Kellogg MBA Application Essay for 2019-20
Essay 1: Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)
Essay 2: Values are what guide you in your life and work. What values are important to you and how have they influenced you? (450 words)
The Video Essay
JD-MBA applicants: Please discuss your post-JD-MBA career goals and why the JD-MBA Program is the right program to help you reach those goals. (250 words)
Reapplicants: Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words)
Kellogg MBA Winning Sample Essay – 1
Essay 1: Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)
The three years I spent at ABC Ltd. were challenging, yet they provided a platform to hone and test my leadership abilities. ABC is a mid-level company in the education and teaching domain specifically catering to the K12 level. When I joined, the business was not too great and the management was looking at ideas and strategies to grow vertically or horizontally in an already competitive business environment. Upon a detailed analysis of the existing system, I realized that to selling and pushing the same old concepts was not going to work. What we required were fresh, innovative ideas and add to the value proposition of our products.
In one of the strategy sessions with my team, I came up with the idea of introducing a 24-hour support system for our students, one they could access at their own pace, in their own time. Internet as an educational tool in India was an uncharted territory, but we decided to test the waters. With the help of our faculty we added a database of over 50 thousand questions and came up with an application where the students could log in to check the assignments of the day, previous years questions, a community dashboard and an experts corner where the students could ask their doubts from faculties who would respond in 24 hours.
It was a new concept, and I was proud to be heading the venture. This was the first major project that I had undertaken and it was not without its fair share of challenges. The first challenge I encountered was to get the schools to accept the concept. Change is discomforting and I found that the educators were reluctant to introduce a concept that they feared would render them redundant. It was quite a challenge to convince them that our product was not a competitor but an ally. Presentations, demonstrations, and negotiations followed and school by school, I was able to win them over. The next problem was an unexpected one, the parents were now concerned about the unmonitored time on the net. How would they know that the students were not whiling away their time rather than using the application constructively? This was something that we had not factored in. We then added a time monitoring component to our application so that the parents could be reassured. With the teething problems addressed, the project was now up and running.
With more than 400 schools adopting our application in the capital city, we soon expanded our reach to the neighboring tier-2 cities and today the application is an inherent part of 3000 schools in fourteen cities. What endears the project to me is that it helped the students to improve their performance. It made their learning more meaningful and they could embrace technology for a brighter future. Reflecting on my learning, I also realized the power of a simple idea and its timely execution. This experience also influenced my decision to pursue an MBA so that I can be better equipped to face business challenges and make decisions that could bring about positive changes in the world.
Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)
About four months after I began as Mobile Publisher Account Manager at an international digital marketing company, our company started to face hard times. Company stock was down and there was tremendous pressure on everyone to improve performance and create new sales revenues.
During a meeting with one of my clients, he asked me if my company supported ‘in-banner video.’ I had no idea what this meant, but I told him I’d look into it and get back to him right away. Diving in, I started learning about video on mobile and discovered it had great profit potential for my company, since we had both the clients and the supplier to support this segment. However at that time, we lacked both the infrastructure and technological capabilities necessary.
I gathered a few members of the development to brainstorm options, and came away with the understanding that it would take a one-month commitment of four personnel for my company to develop sufficient technical capabilities to support this segment. Convincing my manager and his superiors would not be an easy task – not in such a difficult time. They would need to delay other assignments and invest heavily in the development and marketing of a new segment with unclear consequences. I needed evidence that would gain their buy-in.
I talked to all of my clients, and asked co-workers to talk to their clients about this segment, to understand its real value. I then pitched the idea to my team leader and technical manager, meeting each of their objections with facts gathered during my research. Ultimately, they approved the first milestone of the project: developing the technical capabilities. X months later, I presented the technology and won the green light for a pilot with selected clients. I selected several target clients, sourced video ads from a co-worker, placed the advertisements and closely monitored their performance. The pilot’s results did all the convincing for me – one client alone had revenue that grew from $100/day to $7,000 a day. Management took one look and began approving astronomical marketing budgets to promote the segment, which today is one of my company’s biggest business drivers – not only for advertisers, but for publishers, as well.
I am most proud that I was able to produce and implement a winning business solution under pressure, a solution that helped my company turn a corner and regain its competitive edge.
Kellogg MBA Winning Sample Essay – 2
Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)
John Lennon’s famous quote states: “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” This phrase reflects one of the most important characteristics of being a good leader: surrounding yourself with people who share the same goals.
I first saw an opportunity to put Lennon’s words into practice when I joined MBB after graduating from UNI. While studying abroad in France, I participated in recruiting processes for Brazilian consulting firms and saw firsthand that MBB lagged behind our key competitors in recruiting Brazilian students pursuing dual degrees. At MBB, I spoke with several partners and principals to explain the value of creating a dual-degree recruiting team. However, the partners pushed back, feeling candidates’ fit could not be accurately assessed remotely. I talked to the IT department and tried to mitigate risks related to all technology concerns, ensuring we had a solid toolkit to do online interviews and webinars without any damage to the interactions with candidates. Eventually, they granted me permission to run a pilot program.
