In this essay please describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did.
Essay 1:
The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice. Please discuss how you will contribute toward advancing the mission based on examples of past work and activities. (500 words or fewer)
Since first arriving in the US 6 years ago I have consistently been amazed by this country’s generous philanthropic culture and have embraced it as I sought to learn more about social responsibility. The approach here is a welcome change from my home in XXXX, where for the most part the concept is extremely weak. Although this is the case, my family has always taught me to help the less fortunate through their efforts to improve rural communities in XXXX by teaching low-income farmers how to access credit.
I know I will return someday to XXXX to establish my life and my career, and I believe the best way for me to make a difference is through the private sector. Particularly, I would like to contribute to changing the traditional XXXX business model by setting an example and creating an enterprise with a social impact as well as nurturing environments that are efficient at managing social initiatives.
My curiosity of the interaction between business and social responsibility has led me to seek opportunities such as heading the YYYY campaign: a yearly fundraising effort where MY EMPLOYER donates to different charities in New York City. Over a period of 5 months I managed over 20 analysts from every division in the firm developing creative ways to raise money. I am very proud of my leadership role on this project, as the New York Times interviewed me after MY EMPLOYER was the institution that raised the most money out of several large banks. Beyond what I accomplished, the success of this project gave me hope that I can do something similar in MY HOME COUNTRY on a larger scale. Furthermore, I gained valuable skills applicable to my future aspirations in that I learned to focus an overworked and sometimes uninterested audience on a goal that would have little impact on their personal lives outside of altruism.
Other experiences have also been very valuable in teaching me to promote awareness of social responsibility. As a Credit analyst at XXX I have researched and presented projects to understand different industries within Southeast Asia. This has helped me reflect on how social responsibility can be effectively incorporated into business models within the region. Additionally, XXX, the annual conference I helped create with the mission of keeping CITIZENS engaged with the challenges facing their country, has been important. Through this conference I have built a network of fellow Indonesians who share my goals and with whom I can develop projects that improve our country.
I have come to understand from all these experiences how vital it is to possess strong management skills, not only to run a successful business but also to lead effective social projects. I am attracted to MIT as a place whose mission is in parallel with mine and also as one who will complement my education by providing me with the tools I will use to reach my personal and professional goals when I return to COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.
