LBS Application Essays & Questions 2023-2024
- What are your career objectives and what steps are you taking to achieve them? What alternatives are you considering? What geographical region do you hope to work in? (maximum 500 words)
- What specific areas of London Business School life are you most excited about getting involved in and where do you believe you will add value to the School Community? (maximum 300 words)
LBS Winning Sample Essays – 1
What are your career objectives and what steps are you taking to achieve them? What alternatives are you considering? What geographical region do you hope to work in? (maximum 500 words)
My career objective is to become a leader in financial analysis, focusing on sustainable investment strategies. I aim to drive the adoption of investment practices that yield financial returns and contribute positively to environmental and social goals. I aspire to work within top financial institutions that are leaders in integrating sustainability into their investment portfolios.
Steps to Achieve Career Objectives:
- Education: Pursuing a Master’s in Finance from London Business School is my immediate step. This program is pivotal as it offers a comprehensive understanding of financial markets, advanced investment strategies, and sustainable finance. The rigorous coursework and the opportunity to learn from leading practitioners will equip me with the skills necessary to excel in my field.
- Professional Certifications: Parallel to my Master’s degree, I plan to obtain relevant professional certifications, including CFA and FRM. These certifications are recognized globally and will bolster my technical expertise and credibility in the financial sector.
- Internships: Gaining hands-on experience through internships at leading financial institutions is a crucial step. This will not only help me apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios but also build a professional network and understand the inner workings of the investment industry.
- Networking: Actively participating in industry conferences, seminars, and other networking events is essential. Building relationships with professionals in the field will open doors to opportunities and provide insights into industry trends and challenges.
Alternatives:
– Corporate Finance: Should opportunities in sustainable investment be limited initially, I would consider roles in corporate finance within environmentally-focused companies. This will allow me to leverage my skills in finance while still contributing to sustainability.
– Entrepreneurship: Another alternative is to start a consultancy that helps companies integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria into their business strategies, combining my passion for finance and sustainability.
Geographical Region:
I hope to work in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom or Germany. These regions are at the forefront of sustainable finance and offer numerous opportunities to engage with leading financial institutions that are committed to innovative and responsible investment practices.
What specific areas of London Business School life are you most excited about getting involved in and where do you believe you will add value to the School Community? (maximum 300 words)
I am particularly excited about engaging with the London Business School’s active and diverse community, especially in clubs and special interest groups that align with my interests in finance and sustainability.
Areas of Excitement:
- Finance Club: Joining the Finance Club will be my top priority. I am eager to participate in investment competitions and workshops, which will allow me to refine my analytical skills and stay updated with industry trends.
- Sustainability Initiatives: I look forward to contributing to the school’s sustainability initiatives. My background in promoting sustainable practices will allow me to bring new ideas and perspectives to the table, potentially leading projects that enhance the school’s environmental impact.
- Peer Learning: Contributing to the peer-learning environment at LBS is something I value highly. Sharing insights from my previous academic and professional experiences in finance, particularly in developing markets, will add value to my classmates’ learning experiences.
Value Addition to the School Community:
My commitment to sustainability, combined with a strong foundation in finance, positions me uniquely to contribute to and enrich discussions around sustainable finance at LBS. By bringing fresh perspectives to sustainability debates and finance discussions, I aim to help foster an environment where students can learn from each other and prepare to lead responsibly.
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LBS Winning Sample Essays – 2
Career Objectives and Steps to Achieve Them (500 words)
My career objective is to drive growth and development in Africa’s energy sector by leveraging innovative financial solutions. Over the next 3-5 years, I aim to join a leading investment bank’s energy group as an Investment Banking Associate. This role will allow me to understand cutting-edge financing models crucial for raising capital for energy projects. My long-term goal is to establish a climate-adaptive energy fund dedicated to ensuring access to safer, cleaner, and sustainable energy sources across Sub-Saharan Africa.
To achieve these objectives, I am actively enhancing my skills and building a robust network within the finance and energy sectors. My current role as a Senior Associate in Global Markets Treasury at Stanbic IBTC Bank has provided me with invaluable experience. I have successfully led significant projects, including negotiating with the Central Bank of Nigeria to unlock $380 million in foreign exchange flows and designing a digital pricing template that reduced labor costs by 70%. Additionally, I have been recognized for my contributions to the bank’s growth, earning the prestigious Beyond Excellence award.
