provide. The focus here is not merely on academics and theories. The focus is on how to handle real-life business situations against all odds. The focus is on how to deal with human resources, on how to suddenly change the business strategy with the changed business environment. You learn how to be a team player, a leader and a subordinate, all at the same time. I express by deepest gratitude to my parents, particularly my father, for encouraging me to take this course. I know I can make a difference to his business as well even as I pursue my own business, possibly in international trade. Any amount of description will not suffice; one has to live the experience. Read More