Oxford Said MBA Sample Essays from Past Clients: 1
Oxford Said MBA Essay 1: What are your immediate future plans for developing the family business? Describe how the MBA will help you achieve them (1250 characters)
My immediate future plan for the business is to:
First, expand the international client portfolio. We want to take advantage of the China+1 shift happening in the global economy. Second, I plan to establish my own brand to add another revenue stream to the business on top of contract manufacturing. Profit margins are higher if you have your own brand.
With an MBA, I want to learn about business strategic expansion and gain holistic knowledge of the intricacies of operating and scaling a business.
At Saïd, I will engage in courses such as “Strategy and Innovation”, “Global Business”, and “Entrepreneurial Finance”, which will equip me with the skills to shape long-term growth for the family business. The “Entrepreneurship Project” and the Global Opportunities and Threats: Oxford (GOTO) program will allow me to apply classroom learning to practice in developing a business plan and exploring market entry strategies.
Lastly, I will leverage the Oxford alumni network to build relationships and launch my brand in India, the UK, and Europe, with the vision of growing this brand internationally.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 2: What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success (1250 characters)
Currently, my biggest priority is to complete the digital transformation within the business, after which I will hire and train an individual to handle my responsibilities while I embark on a transformational MBA journey.
After speaking with Shokhi’24, I realised that leadership skills are critical in any role. At present, my father is grooming me and passing on his knowledge so that I will become a successful next-generation leader in the business, allowing me to handle end-to-end projects while also managing team members to deliver outputs.
To help me better prepare for the intensive one-year MBA journey, I plan to take courses to bridge my knowledge gaps in Finance and Marketing. These are key topics that will enable me to succeed in my long-term goals and are tools that I will require during the MBA program.
I also plan to connect with Oxford alumni and develop my network early on. Additionally, I intend to participate in an incubator programme that will enable me to develop skills in business growth through learning from my cohort members, interacting with entrepreneurs and pitching my business to investors to further enhance the long-term growth trajectory of the business.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 3: If you are in full-time employment, define your current role 1250
I am full time employed in my family business of incense manufacturing.
My current role is to manage the business’s supply chain processes as described in the above question. My primary responsibilities are streamlining the procurement processes, driving improvements in logistics, and managing vendor relationships with vendors from different parts of India and Asia.
In addition, I am also leading some moonshoot projects for the long term.
I am trying to introduce seamless procurement processes and ensure the timely fulfilment of orders across India through contracting more reliable freight partners and consolidating shipments to reduce transportation. I am also involved in maintaining quality control throughout the production process, ensuring that every batch of incense sticks meets our fragrance and burn consistency standards.
Essentially, in short, all my job responsibilities in the business are centered around optimizing supply chain and operations.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 4: Personal Statement (please provide a personal statement that outlines anything additional that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider)* Maximum 250 words
I am a strong advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I).
A defining incident during my bachelors in the UK that ignited my passion was when One day, during “Welcome to Warwick” week, I was approached by a group of international first-year students from various parts of South Asia who expressed concerns about feeling excluded from social events and activities. They felt their cultural differences, accents, and unfamiliarity with certain Western norms made it difficult to integrate with the broader university community. This deeply resonated with me because I, too, had experienced moments where I felt out of place.
Moved by their experiences, I decided to organise a series of “Cultural Exchange Nights,” where students from different backgrounds could showcase their traditions, languages, and cuisines and share their stories. The events became a resounding success and provided a platform for people to learn about each other’s backgrounds. This experience was a turning point for me, as I saw how proactive efforts toward inclusivity could impact individuals’ sense of belonging.
Subsequently, I actively championed DE&I initiatives at Deloitte and EY as well. My experiences working with Women in Tech networks and organisations like U&I deepened my understanding of how empowering marginalised communities can lead to transformative outcomes.
Today, I am also trying to incorporate some of these learnings into my family business and increasing my focus on recruiting more women and people from diverse backgrounds in our factory to make it a holistic environment for our team members.