I then gathered ten colleagues to help me with the project. We built the process, created the communication strategy, defined our priority schools, convinced a partner to host a webinar, and finally launched the pilot. The webinar was a success—more than 40 Brazilian students around the globe attended.
Today, the program has become an essential recruiting tool and accounts for more than 10% of the new hires. To ensure retention of the talent we recruit—a challenge in consulting—I created a mentoring program for dual-degree recruits which has led to an unusual ~90% retention rate after three years. To continue connecting with this pool of candidates, we are planning to hold our first event at MBB Paris in November to familiarize Brazilian students with the MBB environment and the impact a career in consulting allows them to generate.
I am proud to have brought together the people who make this recruiting program a success. I am also proud that it has fostered a spirit of community and coaching in the office, providing a readily accessible communication channel for new hires and allowing more experienced associates to develop coaching skills.
Through this experience, I have learned the value of taking the lead on ideas that I believe are important. I have also learned that John Lennon’s words are not only about the importance of creating a great team to help you convert your dreams into reality, but also about understanding the dreams of all people related to the goals. Through this experience, I have seen how dreaming together multiplies the effect of leadership by empowering others to become leaders themselves. I hope I will be able to dream together with Kellogg’s community, using my time there not only to reach my own goals, but also to support my colleagues in reaching theirs.
Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)
The word venture can be used as a noun—referring to a “risky or daring undertaking,” or as a verb—to “do something or go somewhere that may be unpleasant.” In my experience, true leaders are venturers, individuals who empower people to overcome their most unpleasant challenges and make daring moves towards progress.
When joining the venture capital field, I knew I would play a key role in helping fledgling entrepreneurs overcome challenges, but I could not have imagined how complex it could be. I faced one of the greatest tests of my leadership after becoming the sponsor of a promising company: STARTUP, an education platform. Although the company was performing well, the company’s founder, Miguel, had difficulty closing operational gaps that were eroding the company’s growth. After examining these factors, I saw an opportunity: hire a COO to address the operational inconsistencies. When presenting my solution to Miguel, however, I was met with stark opposition; in his view, the operational issues were mere fiction.
Despite initial resistance, I knew I had a responsibility and got to work creating a new plan. I understood that the problem had to be dealt with in a more personal way. As I saw it, Miguel’s resistance to hire new senior executives was directly associated with his fear of losing control of his company. The key, I reasoned, was to connect with him as a person and not as an executive. I showed him that, though his fears were normal, bringing in help would actually allow him to grow the company to an extent he could never have achieved alone. To reinforce the benefits, I scheduled meetings with other portfolio company founders who had undergone the same experience so he saw the benefits from a group of his peers, not his investors.
In the end, I convinced Miguel to hire a COO. The company’s performance improved, and, most importantly, the founder grew into a more confident and prepared leader. More recently, he confided that he is considering hiring a CEO so that he can devote focus to his expertise—the product. This opportunity taught me that a leader must be able to extract the best from each person, focusing on their strengths and bringing outside help whenever necessary. By identifying Miguel’s priorities and fears and understanding how to best address them, I learned how to create the necessary changes.
Good leaders do not act alone, but rather delegate important tasks and promote collaboration. In a country suffering from a lack of effective management, I want to lead people effectively, and look forward to continuing to develop my leadership abilities by learning from the “ventures” of others at Kellogg.
Kellogg MBA Application Essay Tips
If you are getting ready to apply to Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management this year, these Kellogg MBA essay tips will help you prepare to knock it out of the park. Is Kellogg the right fit for you? The Kellogg School is a close-knit community. It values a diverse community and philanthropy. In addition, our insiders tell us that candidates who show the right combination of high impact leadership and humility demonstrate “Kellogg DNA.” Do your research on the programs, activities, clubs, classes and professors you are most excited about. While you are talking to students and alumni, look for ways you will contribute to the Kellogg MBA community. According to Kellogg’s admissions criteria: “We look for people who are not afraid to question the status quo, can motivate a team to drive impact, and are eager to dive in and collaborate with an engaged, ambitious community of peers.” That said, being overly coached won’t help you break through with Kellogg. Therefore, keep yourself authentic in your communication and let your real self shine through. The following two Kellogg MBA essays are required of all applicants:
Essay 1: Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)
This essay focuses on leadership using a behavioral essay framework (the clue is “provide a recent example…”). Details about exactly what you did, said and learned in your leadership story tell the reader how you approach issues and learn from experience. “Creating lasting value” is another key to this essay and you should think about what you have done that endures. As you structure the essay, spend some time to set up the background of the story. Then use most of the space to describe specifically what you did, thought, felt and how you behaved. Also, use details to entice the reader and set yourself apart. A few well-placed specifics will add color without adding length to the essay. You have discretion in your topic selection, as long as you demonstrated leadership and created value. It might be a time that everything went smoothly and you learned how to work with a group or inspire people to action. On the other hand, it could be a challenging situation where you learned what not to do! Don’t be nervous about showing weakness here, as long as your story demonstrates that you have left your mark on the organization. If you choose a challenging situation then the learning part of the essay will be important. In addition, show you can and do learn from experience. Every leader has to learn and develop, and willingness to be open to feedback and improve will be an asset. Do not neglect mentioning teamwork, which is a core value of Kellogg’s culture. Your leadership experience is likely part of a team at work or in an extracurricular activity, and sensitivity to teamwork and collaboration in any leadership story demonstrates maturity and social skills.
