Answer

Personal Statement

I must admit that by the time I was graduating from high school, I did not have any specific career path in mind. It was not until I read an article online about the richest people in the world; from Moscow to Hong Kong, New York, and London among other cities, that the richest and most influential individuals were business moguls. From that point on, I developed a passion for entrepreneurship. As young as I was, I knew I had to lay the right foundation for success in the business world and equipping myself with the relevant knowledge could not be more important. Thus, my goals as I enrolled for a Bachelor of Science degree in the University of California were very clear.

My time as an undergraduate has taught me a lot even beyond the classroom. The exchange program under which I have been studying has brought me face to face with the reality of today’s globalized world. I am aware that business success is achieved when one knows to deal with people in the right way, an aspect I can say I am now excellent in given my exposure to diverse cultures. My interpersonal communication skills could not be better practically sharpened. I am happy with my GPA, which I have been able to achieve not due to any special innate intelligence, but as a result of openness and readiness to learn, often adjusting where necessary. I believe such attitude will be crucial for success in business where change is a constant factor.

Making up my mind to avoid distractions and keep my eyes on my initial career path has not been easy. The taught- and self-knowledge as well as experience have affirmed my belief that business is the right choice for me. This far, I have been sufficiently enlightened on an array of factors that ‘make the world go round’ and how such are intertwined. My work and academic experience are enormous, but I yearn for more even as I wish to be a more competent individual in the job market. While it will be interesting and optimal to add to this in many areas, I am particularly excited about Investment Analysis, an area that I believe will equip me with the relevant and necessary knowledge and insight concerning decision-making processes, particularly in relation to financial assets.  With a solid understanding of how financial markets function, I will have grasped the background against which entrepreneurs make investment decisions. Nothing will be more important in this regard than contemporary investment models including those addressing areas like bonds and stocks valuation, portfolio management, and financial risk management among others. My undergraduate degree and work experience notwithstanding, I still need understanding of the core knowledge base upon which business professionals operate and make decisions.

Ambitious as I am, I will without doubt be keen to invest in the securities market. In this vein, I believe specializing in Investment Analysis will give me the prerequisite understanding of how securities markets function. The theories I will encounter thereof will be crucial in enabling me to rightly appraise the attractiveness of bonds and stocks, therefore making optimal decisions. I believe with my degree in Managerial Economics, I already have a good knowledge foundation that will enable me excel in my Master’s Program.

My short term professional goals include gaining experience and exposure in the business world as well as building a solid network that will then propel me to achieve my long term professional goal, which is to build a vast business empire and become a great name in the international business stage. I am realistic as regards these goals and I do not expect the journey to be without challenges. From financial challenges to disappointments whereby things fail to go as planned, I expect the journey to be rocky. However, my previous experiences will come in handy because, for instance, I have developed resilience and the ability to put up with even the most pressing challenge. I have faced difficulties during my exchange program but I have learnt to persevere and emerge stronger. As for financial challenges, I have learnt to live within my means, always avoiding unnecessary expenses. A strength that I believe will be helpful in this respect is my good communication and networking skills, for instance as was clear during my placement at WBUR-FM where I was able to raise over $50,000 in an average fundraising period. I believe I have the experience and ability to mobilize resources even where chances are slim.

My professional, social, and academic experiences have indeed equipped me with the commitment, competency, passion, and initiative required for success in the anticipated program. I have no doubt that a Northeastern education in particular, with its supportive and distinguished faculty as well as rich course offerings will equip me with the necessary resources and additional tools for success in my career and life in general. Most importantly, it will help me uniquely prepare to face the turbulent business arena, more so in the face of globalization.