Oxford Said MBA Sample Essays from Past Clients - 2
Oxford Said MBA Essay 1: Define your current role (5000 Characters) Please list your main responsibilities, your greatest achievement and most significant challenges
I am currently the founder of “Waste No More”. It is a volunteer-driven organisation that aims to solve hunger in Jakarta’s urban slums by redistributing surplus food from donor organisations. As the founder, I wear multiple hats and am involved in all core functions of the organisation from Strategy to Operations. However, I spend most of my time growing two critical aspects of our program – building partnerships with food donors and expanding the volunteer base.
Learning from success stories of similar organisations in other countries, my team and I started with restaurants as our primary target for surplus food donation. However, on realising that surplus food donation from restaurants is inconsistent, small in quantum, and required high volunteer effort, we quickly expanded to many other donor avenues such as supermarkets, online grocery partners, wedding venues, and corporate canteens. Partnering with them increased our food supply to 1500 meals per week. The experience helped me build a more strategic approach to growing the organisation.
To grow my volunteer base, I started building my network through cold calls to people working in the social impact sector. I reached out to various people with expertise in business development, digital marketing and operations. I motivated them to volunteer for this cause and contribute to setting up these functions for Waste No More. I further expanded the volunteer base to build the execution capacity by leveraging multiple avenues from college boards to social media.
When COVID-19 triggered city lockdowns, we encountered our most significant challenge to date, but within a short span of a few weeks, we re-imagined the entire collection and distribution process. We figured out how volunteers can take help of instant delivery services and coordinate the whole process remotely. This helped us to continue serving our beneficiaries in the time of their most need and helped me grow as a leader focused on constant innovation and problem-solving.
In the past year, my greatest achievement in Waste No More has been scaling our operations while working remotely and without taking even a single penny in fundraising or monetary donations. We scaled Waste No More to serve 5000+ beneficiaries with operations in 2 cities in just six months of launch. Communication used to be a growth area for me a few years back, and I have been able to come a long way from that to influence a diverse base of volunteers and donor partners to work towards a common cause. Bringing smiles on our beneficiaries’ faces through the work of our 100+ volunteers makes me proud.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 2: Describe below your immediate plan after graduating from the MBA: (No Character Limit)
I have dedicated the past 6 years of my career working towards the improvement of the education landscape in India and solving hunger problems in Indonesia. After MBA, I aspire to continue working in the impact sector with international organizations such as Gates Foundation or USAID in either the field of education, hunger or women-empowerment.
I worked with 2 non-profits in India, one of which is Atma, an accelerator program for nonprofit organizations. At Atma, I launched 2 programs that focused on building the capacity of non-profit organisations across countries. As part of this, I worked with multiple nonprofits working at the grass-root level to help them with fundraising, impact evaluation, organization development and expansion. I also worked with leaders of these organizations to connect them to expert resources, pro-bono projects and share best practices.
After moving to Indonesia I started my own initiative – Waste No More. Here, I worked with the community directly addressing the challenges of food waste and hunger. Through this experience, I was able to involve a diverse set of stakeholders to focus on one single mission.
Having worked at a grass-root level, I have realised that to truly address the problem at a large scale I need to learn how to empower numerous NPOs in the front line and how to create a thriving ecosystem for them. In the long term, I aspire to develop myself more holistically as a changemaker capable of leading global initiatives. Working with international organizations, post-MBA, would be a perfect step in that direction.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 3: How does your preferred sector in your preferred location recruit MBA talent and what do they look for in a candidate? Describe the research you have done so far. (No character limit)
Post-MBA, I would like to manage programs or operations at an international organisation such as the Gates Foundation or USAID. After speaking to current and past employees at these organisations, I figured that these organisations look for individuals with strong leadership capabilities who can develop and drive innovative solutions at the grass-root level as well as at policy level. These organisations like to recruit candidates who have sector experience and are skilled to solve complex problems with limited resources. Finally, I believe they look for people with passion and ability to collaborate and form partnerships with varied stakeholders.