Furthermore, I am pursuing professional development opportunities, such as obtaining my Chartered Accountant certification and engaging in continuous learning about sustainable finance and energy markets. I also actively participate in industry conferences and seminars to stay updated on the latest trends and network with experts.
As an alternative, I am considering roles in international financial institutions like the International Finance Corporation, where I can focus on sustainable infrastructure financing. Another option is joining a private equity firm with a strong emphasis on renewable energy projects, allowing me to directly influence investment decisions that drive sustainable growth.
Geographically, I hope to work primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging my deep understanding of the region’s unique challenges and opportunities. However, I am also open to working in global financial hubs such as London or New York, where I can gain diverse experiences and insights that will ultimately benefit my work in Africa.
Specific Areas of London Business School Life (300 words)
I am particularly excited about engaging with the London Business School (LBS) Energy Club and the Africa Club. The Energy Club’s focus on fostering discussions around global energy challenges and innovations aligns perfectly with my career goals. I look forward to contributing my experience in energy finance and participating in events that explore sustainable energy solutions. By sharing my insights from working on significant projects in Nigeria’s energy sector, I hope to add value to the club’s initiatives and discussions.
The Africa Club is another area where I believe I can make a meaningful contribution. Given my background and commitment to driving sustainable growth in Africa, I am eager to collaborate with like-minded peers to promote Africa’s potential and address its challenges. I am particularly interested in organizing events that highlight successful investment strategies in African markets and fostering connections between students and industry leaders.
Moreover, I am enthusiastic about contributing to the LBS community through the Entrepreneurship Club. Having founded two initiatives—Grief and Relief Nigeria and The Girl-Child Progression Initiative—I bring a unique perspective on social entrepreneurship. I aim to mentor fellow students interested in launching ventures with a social impact, leveraging my experience to guide them through challenges and opportunities.
Overall, I believe my diverse background, coupled with my commitment to driving positive change, will add significant value to the LBS community. I am eager to engage with peers, share my experiences, and contribute to LBS’s vibrant and dynamic environment.
LBS Recommendation Letter – Key Questions
- How do you know the applicant? How long have you known them for?
- What would you say are the applicant’s key strengths and talents?
- What would you say are the applicant’s key weaknesses or areas for improvement?
- In what ways might the applicant benefit from the Masters in Finance?
- Are you aware of any personal factors that might affect the applicant’s performance on the Masters in Finance?
- Please rate the applicant, comparing them with other members of his or her peer group, on the qualities listed below using the following scoring system:
MiF Recommendation Letters
(Free Samples & successful Examples)
Professor - Recommendation letter Sample 1
Here is a quick PDF of a sample recommendation our client submitted for a successful admit.
Professor - Recommendation letter Sample 2
To,
Admissions Committee
HEC Paris – Masters in Finance Program
Date: 08-09-2023
Subject: “Recommendation letter for Akhil’s application to MIF program at HEC Paris”
Dear Admissions Committee,
I have known Akhil for over 2 years now. He was a student in my Entrepreneurship course as part of his Minor in Entrepreneurship and Management. As a student in my class, Akhil showed great skill at applying these notions in the more practical in-class quizzes, his final group business pitch at the end of the course, and his professional activities at UBS. Akhil’s also had a remarkable performance in my course, in which Akhil got the highest grade possible of A+.
In terms of his potential,
Akhil stood out to me in the final project that I gave as part of the course evaluation. As a major assessment, I give a project assignment for students to work in groups and pitch a good, self-sustaining business idea.
Akhil took the initiative and created a multicultural and diverse team with students not only from different countries but also students from different majors and successfully delivered a group business pitch for a student-run laundry and cleaning business. The idea picked by his team was unique, and he actively sought my advice and mentorship to make the team and the project successful.
Another noteworthy facet is the analytical research done by Akhil before and after seeking my advice; he actively made an effort to learn about diverse topics that he had not been exposed to before and was successfully able to learn about the different aspects of entrepreneurship, such as management and finance. Demonstrating his goal and detail-oriented ability. Rhe idea, the data oriented research, and the financial analysis were really impressive (synthesized and executed on assigned taks). Also, the real-world considerations regarding the execution of the pitch, as well as the cohesive delivery from a team collaboration perspective, were good.
I liked the project, and I asked Akhil if I could include the pitch and presentation as teaching material for my course as well as offering a Research Assistant position to Akhil in the next summer, which he was unable to take due to him having graduated
With his analytical skills and his collaborative approach, it came to me as no surprise that he was able to successfully chase his goal and transition into finance directly from his undergrad in engineering, landing a role in finance with UBS in their Investment Banking Operations in Hong Kong.