Essay Two: Values are what guide you in your life and work. What values are important to you and how have they influenced you? (450 words)
This essay question is a hybrid of a classic career goals essay and a personal essay. Kellogg is interested in candidates who are able to integrate their values into their personal and professional goals. How have your values directed your actions in work and life? When you describe how your values have influenced you in past decisions, make sure it is relevant to your plans to pursue an MBA at Kellogg. Therefore, the story you tell should provide insight into your decision to pursue an MBA and allude to your future goals. Because this isn’t a question about your entire work and life thus far, you should choose only one or two main experiences to share. As you discuss how your values have guided you, specific examples will communicate concisely. For example, if you have a value of driving excellence, and that has led you to a consulting career where you help organizations become more efficient and achieve their goals. Or, your core value may be helping others and you have chosen a career that provides the ability for you to give back to your community or lead a group of people.
The Video Essay
The Kellogg admissions team advises the following in regards to the video essay: The video essay provides you with an additional opportunity to demonstrate what you will bring to our vibrant Kellogg community — in an interactive way. You will respond to several short video essay questions. The questions are designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper. Read specific advice for how best to prepare for the video essay here. Watching a video essay gives the admissions committee a sense of who you are, and your personality. Therefore, the Kellogg admissions committee advises: “Be yourself. We don’t want scripted answers we want to get to know you and learn something new. Please do not try to reuse an example from an essay that might in some roundabout way answer the video essay question you are being asked. We already read that essay, so why tell us that story again?” After you submit your application you will receive your actual video essay questions. Therefore, prepare as if you would for an interview, drafting the topics you want to cover and practicing your presentation. Writing some bullet points down in advance will help you remember and focus as you answer the questions. The video should accurately portray your personality and demeanor. Extensive preparation will help you be comfortable and be yourself when you are recording the video. That said, it’s important not to be overly scripted as if you are “acting.” Kellogg allows you to practice with the video format a few times with practice questions before you submit your official video. In addition, it would be useful to do a few rounds of practice in front of the camera to get comfortable.
JD-MBA applicants: Please discuss your post-JD-MBA career goals and why the JD-MBA Program is the right program to help you reach those goals. (250 words)
Doing your research on Kellogg MBA’s academics and resources will help you answer the question about why you need a dual degree to achieve your goals. The JD-MBA at Kellogg is a highly competitive admissions process and will require a very clear explanation of what you will do with both degrees after school. Consider the unique attributes of the Kellogg JD-MBA program as compared to others, and also why you specifically need both a JD and an MBA to achieve your career goals. MMM applicants: The five core values of the MMM Program are curiosity, creativity, empathy, open-mindedness and a learning mindset.
Describe a situation in which you demonstrated one of these values. Why is this value an important part of the MMM experience for you? (250 words)
Continuing the theme of “values” from the required essay, candidates for the MMM degree should reflect the intent of the program. Also, Kellogg is looking for design thinkers for this program, so you will need to demonstrate how you have shown curiosity, empathy, open-mindedness and a learning mindset and are ready to contribute in the MMM program. This is a behavioral essay question (“Describe a situation…”) and you will need to show the reader how you felt, acted and made decisions in the situation.
Reapplicants: Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words)
While answering this question make sure you provide tangible evidence that you have improved your candidacy. Some of the most tangible improvements could be a stronger GMAT score or grades from new quantitative classes you attended. Other steps that you can describe include a promotion at work or new volunteer activities. Another area could be increased responsibility at work or in your activities. If you don’t have something tangible and external to report, discuss how your career goals have changed or your personal goals have been refined. All applicants have the opportunity to provide explanations or clarification in Additional Information. Use this section if you think the person reviewing your application might have a few questions about one or more of your responses. This could include:
• Unexplained gaps in work experience
• Academic, GMAT or GRE performance
• Extenuating circumstances that we should be aware of when reviewing your application
If there are any areas of concern, this is the correct place to address them. Strike an upbeat tone here and avoid excuses. Also explain your issue clearly and focus most of the essay on the correction for the issue. For example, for a disciplinary issue, demonstrate that you learned from the experience and have been an ideal citizen since. Low GPA issues should be explained here. If there is a grade of C or below on your transcript the admissions committee will want to know why, and feel comfortable it is an outlier. For academic questions, emphasize your improved performance later in your college career or in work or classes since college.