After extensive online research and speaking with Said Alums Rahul Bhatewara (Co’2017) and Muhammad Ghazzian Afif (Co’2019) and current student Ragini Pillai (Co’2021), I understand that Networking lunches like ‘Tech Careers for Social Good’ and ‘Impact Investing Careers’ are the usually the best way to connect with recruiters. Outside of these we can utilize the Said alumni network or the career events hosted by the Oxford University to reach out to our desired organizations.
I would also love to participate in the various talks and treks hosted by leaders in the impact space and to further capitalise on these prospects, I would like to go an extra step and get involved in organising some of these events too. At Oxford, I would also like to co-chair the Social Impact OBN to engage other students to learn and grow in the social space. Given I have consulted or indirectly worked with more than 50 non-profit organisations across 5 countries, I would be happy to facilitate connections for my fellow classmates too.
The Social Impact Programme’s cases will allow me to showcase my work and expertise to the impact sector professional, investors and consultancies. Working on projects at the Social Impact Lab and The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship can further help me hone my skills, get mentored and secure employment opportunities from impact sector veterans/organizations.
With my extensive experience in the social impact field coupled with an Oxford MBA, I am confident of achieving my goals through the various avenues provided by Said.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 4: Reflecting on your answer above, how do you meet these requirements? (No Character Limit)
I believe my hands-on experience in the social sector, ability to work at the grass-root level and passion to work towards the betterment of society is demonstrated strongly with my past 6 years of work with nonprofits and will hold me in good stead with potential employers.
When I first started a professional career in the impact sector with an organization named Avanti (XXXXXX), where I used my prior experience from the technology sector to help in ideation and research of their existing mobile app which now reaches out to more than 50,000+ underprivileged students in India. Later I joined Atma (XXXXX) where I launched a Remote Accelerator Program that increased Atma’s reach by 40%. As part of this initiative, I led a partnership with Oak Foundation, Switzerland, to support their portfolio organisations in the tribal parts of Jharkhand, India. I also led the team of 3 consultants and worked with heads of 40 women-empowerment NPOs on the ground in the tribal areas. These experiences helped me grow as an empathetic leader and taught me how to persuade stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and experiences to collaborate on initiatives for the greater good of the society at large.
My experience at Atma also challenged me to solve problems and come up with innovative solutions within a limited budget. Atma was a small size non-profit which dedicated most of its budget to programs and on the backend mainly used traditional ways of storing data and maintained manual records. As we grew, we realised the need for an ERP system, but with a limited budget we knew we can’t afford it. Given my background in technology, I decided to look for potential low-cost solutions. I reached out to J.P. Morgan’s “Code for Good” initiative and got selected as one of their featured organizations in 2016. The team at Code for Good helped us develop Salesforce solutions for free and till today, Atma team uses Salesforce to log all its data combined with Google Drives’ low-cost storage facility.
Finally at Waste No More, I have learned so much more beyond leading a program. I have been able to navigate through bureaucracy in Indonesia. I learnt the local language to connect better with communities and its culture. I am able to make connections and network with people. This experience has helped me to focus on solutions for each and every challenge that I face.
In addition to the above experience, an MBA from Oxford can help me further develop strategic leadership skills. Courses like Global Sustainable Business, Strategy & Innovation, and Technology & Operations management can deepen my understanding of business and management concepts. Case discussions and project experience at the Impact Lab can widen my perspective on how social issues can be tackled at a larger scale. Overall, I believe my past experiences and the learnings from Oxford MBA will give me the necessary skills which I can leverage to transition into a program manager role at an international impact organization.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 5: What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success? ( No character limit mentioned)
To maximise my chances of success before joining Oxford, I would do the following activities:
At Waste No More, I would be working with my donor Sayurbox, to deepen my understanding of gaps in the food supply chain that leads to food wastage. I hope to strengthen my knowledge of the fresh food supply chain and devise strategies to reduce wastage at every step. Further, I also plan to start working with Aidha, a non-profit organisation in Singapore that teaches financial literacy and confidence skills to foreign domestic workers and lower-income women. I believe this experience will help me explore the challenges and programs in yet another country and broaden my horizon.
