CEIBS MBA Application Essay 2020-21

1. Discuss your post – MBA career aspirations (short term and long term) and explain how you plan to achieve them (400 words).
2. Describe your most significant achievement to date and explain why you consider it such an important accomplishment. (400 words)
3.  Identify up to two trends, big or small, that you see unfolding in the next decade. Discuss how the(se) trend(s) might affect you and your career, and how you plan to address them during your MBA and/or after you graduate. (400 words) * Word count

CEIBS MBA Winning Sample Essay – 1

 

CEIBS Essay 1: Discuss your post – MBA career aspirations (short term and long term) and explain how you plan to achieve them (400 words). 

I have three years of experience as a strategy consultant working for Ernst and Young (EY) and Chain IQ. Post-MBA, I would like to continue growing my career as a strategy consultant, preferably in a technology consulting role for a global consulting firm like Mckinsey, Bain or BCG.

Post my undergraduate degree from the University of St. Gallen (HSG), I started my career as a strategy consultant to the CEO of Ernst & Young Switzerland. Later, I followed him to Chain IQ when he joined as the Group CEO. As a strategy consultant, I manage all external mandates for the Group CEO consulting digitalswitzerland and Europa Forum on behalf of Chain IQ. Through these experiences, I have developed excellent data analysis skills, a strong network in Switzerland across the private sector, and a ring-side view of how long term strategies are formed and implemented. However, my current role primarily restricts my scope to strategic data analysis; I aim to expand my horizons and create an impact beyond data analysis. But to do so, I lack the business knowledge of monetising analysed data and addressing its broader implications for business strategy. That is why I now aspire to pursue an MBA and enhance my business acumen before transitioning into a front end strategy consulting role.

After extensive research and conversation with Alumni like Sizhen Rao and Simon Liang (Both Co ’21), I believe CEIBS’ MBA is in perfect sync for my desired learning from an MBA program. First, CEIBS’ extensive curriculum with specialised electives on strategy and especially the “Economics and decision sciences” led by Prof. Dr. Bala Ramasamy will enable me to deepen my knowledge of data analytics and monetisation. Outside of the academic curriculum, I loved the activities like the 88 km trek in the Gobi Desert, which I am sure can help me develop my leadership skills via the program’s experiential learning nature. Finally, CEIBS’ MBA Strategy Project can give me the opportunity to implement my classroom learnings, learn about real challenges faced by business and provide excellent networking opportunities with the consulting firms in Shanghai. Similarly, I aim to give back and would be thrilled to represent Switzerland as a student ambassador for CEIBS.

Overall I am confident that with my prior strategy consulting experiences, CEIBS’ unique approach to leadership, and career transformation can enable me to achieve my desired learning and career goals from an MBA.

CEIBS Essay 2: Describe your most significant achievement to date and explain why you consider it such an important accomplishment. (400 words) 

My most significant achievement to date is climbing the Cross of the Seas (Cruz de los Mares) in Chile on October 31st, which marked the symbolic end of my nine months solo trip in South America.

This trip to South America holds a special significance in my life because it was the first time I stepped out and broke away from society’s expectation of me to find my true self. During my studies, I had spent all my energy in interning and receiving offers from firms such as BCG, EY and Goldman Sachs to gain the appraisal of my fellow students, friends and family.

However, growing up in a privileged world of possession, I sensed a feeling of emptiness. That is why I decided to take a gap year and find my own calling.  I went on a solo nine months trip from the northernmost to the southernmost point of mainland South America. Three months into the trip, all my possessions, including the backpack, were stolen. For the rest of the trip, I only invested in the bare minimum and carrying less made me see the world from a different perspective. To quote Steve Jobs: “The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again.”

I now spent my nights in a tent in the backyards of local people. Being out of possessions and hotels led to incredible experiences and exchanges. I experienced astonishing kindness, gratitude and hospitality of locals, who themselves had limited means. It led me to develop compassion for people living in other circumstances than I do. I learned to listen to people more holistically, and I have come to care more about relationships than objects.

After returning to Switzerland, I donated most of my possessions which I no longer use to a local charity and initiated a programme where I volunteer and teach skiing to children who can’t afford their own skis or snowboard. Until today, my trip to South America is the achievement I am most grateful and proud of for the way it shaped me as a sister, friend and member of our society. I now look forward to spending 18 months at CEIBS, where I am convinced that the diversity of culture and backgrounds can further help me understand even more different perspectives and reconcile conflicting interests, including my own.

CEIBS Essay 3: Identify up to two trends, big or small, that you see unfolding in the next decade. Discuss how the(se) trend(s) might affect you and your career, and how you plan to address them during your MBA and/or after you graduate. (400 words) * Word count 

I think the two trends unfolding in the next decade that are key in defining our global economy, political systems and society are 1) accelerated application of data monetisation and 2) China’s increasing global influence.

On the one hand, I am convinced that the current trend to monetise data will significantly increase within the next decade, shifting companies towards a more ecosystem-focused approach. I have personally experienced this as part of a project from digitalswitzerland that aimed to lower the Swiss population’s blood pressure by  1%. The plan was to develop an app that enabled users to measure their blood pressure and make recommendations accordingly. Within a short time, we managed to onboard over 40 partners to co-finance the app development, including the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and one of Switzerland’s largest insurance companies. The main factor that convinced them to invest was leveraging and monetising the data collected via the app.

On the other hand, I firmly believe that China’s increasing global influence will define our generation. While consulting the Europa Forum, I am in charge of a project where every year 25 of the most influential people in Switzerland and Europe from business, academia and politics give their views for a strong Switzerland in the context of Europe. In 2020, more than 70% anticipated China to be the dominant economic power in the near future with whom Switzerland should develop strong relations. The view and opinions were so strong that as a result, we decided to rephrase the annual conference’s topic for 2021 and put the key focus on China. The recent signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement and China’s strong involvement in the UN are expected to impact the global economy and political stage significantly.

I am confident that the trends towards data monetisation and growing influence of China will significantly impact my career. As I aim to work for a global consulting firm, I need to enhance my business acumen and address my lack of experience working with Chinese counterparts.

In pursuing an MBA at CEIBS, I firmly believe that I am best prepared to address both the trends. CEIBS’ focus on data analytics and monetisation and the digital economy are internationally acknowledged. I am convinced that my China experience will be viewed by my employer as a valuable asset and result in opportunities to work on projects in China, connecting the best from across the world.