Schulich MBA Letter of Recommendation Questions: 2023-2024
- How long and under what circumstances have you known the applicant? (500 characters)
- What do you consider to be the applicant’s strengths, outstanding talents or characteristics? (500 characters)
- What do you consider the applicant’s chief liabilities or weaknesses? (500 characters)
- How does the applicant interact with others in a team setting? How often do you observe this? (500 characters)
- How will a graduate education in business management help the applicant further his or her career? (500 characters)
- Please comment on the previous ratings, making any additional statements concerning the applicant’s record, potential, interpersonal skills and other personal qualities. (500 characters)
Schulich MBA Letter of Recommendation Example – 1
1. How long and under what circumstances have you known the applicant?
I have known Joel for over five years in a professional setting at State Bank of India, where I supervised him as a credit underwriter. During this period, he demonstrated leadership in managing major projects, including the largest retail loan merger involving multiple associate banks.
2. What do you consider to be the applicant’s strengths, outstanding talents or characteristics?
Joel excels in leadership, strategic thinking, and financial analysis. He successfully led cross-border negotiations and complex audits, showing strong team-building skills and dedication. His ability to deliver innovative solutions under pressure sets him apart.
3. What do you consider the applicant’s chief liabilities or weaknesses?
Joel tends to be overly detail-focused, sometimes delaying delegation. This reflects his commitment to quality but can slow project progress. He is aware of this and actively works on trusting his team more to balance thoroughness with efficiency.
4. How does the applicant interact with others in a team setting? How often do you observe this?
Joel is a natural collaborator who encourages open dialogue and accountability. I observe his team interactions daily—he fosters trust, resolves conflicts calmly, and motivates members to contribute fully, making him an effective and empathetic team leader.
5. Please comment on the previous ratings, making any additional statements concerning the applicant’s record, potential, interpersonal skills and other personal qualities.
Joel consistently demonstrates intellectual rigor, integrity, and strong interpersonal skills. He has been recognized as a Youth Icon for his leadership. His potential to excel in senior financial roles is clear, and he will be an asset to any program or organization.
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Schulich MBA Letter of Recommendation Example – 2
1. What do you consider to be the applicant’s strengths, outstanding talents or characteristics?
Bansee was always the first one to volunteer for ad-hoc projects. During her time at Citco, when there was an organizational shift and Bansee created an Investor Relations SharePoint to manage all documents and procedures centrally to smoothen the transition. This Sharepoint became the main point of referral for our team and Bansee continued to regularly updated this platform. I think Initiative taking is a skill that cannot be taught and that is the principal reason for her success to-date.
2. What, as far as you know and in your opinion, is the applicant’s most significant achievement?
At Citco, she was given the opportunity to lead a project for one of the leading Hedge Funds where she was able to reduce time spent on month-end reporting procedures by developing an excel model that automated major accounting processes. This helped the fund to reduce the time by approximately 3 days per month and was a big win for the team. Her eye for finding areas where processes could be made simpler always added value to the team.
3. What are the areas in which the applicant could further develop?
I personally believe that one area Bansee could work on is her habit of micromanaging and being obsessed with details. Sometimes she gets stuck in the mentality of doing everything herself and this is not always possible especially with a huge workload. I have advised Bansee to step back and examine the life cycle of a project before it begins in order to plan how exactly she will distribute her time and focus, and not hesitate to ask me, or her team members to divide up tasks.
4. How does the applicant interact with others in a team setting?
Bansee’s energy and sense of humor made it a joy to work with. Within a month of her joining the team, she was chosen to be the lead of fun activities at the workplace. The team was delighted with the outings she had chosen for us as they always had an unexpected twist. She enjoyed developing connections on both a professional and personal level. At work, she was always introducing the team to new books and articles she was reading on business and had an enthusiasm to share what she learned.
5. How will a graduate business education help the applicant further his or her career?
Bansee thrived most in environments where she had the opportunity to meet clients and understand their fund structure and needs, however, the extent to which she could take full ownership of client tasks was limited. The MBA program will give her the opportunity to build on her leadership skills and business knowledge. She will be able to approach client meetings with a strong academic foundation and support her ambition to take on larger responsibilities and solve complex problems.