For the past few years, I have attended conferences like AVPN Annual Conference, Singapore, CSR Summit, India, and ARISE Conference – Social Entrepreneurship in Indonesia. If the current situation allows it, I would like to attend these conferences coming year too. I would look forward to attending the virtual Skoll World Forum event this year. These conferences have been a great way to update myself with best practices in the sector and upcoming initiatives around the world. They also give me a chance to interact and exchange ideas with like minded people.
In addition, I will look to upskill my own business knowledge by taking some courses or masterclasses on basics of finance and accouting. This will give me a good head start for the classes I plan to take at Oxford.
Lastly, I would reach out to individuals across my interest sectors to get connected and deepen my understanding of the opportunities that exist with various organisations. I would also connect with current students and alualumni understand how to maximise these opportunities at Oxford.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 6: Should you not be successful in securing your first choice of role, what is your alternative? (No character limit mentioned)
If I am not successful at securing a position with an organisation of my interest, I will come back to Indonesia and continue leading Waste No More full time.
Waste No More was never just an organisation but a movement in my mind. To ensure its longevity, and continued operations even in the event I leave Indonesia, I have built the organization with a purely volunteer-driven model and an empowered core team. While the organization will continue to create impact and grow organically when I am away, on joining back I would aim to scale it meaningfully. To that end, I will pivot the organization in the following 2 ways.
First, I would grow Waste No More’s philanthropic arm to not only focus on food distribution but also expand to other essentials such as clothes or basic hygiene products for the less privileged.
Second, I would start a for-profit, social enterprise arm which would focus on mobilising technology-powered solutions for the supply chain starting from farm to table to tackle the food waste at every level. I would specifically work on low-cost solutions that can help anyone starting from farmers to sellers to increase the shelf life of their produce.
In the event I am successful in securing the role of my choice, I will continue to provide remote support to Waste No More as a volunteer.
Oxford Said MBA Essay 7: Is there anything not covered in the application form that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you?* (250 words)
I am a sports enthusiast and I love diving and hiking. I am a certified open water diver and I have completed 25+ treks across five countries.
After moving to Indonesia, I took up scuba diving and fell in love with it instantly. While it is thrilling to see the world below water, at the same time, this experience has helped me reach new heights of discipline. When planning any scuba trip, the preparation is much longer than an actual dive, but the satisfaction of exploring shipwrecks and sealife is beyond words. This process emphasized the importance of dedication to my goals.
I have hiked across India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal. The most arduous hike I have ever taken was a 5-day hike in the Himalayas, where we covered 17 km in a day. Due to rain, I slipped and hurt myself. I was given an option to complete the rest of the journey on a horse, else I will otherwise miss the sunset view from the peak. However, I was determined to complete the trek myself. While I did not make it for the sunset, the feeling of completing the day on my own was none-the-less exhilarating.
This experience reiterated the importance of a never-give-up attitude which has helped me overcome many challenges in life. I feel sports help in fostering relationships and building stronger relationships, I aim to carry the same spirit at Oxford and look forward to connecting with people through participation in various sports activities.
Oxford Said MBA Sample Essays from Past Clients: 3
Oxford MBA Essay 1: Define your current role* (5000 characters) (Mark as versions) need for information add on. Right now 400 words and 2800 characters with spaces
I am a global health professional with over twelve years of experience in the private and public sectors with experience working in the USA, Bangladesh and Sub Saharan Africa. For the past two years, I have been the Director of Programs in South Africa with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). In my current role, I support the Government of South Africa’s Department of Health to improve access to and demand for comprehensive health services for the most at-risk populations.
