Michigan Ross :: Essay #2

Describe your career goals. How will an MBA from Ross help you to achieve those goals? What is your vision for how you can make a unique contribution to the Ross community? (500 word maximum)

I work in business process consulting. I help businesses identify and address operational bottlenecks and improve their performance. An important component of my role is working with senior company leaders to develop strategies for business growth. Working on the challenges of business expansion, I have developed a deep interest for inorganic growth of businesses i.e. mergers and acquisitions (M&A). I am now driven by the singular aim to take up a challenging role in M&A following my MBA.

I see M&A as a field that is as challenging as it is rewarding. To be successful, one must have a flair for business analysis, and an inclination for thoroughness and detail. Strength and expertise in corporate finance is absolutely essential. M&A requires a deep understanding of business, and its interaction with the wider economic and competitive environment. An M&A expert must able to analyze an organization from multiple business perspectives, and be able to anticipate its growth and earnings potential well into the future. All of this requires the inculcation of a holistic view of all aspects of business management – which only an MBA degree can provide.

But more than any MBA, it is only the Ross MBA that will help me achieve my goal. I will be able to leverage Ross’ renowned faculty prowess to gain a thorough understanding of corporate finance and the latest industry practices in firm diligence. The flexible course framework will allow me to dig deep into the realm of M&A. The Ross MBA’s experiential learning program will give me hands-on exposure to evaluating companies in the face of business uncertainty. From Ross’ extensive alumni network, I would gain the opportunity to learn about what it takes for success in M&A as well as to develop networks that I can lean on for job openings and career growth.

But my time at Ross will not be a one-way street. I intend to be fully engaged in the Ross community and be a significant contributor to the learning experience of my peers. I will bring in insights from the business consulting industry to help my classmates in the nuances of reviewing and analyzing businesses and identifying improvement areas. I will leverage my exposure to various industry verticals, and share insights on trends and developments regarding each.

I will also be actively involved in the Finance Club, helping organize seminars on the challenges facing businesses today. Leveraging the school’s industry connections, I will also help organize workshops on professional training programs focused on M&A. As a student member of the admissions team, I will help future Ross students understand the school better and help the school identify the best potential candidates. On the social front, I will help fellow students unwind and realize their latent talent by engaging them in drums lessons. Finally, my natural inclination for collaborative growth makes me confident that I will leave a lasting impact on the Ross community.