Schulich MBA Letter of Recommendation Example – 3
1. What do you consider to be the applicant’s strengths, outstanding talents or characteristics?
One of Bansee’s strengths is her ability to empathize with customers and employees. Another strength of hers is her ability and willingness to maintain relationships with people and businesses in her community. As a business owner, she recognizes the importance of listening to the customer, and employees for feedback and more importantly having a strong network in the nearby business community. These characteristics greatly contribute to the success of the restaurant.
2. What, as far as you know and in your opinion, is the applicant’s most significant achievement?
I have seen Bansee take on the responsibility of managing her family business during the time of a medical emergency in a very short amount of time. She has great enthusiasm towards adding new products, talking to customers, increasing promotion and branding of the store. I believe, managing to take control of the business and help it improve the business day by day while staying true to the culture and values of the business is her most significant achievement.
3. What are the areas in which the applicant could further develop?
One area that Bansee can further develop is her tendency to be too trusting of new acquaintances in business ventures. I have advised her to make decisions at a slower pace when dealing with new people and taking the time to understand their intentions. Bansee has recognized that this is a quality that tends to come with time, and consults her mentors after her meetings with new business people and before making any significant deals or transactions.
4. How does the applicant interact with others in a team setting?
Bansee listens to her team members with an open mind and is eager to learn new things from her employees. She likes to learn about all of her team members. Although most of her employees are older than her, she takes the time to learn new methods from her employees, whether they are new recipes for breakfast and lunch meals or more efficient methods of cooking. She does not hesitate to ask questions, and makes the effort to share and teach the employees skills with to the rest of the team.
5. How will a graduate business education help the applicant further his or her career?
I have had various conversations with Bansee where she expressed new ideas and plans about expanding her family restaurant, which involves opening new locations, partnering with other businesses, rebranding the restaurant, etc. However, I think she needs the knowledge and methodologies of entrepreneurship to succeed in her own ventures. I believe, a Schulich MBA with courses in Entrepreneurship will give her the knowledge and exposure to add value and expand her family business.
Schulich MBA Letter of Recommendation Example – 4
1. How long and under what circumstances have you known the applicant?
I have known Joel for over six years in a professional capacity. Initially, we worked together when he co-founded his audit and tax consultancy firm, where he was a senior partner. Over time, I closely observed his leadership as he grew the firm from a small startup to a thriving business with 80+ employees and 300 clients. Our collaboration deepened during the strategic merger he led with a larger firm, showcasing his business acumen and determination.
2.What do you consider to be the applicant’s strengths, outstanding talents or characteristics?
Joel possesses exceptional leadership qualities combined with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. His expertise in statutory audits, forensic audits, and financial due diligence is top-notch. Beyond technical skills, his ability to build and manage client relationships and lead large teams through complex projects distinguishes him. Joel’s strategic thinking, resilience, and commitment to excellence consistently inspire those around him.
3.What do you consider to be the applicant’s chief liabilities or weaknesses?
While Joel’s attention to detail is a great strength, it sometimes leads to over-analysis, which can delay decision-making in fast-paced situations. He is very committed to quality and accuracy, which occasionally results in him spending more time on tasks than necessary. However, Joel is self-aware and actively working on delegating responsibilities more effectively to improve team efficiency and responsiveness.
4.How does the applicant interact with others in a team setting? How often do you observe this?
Joel is a natural collaborator who values diverse perspectives. I have frequently observed him fostering a positive, inclusive team culture that encourages open communication and mutual respect. He mentors junior staff regularly, helping them develop both technically and professionally. His empathetic approach and ability to motivate teams have been crucial in delivering high-impact projects consistently and effectively.
5.Please comment on the previous ratings, making any additional statements concerning the applicant’s record, potential, interpersonal skills and other personal qualities.
Joel’s combination of technical mastery, entrepreneurial success, and strong interpersonal skills makes him an outstanding candidate. His track record of scaling a successful firm and leading complex mergers demonstrates his business savvy and leadership potential. He is highly motivated, adaptable, and possesses the integrity and communication skills needed to excel in demanding corporate environments.