My main responsibilities are to manage a country portfolio of over $11M and to provide programmatic and operational support to a diverse team of over 80 staff members. Programmatically, I am responsible for end to end delivery where I own and manage inter-team dependencies, govern the execution of projects and delegate tasks. This includes fundraising, grant management, day to day strategic direction and key stakeholder management between government and partners. Operationally, I manage the finance functions and oversee recruitment, human resource management, and safety and security. These experiences have given me a unique perspective and hands-on leadership experience working on real-life complex issues to drive impact and create change.
Most recently, my responsibility has shifted towards supporting the South African Government to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. CHAI has taken a major role in the public health response and I am functioning as the deputy to the government lead of the health response. Through our support, we provide technical expertise across multiple work streams including facility readiness, diagnostics, PPE planning/procurement, guidelines development/deployment, communications, contact tracing, pandemic planning, etc.
Oxford MBA Essay 2: Describe below your immediate plan after graduating from the MBA:
With over twelve years of experience in health, I want to pursue an Oxford MBA to remain in international development but shift industries from health to take on a leadership role working with a social impact organization focused on delivering urgent and systematic changes to improve livelihoods in the field of either climate change, education or economic resilience.
How did I get to this point? After working in healthcare consulting for 6 years, I realized I wanted to leverage my experiences and shift towards a career that gave me a sense of purpose. So in 2012 I decided to quit my job and accept an offer to go to a small country in the southern tip of Africa. Fast forward to 2020, I have traveled to over 60 countries and lived on four continents. Over the last eight years exploring the globe and working at the Clinton Health Access Initiative and BRAC, I have realized my purpose through advising governments to improve healthcare systems in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Bangladesh and throughout Africa. In South Africa, I worked with the Department of Health to address the country’s reproductive health challenges through ensuring sufficient supply and access to diverse contraceptives and safe abortions services for adolescent boys, girls and women. In Bangladesh, I worked with the largest non-profit in the world to tackle the illegitimate medical industry through introducing social enterprise innovations that provided quality and affordable health services for low-income individuals with a focus on primary health and maternal care.
Through my travels and grassroots experience, I realized that there are stark inequities that exist beyond health. More work needs to be done to improve livelihoods for marginalized populations. Therefore, I want to keep pursuing my purpose by building off of my knowledge in public health to disrupt the status quo and drive innovation in literacy, economic earning power and climate change.
Preferred sector upon graduating from the MBA:
Social development / impact
Preferred location upon graduating from the MBA:
Europe (London, Geneva, CPH)
Oxford MBA Essay 3: How does your preferred sector in your preferred location recruit MBA talent and what do they look for in a candidate? Describe the research you have done so far.
I am specifically interested in pursuing a leadership role with philanthropic organizations including the Children’s International Fund Foundation (CIFF) or start-ups such as those supported by Founders Factory that tackle world-scale challenges and provide support to marginalized populations. After speaking with colleagues in the development sector and staff from CIFF and Founders Factory, I have learned that these organizations look for candidates who have a genuine passion to work in social development, on the ground experience and entrepreneurial mindsets to run and innovatively lead a business.
With respect to recruitment, I have spoken with Said and Oxford alum, listened to podcasts and completed extensive research online. I have learned that social impact organizations such as CIFF and Founders Factory work within their alumni networks and through Oxford’s Social Impact Program and Social Impact Advisors to host events including networking sessions and conferences such as the Social Impact Careers Conferences to recruit students. The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship also works closely with Oxford and provides students with an opportunity to meet and challenge founders working on tackling global scale problems.
To ensure I achieve my goals, I plan to immerse myself in Oxford’s wealth of global resources and opportunities to transition to a company that aligns with passions. In addition, I will leverage the network I have built to link to organizations in the social sector to explore opportunities and to support fellow classmates who are interested in pursuing a career in public health
Oxford MBA Essay 4: Reflecting on your answer above, how do you meet these requirements?