In terms of his potential areas of Improvement
I think Akhil’s analytical nature and detail-orientedness sometimes leads to him getting too caught up in details and spending excess time on the intricate details, leading to improper time management.
In the group project, Akhil struggled with time management and was a week behind schedule for his group due to him giving equal attention to all the details of the presentation, losing track of the bigger picture of the project. With my guidance, he was able to get back on speed and submitted the project by the submission deadline. But I believe that Akhil needs to work on gaining a view of the overall project that he is working for better time management.
Overall Recommendation
Akhil is only starting his financial career, but he has the analytical skills and a level of understanding about management, teamwork and other elements of organizational life that are comparable to other top students that I recommended before to Masters programs.
Akhil’s progress at CityU and at UBS clearly demonstrates his intellect and hard work. He is capable and has an acute intellectual capacity for thinking analytically. I believe Akhil is on track to make a successful career that blends his quantitative inclinations with his qualititaive skills, inspiring those that he will lead and work with.
To conclude, I strongly recommend Akhil, and I would be happy to talk with you specifically about his candidacy if you have additional questions.
Regards
Professor XXXXXX
Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Management
XXXX University
Internship Manager - Recommendation Letter Sample 1
How long and in what capacity have you known the candidate?
I have known Pranav for roughly one and a half years. I was his mentor during his internship with UBS. Although he completed his internship and has moved on, we still continue to keep in touch to exchange different business ideas.
What do you think about the candidate’s professional performance and potential (including any room for improvement)?
When Pranav started his internship with UBS, he was one of the most proactive interns. Since he didn’t have a finance background, he showed keen interest in learning and came up the curve very quickly.
The team assigned him Automation and Efficiency-related projects, and while working in the automation team he managed to stand out from other interns by providing solutions that were slightly outside of the box and impressed everyone on the team.
For instance, he met with various team leads to understand their automation requirements and one team lead expressed her frustration with the manual risk report that used to take 10-12 hours every quarter. After the meeting, Pranav took the proactive step of helping automate this report for the team. The specific process automation that he implemented was for risk reports for the risk team. The team had a manual time consuming process in which they had to refer to multiple Excel sheets to create their quarterly risk report. Pranav understood and mapped the entire process before using an automation tool to automate it. This led to a time reduction of 90 percent in the compilation of the report. The automation process he designed was ingenious; no one had thought of using it before, and that is why I think everyone was impressed with his out-of-the-box thinking.
Apart from that, another one of his biggest strengths is his willingness to take initiative.
To highlight another instance, he noticed the dashboards in Operations and wider UBS were on Tableau, he took the initiative to compare Tableau and PowerBi and pitched shifting the employee statistics dashboard to PowerBi. The management team agreed and Pranav successfully created an Employee demographic dashboard on PowerBi. This led to cost savings for the department as UBS was already paying for PowerBi. He also took even more initiative, helping others in his team and UBS get certified on PowerBi and documented his knowledge for everyone before he left his internship.
On the flip side, when it comes to areas of improvement, I would also say this proactiveness and eagerness sometimes led to difficult situations. Like other fresh hires, he was also trying to prove himself in the initial months of his tenure with the team. However, this often meant that he would try to manage and solve things on his own instead of seeking help. This led to delays and situations becoming critical.
Pranav was tasked with getting certified on Automation Anywhere, another automation tool used by the team. He was unable to crack the certification according to the timeline assigned to him and was delayed by a month in getting certified. He tried to manage and solve the situation but was unable to do so without help from his team, this delay led to an increased workload for the rest of the team and longer hours as work had been earmarked for Pranav to do as soon as he would be finished with the certification.
Overall, I would say that Pranav has great potential; he is not afraid to take the initiative and present his ideas.
Regards
XXXXXX
Manager – UBS, Hong Kong Offices
Internship Manager - Recommendation Letter Sample 2
How do you know the applicant? How long have you known them for?
I have known Huang for almost 2 years now.
I came to know Huang when he was working at Chainfir Capital. I was an investor of the fund at Chainfir Capital. Huang worked as an investment manager at Chainfir and we had meetings together from time to time.
Later when Huang and his colleagues decided to start their own Venture Capital fund (Genesis 22) focused on crypto industry, I joined their venture both as an investor and an advisor of their VC Fund.
