Intern
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Posts: 36
Given Kudos: 4
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Finance, Strategy
Schools:Chicago Booth (WL & Denied), Duke Fuqua (IN), UNC KF (IN)
Q50 V40
WE 1: Transportation Infrastructure, Public Sector, India
WE 2: Transportation Safety, State of California
Please comment on this career essay..thank you.
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15 Dec 2010, 22:33
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” said Gandhi. In the future, I envision myself as a change agent of infrastructure developments in emerging economies. Developing nations, aided by international investments, are positioned to undertake significant infrastructure expansions over the coming decades. Recognizing this opportunity for making a greater impact, I intend to launch a focused organization to advise these countries on designing and implementing efficient, environment-friendly and affordable infrastructure projects. I visualize my firm providing guidance to the Indonesian Minister of Transportation on the formulation of strategic plans for underwater tunnels connecting Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia; or assisting the Secretary of the Indian Planning Commission with the procurement of World Bank funding for a high-speed railway connecting Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. These actions will not only stimulate the local economies, but also create jobs and improve the quality of life for the citizens of these countries.
My life’s vision is well aligned with my passion for bringing positive changes in the society and my subsequent pursuit of a career in infrastructure development. During my seven years in the public-sector in India and the U.S., I have successfully led large-scale rural and urban transportation projects, international development work, and critical public safety issues. Providing essential highway access to remote villages in India, lighting up homes of Afghan people, preventing deadly accidents and saving lives on California highways; these are examples of my actions that have transformed the lives of other people during my career. I am no stranger to diplomatic negotiation, project management, personnel supervision, and management presentations. However, as much as I have learned in my field so far, I feel that my learning curve is beginning to flatten. More importantly, I also have reached the juncture in my career when I can bring my knowledge of transportation infrastructure from both the eastern and western worlds to help developing nations with strategic advice on infrastructure improvements.
As a leader, I recognize that there are areas I need to improve and areas I need to learn from the beginning in order to attain my ultimate career goals. An MBA education at this point is critical to my future success. A well-rounded executive management and leadership training from Berkeley will help me fulfill my vision by educating me in advanced concepts of finance and strategic management as well as refining my understanding of entrepreneurship through a demanding curriculum.
Immediately upon graduation, I plan to join the infrastructure division of an international development organization, such as the Asian Development Bank or the World Bank, where I will focus on finance and governance of major infrastructure projects in emerging nations. I hope to learn financial and strategic operations related to infrastructure investments and work with government agencies to develop productive public-private partnerships to achieve operational efficiency and promote sustainable economic growth. After holding such a position for several years, I will have gathered the necessary skills, resources, and international contacts to embark on my own specialized consulting enterprise.
At Haas, I will learn financing a new venture from Prof. Mario Rosati and doing business in emerging markets from Prof. Laura Tyson, and gain a global perspective through IBD and Global Initiatives. Haas’s mission to develop innovative, responsible leaders with a vision for the future coincides well with my entrepreneurial ambitions geared towards social change. In exchange, I will bring to Haas my unique perspective of maneuvering through the $14 billion infrastructure budget in California, the eighth largest economy in the world.
The Berkeley MBA will allow me to personalize the curriculum based on my specific career goals. Through its strong emphasis on general management fundamentals, I will gain proficiency in finance, accounting, marketing and strategy, before specializing in Management of Organizations, as well as in Business and Public Policy. The wide range of continuously evolving electives at Haas will offer me courses closely related to my future goals, such as “Business Strategies for Emerging Markets.” In addition, I intend to earn a Certificate in Global Management and acquire advanced knowledge of business development in the international market. Following the tradition of student-led courses at Haas, I will be excited to initiate a new course directed at innovative infrastructure investments in emerging countries.
In addition to learning sound theoretical business concepts at Haas, I will utilize the extensive experiential learning opportunities at the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership. I wish to be active in the Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum, GSVC, and the Entrepreneurs Association to accomplish my entrepreneurial objectives. Through the Social Sector Solutions course, I will help a non-profit client and expand my interest for social progress.
Haas exhibits a unique emphasis on leadership development in its new theme, the Berkeley Innovative Leader Development. Through this approach, I will greatly improve upon my existing skills of decision-making, creative problem-solving, team-building and collaborative leadership. As a native of India, I will take the lead in organizing a study trip to India and introduce the Haas community to the people, culture, and business landscape in the infrastructure/government sector. I plan to be a leader on and off-campus and associate with the Haas Net Impact club and advance its cause by organizing events centered on socio-economic development. I aspire to be a co-president of the Asia Business Club where I will help organize guest speaker series and conferences related to infrastructure improvements, explore global career opportunities for interested members, and promote cross-cultural interaction among my peers.
For me, Haas symbolizes a culture of innovation, extensive global orientation, and a special focus on entrepreneurship and social impact. Through rigorous academics and abundant hands-on training at Haas, I will gain a comprehensive understanding of public-sector management, entrepreneurial strategy, and socially responsible business in the international arena. The Berkeley MBA will provide me with the additional impetus to nurture and hone my ideas of starting my own organization, becoming a leader of change, and making a positive impact on the world.