I have traveled to over 60 countries and worked on the ground across Asia, Africa and North America with entrepreneurial organizations whose mission is to save and improve lives. I have developed solutions for the local context, managed diverse staff, complex budgets and fundraised. I know what it takes to drive real impact. I have successfully done it in public health.
The Oxford MBA would further hone my technical and leadership skills through combining my practical experiences with theory along with the experiences of others. I would be immersed in a uniquely global classroom with other passionate individuals, where we could discuss key challenges faced across countries and industries, share experiences, exchange ideas and formulate innovation. Oxford would enable me to shift industries from health and become a transformational leader that creates social impact in literacy, climate change and economic resilience.
Oxford MBA Essay 5: What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success?
Prior to pursuing an MBA at Oxford, I will network with Oxford alumni, current students and development sector colleagues to learn about different industry opportunities in the social sector. In addition, I aim to broaden my experience beyond health by working on projects that empower women and youth.
At the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), I am supporting CHAI to develop its first social mobilization campaign strategy to motivate women, youth and at risk populations to demand for sexual health and rights services. The campaign will be marketed nationally and the focus of the strategy will be holistic taking into account how to tackle the social determinants of health including the lack of access to education and financial independence.
Additionally, I will be working with Basha, a Bangladeshi based organization that makes handmade artisanal goods by supporting women stuck in a cycle of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Basha’s goal is to provide employment opportunities to help disadvantaged women and their families become financially independent. I will support Basha’s founder to fundraise and develop a business plan that creates growth and sustainability for the organization.
Oxford MBA Essay 6: Should you not be successful in securing your first choice of role, what is your alternative?
If I am unable to secure a role at a philanthropic organization or social impact startup, I plan to return to the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). I have already spoken with my manager as well as senior leaders throughout the organization and they enthusiastically support my decision to seek an MBA at Oxford and requested I return post my MBA in order to further enrich the efforts of CHAI.
Oxford MBA Essay 7: Is there anything not covered in the application form that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you?* Maximum 250 words
I believe my undergraduate performance is not an accurate reflection of my academic abilities or potential. Growing up South Asian comes with expectations to become a doctor or engineer and for me I was forced to study medicine. I realized I didn’t want to study medicine and didn’t enjoy the coursework. After reflection, I stood up to my parents, became independent and pursued my own interests.
At school, I double majored focusing on development in health and worked three jobs to support myself. Although my schedule was overwhelming, I excelled and achieved the New England Scholar award for students with GPAs of 3.7 or higher.
My undergraduate GPA and GRE score did not stop me from achieving my potential. Note I planned to retake my GREs on March 27th but due to the lockdown in South Africa I have been unable too.
Currently, I am a single 35-year-old South Asian woman living alone in Johannesburg. I realize I have taken the road less travelled and although the journey hasn’t been easy, my undergraduate performance taught me resilience and to unequivocally pursue my passions. I now have the humble opportunity to live out my passions. I am supporting South Africa’s emergency response to Coronavirus. This moment in public health is groundbreaking and will cripple healthcare systems and I am supporting to control the spread of the virus to save lives.
I hope Adcom will look at my experiences as a representation of my capabilities and continued potential.
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Oxford Said MBA Sample Essays from Past Clients: 4
Oxford MBA Essay 1: Define your current role* (5000 characters)
I am a Product Development professional with 3+ years of experience in India and Germany. For the last three years, I have been working with Mercedes Benz R&D India as a Product Design Engineer.
My main role is to oversee the product development of interior trims for Mercedes-AMG, which are high-performance cars. I lead product conception, design, and execution during the vehicle development cycle.