What would you say are the applicant’s key strengths and talents?
After working with Huang, I think one of his key talents is that he is very detail oriented and loves to perform extensive due diligence.
For instance, Genesis 22 was close to making an investment decision on a project called Glitter Finance last year. At the time, it was a rather popular project among VCs and had already received several investments. The analyst in our team provided positive comments on its technology and future potential.
Huang was responsible for speaking with the project team and conducting due diligence. He was able to approach the situation with a sceptical mind and later identified several risks of the project by paying attention to each detail. He made an analysis of the profile of each team member of the project and determined that the technical background of the team was not strong enough to develop the promising highly technical project they claimed. Also, he mentioned that while observing all the interaction between the founder of the project and individual investors in the community group, he noticed that the founder often gets angry easily when facing tough questions.
He raised these concerns during the investment decision meeting, and at the end of the meeting, we decided not to invest. A few months later – the project went bust because the value of the project was way inflated and every institutional investor suffered a loss. I am glad that Huang was able to pay close attention to such details and has always worked with great attention to achieve better performance.
Another key talent of Huang is his multi-tasking skills. I am really impressed by his performance in dealing with a variety of projects simultaneously. When he works as an investment manager in the team, he needs to handle the communication and investigation with 5-8 projects at the same time. He has never left others waiting for his work, and we can always set up the evaluation meeting in the anticipated time frame. He is also able to deal with the pressure when there are extra projects which need his attention.
What would you say are the applicant’s key weaknesses or areas for improvement?
As the founder of a venture capital firm, Huang has built a team and became a leader at such a young age. But I think there is still room for improvement in his management skills, especially in delegating workload.
As Huang prefers to participate in every stage of the investment decision of a certain project, it limits the overall number of projects he can oversee. For example, he spent much time on initial screening and understanding complex technology concepts of different projects. In my opinion, he could delegate this work and trust his colleagues to complete these tasks as our analysts with technology backgrounds are capable of determining the technology feasibility so that he can invest most of his time in reviewing the big picture.
Second thing I have asked him to improve upon is that he can sometimes be over-optimistic and confident when things are going well. From my perspective, it is crucial to keep a cool mind when dealing with different market situations. When he started Genesis 22, several investments that we made looked promising. Consequently, he was on the aggressive side to allocate a higher proportion of the fund to such projects. However, when there was a change in the market trend and crypto industry started crashing, some investments did not perform as well as we expected. The fund suffered extra losses because of the higher allocation made to these investments.
Huang realized his mistake afterwards and became more cautious in making an allocation to investments to improve the diversification of the portfolio. I hope he has learned his lesson and does not repeat the same mistake again.
In which areas of development has the applicant progressed most in the time you’ve known them?
Overall the one big area where I think Huang has really improved is his ability to find and initiate business opportunities and partnerships.
When he started Genesis 22 Ventures, His venture was not receiving stable cash flow except for the return on the investments. He or his patterns did not know that a venture capital fund can expand its business through partnerships and pitching good projects to other VC firms. This way they can build a revenue stream based on commission without risking their own money.
When I brought this up to him, he learned the rules quickly. He has put in great effort in communicating with other VCs to understand how others operate and create business ideas. The first few times when I had meetings with Huang he could only interpret the general basics of the start-up projects. Therefore, he was not able to provide insightful opinions in decision making. After Huang talked to many teams and spent much time reading industry news, I observed that he was getting better and better at describing business models of different projects in a big picture. Although Huang doesn’t have a strong technology background, he is able to integrate the work of analysts into his knowledge and present a blockchain project in a big picture smoothly.
Through partnerships and advisory services, Huang has helped the venture generate around $40,000 in extra revenue. Genesis 22 has expanded its services to crypto exchange listing consulting, funding advisory and community management for startup projects, etc.
I have seen him learn and grow and I think Huang has progressed massively in his commercial awareness.
If you are a professional referee, would you work with the applicant again post-Masters in Financial Analysis?
Absolutely. Although his fund currently suffers a drop in the quality of deal flow given the bearish situation of the blockchain market, he has made the right decision to make very few investments recently based on the interests of investors. I respect his decision to pursue a master’s in finance degree, and if he wants to resume his Venture Capital firm full-time or work at my VC in the future I would love to work with him again.