I indirectly lead a team of four, wherein we focus on learning about new product technologies, identifying points of improvement and delivering EUR 20M+ luggage and carpet trim development project on time and budget. I report directly to the Senior Program Manager and Senior Technical Lead in India as well as Team Leiter (DGM) in Germany.
Currently, I am working on the development of luggage and floor trims for the next generation Mercedes SL Roadster. I am responsible for end-to-end product build and delivery. On a day to day basis, I work with cross-functional teams in India and Germany to manage inter-team dependencies and govern deliverables. My job at Mercedes also requires continuous communication with suppliers based out of international locations such as Ideal Automotive (Czech Republic), Karl Etzel GmbH (Germany) and Philippine GmbH (Germany).
Since 2018, I’ve spent almost one-third of my time travelling internationally on business trips, predominantly Germany, to meet Mercedes-AMG management, German Counterparts, and suppliers. My recent assignment of 8 weeks in Germany was crucial for me because it was purely focussed on the definition and execution of future product strategy for Mercedes-AMG vehicles. As part of ‘Project Move’, I discussed the strategies for standardisation and cost optimisation of interior products.
My work for the first ‘In-house engineering’ project at Mercedes, was recognised by the management. This project saved Mercedes EUR 2Mn. The accomplishment of the first In-house engineering project facilitated me to get three new projects from Daimler AG, Germany, estimated at EUR 80M+ for the department.
Now, I am also leading the ‘Centre of competence’ to streamline our operations- this project would reduce cost by EUR 15Mn. Additionally, I lead the spoken German language improvement programme for the entire department of approx. 300 people.
Oxford MBA Essay 2: Describe below your immediate plan after graduating from the MBA
Post-MBA, I would like to leverage my past experiences in product development and transition to working in a product manager role in the automotive sector in the UK or Germany.
Given my product development experiences and the skills I learn at Oxford, I am sure that I will be fully equipped to take up the product management role and will be able to combine my technical and business skills to push business transformations for product line extensions in existing and new markets.
In Mid-term to long term, I would like to lead a region or division for the firm, where I would work on delivering both business results and impacting social values.
Preferred Sector Post-MBA:
Other – Automotive
Preferred Location Post-MBA:
Germany/ United Kingdom
Oxford MBA Essay 3: How does your preferred sector in your preferred location recruit MBA talent and what do they look for in a candidate? Describe the research you have done so far.
Speaking with Oxford alumni Arjun Bolangdy (MBA 2019) and Arpit Jain (MBA 2018), and reading the school employment reports 2016-17 and 2017-18, first, I learnt that companies such as Nissan Motors Corporation, Tesla, and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi group had recruited Oxford students in the past at on-campus recruitment events.
Second, I learnt that participating in career fairs and business conferences is another way to secure a job in the desired position and company. Also, leveraging networking opportunities such as pre-placement talks and case competitions are other ways to connect with potential recruiters in different locations. Talking to my friends who have had experiences studying abroad, I understood that companies offer full-time positions to internship candidates who have proven their mettle.
Finally, leveraging my network within the industry and the Oxford community for job referrals would also help me land a position in product management.
Interacting with Mr Rohit Purandare, Deputy General Manager at Mercedes Benz R&D India and MBA alumni of IIM Bangalore and professionals from the talent acquisition team, I gained an understanding of the essential skills and competencies industries look for in prospective candidates. I realised that companies look for three crucial aspects in a product manager. First, product know-how and understanding of business models is essential. A product manager should have a good knowledge of the unique selling points of the product and potential markets.
Second, problem-solving, in particular, is a skill I will need to use while working in diverse teams to solve complex business problems.
Lastly, the ability to work in an international environment and general management skills are crucial to be successful in cross-industry functions.
Oxford MBA Essay 4: Reflecting on your answer above, how do you meet these requirements?
During my stints at Mercedes for more than three years, I have worked in multiple settings for product planning and development. There, I have developed a solid understanding of the products and development processes in the automotive industry. Working on ideation and development of interior trims have honed my problem-solving skills.
During these projects, I also supported the improvement and growth of businesses in a multitude of settings while working in a collaborative and international environment with diverse cross-functional teams and suppliers based out of Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Austria. My fluency and knowledge of the German language (B2 Certification) have helped me integrate with German partners, immerse in German culture, and have made me confident to work in an international environment.
However, to achieve my career goals and be successful, I need to develop a broad vision of global markets and acquire knowledge of global best business practices while honing my general management skills.
An Oxford MBA is the ideal next step. The programme will strengthen my foundation in project & strategy management and enhance my ability to analyse business decisions from a multi-faceted point of view. Electives like “Project Management” and “Global Strategy” will give me powerful tools for entering and gaining a sustainable competitive advantage in new markets. Sharing experiences in a diverse class will strengthen my analytical skills and give me rock-solid insights for making decisions, while Oxford’s international alumni network will strengthen my professional and social networks in the markets where I expect to pursue my career.
I am sure that my past product development experience, and by augmenting the skills I learn at Oxford, I will be competent to take up a product management role.
Oxford MBA Essay 5: What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success?
After speaking with many alumni, I have realised that international experience is an important aspect to succeed in an international MBA programme. Thus, I have requested my manager to put me on the Mercedes-AMG GT project, which will help me upgrade my international exposure. Since leadership skills are also critical and already leading a team of four, I have taken further initiatives to mentor and support the development of new recruits and trainees. I am mentoring two hires in developing their quantitative skills and bringing them at par with the team.
Also, to help me better prepare for the intensive MBA journey ahead, I plan to take preliminary courses to bridge pre-knowledge gaps in Financial Accounting, Finance and Quantitative Methods – tools that I will use throughout the MBA curriculum. Along with these, I will start networking with professionals in my target industry sector and Oxford alumni to research on Global Consulting Project and internship options. This would also help me to develop my network within target companies where I seek to work after completing my MBA.
I am sure that working on these aspects, I will be well prepared to succeed during the rigor academic curriculum.
Oxford MBA Essay 6: Should you not be successful in securing your first choice of role, what is your alternative?
As a first choice, I intend to take up a product manager role in the automotive sector. In case I am unsuccessful in securing a position in the automotive industry, I will be willing to take up product manager roles in the broader industry sector, such as defence, freight, aerospace or railroads. I am sure that with my past engineering experience in product development, coupled with the business knowledge I gain at Oxford, I will be well equipped to succeed in these positions.
As a further alternative, I will consider taking up product development and management roles in the mobility services industries such as Uber or emerging start-ups based out of Europe, such as Sono Sion (Munich).
Oxford MBA Essay 7: Is there anything not covered in the application form that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you?* Maximum 250 words
Growing up in a business family, I developed a passion for entrepreneurship.
During college, I Co-Founded KVN industries, a supplier of ATV and Go-Karting tires, and manufacturer of transmission systems] . Our target customers were mostly college and institutes which used to design cars for racing competitions. Within 3-4 months, we received pre-orders from eight participating institutions. We clocked in a revenue of close to USD 11,500 and were operationally profitable. Within a few months, given the fierce competition from companies with huge business capital, our order dried up, and I was left with a stockpile of unsold inventory. I had to sell this inventory at highly discounted prices. We took a significant financial hit and closed down the business. The failure helped more in shaping my personality while allowing me to refine my understanding of the market and competition. More importantly, I learnt about how to always build redundancies in a business.
These lessons have been pivotal in terms of helping me start my 2nd venture. In 2016, I Co-Founded “Detour Holidays” which has allowed me to follow my love for travelling to new places. We cater to people with unique and personalised travel experiences across India & South-East Asia. To date, we have organised and managed 9 group tours and close to 70 trips for independent-travellers serving 1000+ happy travellers.
I believe sharing these transformative experiences with my Oxford classmates would allow me to crystallise business concepts and also make meaningful and impactful contributions to the class.