Do's & Don'ts - of a Recommendation Letter
Do’s:
Choose the Right Recommender:
- Select someone who knows you well, can speak to your professional skills and achievements, and can provide detailed and specific examples of your work. Current or past supervisors, clients, or mentors who have worked closely with you are ideal choices.
Provide Specific Examples:
- Ensure the recommender includes specific examples of your accomplishments, skills, and experiences. This makes the recommendation more credible and impactful. Detailed anecdotes and quantifiable achievements are particularly effective.
Meet with Your Recommender:
- Schedule a meeting with your recommender to discuss your goals, achievements, and reasons for pursuing an MBA. Provide them with a detailed résumé and a list of your accomplishments to help them write a thorough and personalized letter.
Ensure Timely Submission:
- Set a personal deadline for your recommenders that is well ahead of the actual application deadline. This helps ensure that your letters are submitted on time and reduces last-minute stress.
Highlight Strengths and Areas for Growth:
- Encourage your recommender to provide a balanced view by mentioning your strengths along with areas for growth. Constructive feedback adds credibility and shows your willingness to improve.
Don’ts:
Don’t Write Your Own Recommendation:
- Never write your own letter of recommendation, even if a recommender suggests it. Admissions committees can easily detect self-written letters, which can harm your application.
Don’t Choose Recommenders Based on Title Alone:
- Avoid selecting recommenders solely based on their impressive titles or positions if they do not know you well. A letter from a CEO or politician who has minimal interaction with you is less effective than one from someone who can provide detailed insights into your work and character.
Don’t Use Generic Praise:
- Ensure your recommender avoids using vague, generic praise without backing it up with specific examples. Statements like “She is a great employee” are less impactful than detailed anecdotes that illustrate why you are exceptional.
Don’t Ignore the Application Instructions:
- Make sure your recommenders follow the specific instructions and format required by each business school. Different schools may have varying requirements, and it’s important to adhere to them.
Don’t Overload with Superlatives:
- Encourage your recommender to be honest and avoid excessive use of superlatives. Over-the-top praise without substance can seem insincere. Balanced, realistic assessments that highlight genuine strengths and achievements are more effective.
These do’s and don’ts will help ensure that the letters of recommendation are strong, credible, and supportive of your MBA application.
Free Sample Template - for you to Use
Here’s is a quick template tailored for candidates applying to a Master’s in Finance program:
—
Admissions Committee
[Finance Program Name]
[University Name]
[University Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Date]
Subject: “Letter of recommendation for [Candidate’s Name]”
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for [Candidate’s Name]. I have had the pleasure of working with [Candidate’s Name] at [Company Name] for [duration], where I serve as [Recommender’s Title]. In my capacity, I have directly supervised [Candidate’s Name] and have gained a thorough understanding of their professional capabilities and character, particularly in the field of finance.
Specific Examples of Performance and Achievements
[Candidate’s Name] has consistently demonstrated exceptional [skills/qualities] in finance. For example, in [specific project/task], [Candidate’s Name] [specific action taken], which resulted in [quantifiable result/outcome]. This achievement is indicative of [Candidate’s Name]’s [particular quality, e.g., analytical skills, financial modeling, risk management].
Another instance of [Candidate’s Name]’s capabilities was during [another specific project/task]. Here, [Candidate’s Name] [specific action taken], leading to [quantifiable result/outcome]. This project highlighted [Candidate’s Name]’s ability to [related skills, e.g., manage financial portfolios, conduct market analysis, handle complex financial challenges].
Constructive Feedback and Areas of Improvement
During our time working together, I provided [Candidate’s Name] with constructive feedback on [specific area for improvement]. In response, [Candidate’s Name] [specific actions taken to improve]. This demonstrated their openness to feedback and commitment to personal and professional growth in the financial sector.
Leadership Skills and Team Inclusiveness
[Candidate’s Name] is known for their inclusiveness and encouragement of others. For example, during [specific instance], [Candidate’s Name] [specific actions taken to include and encourage others]. This behavior fostered a collaborative and supportive work environment and showcased their leadership and interpersonal skills.
Conclusion and Endorsement
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly endorse [Candidate’s Name] for the [Master’s in Finance program] at [University Name]. I am confident that [Candidate’s Name]’s [specific strengths/qualities] will be an asset to your program and that they will thrive in the academically rigorous and collaborative environment of [University Name].
Please feel free to contact me at [Recommender’s Email] or [Recommender’s Phone Number] if you require any further information.
Sincerely,
[Recommender’s Name]
[Recommender’s Title]
[Company Name]
