ISB Sample Essays 2011

The content in the file is copyright of the author and Apphelp. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. These pages are protected by copyright. No part of any of the web pages may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright owner.

Essay 1: If we were to admit one more student to the class of 2012, make a compelling argument as to why that student should be you? (300 words max)

Essay 2: What are your short term and long term goals? How will the ISB help you achieve the same? (300 words max)

Essay 3:Please provide additional information, that will significantly affect the consideration of your application to the ISB. (300 words max)

Essay 1:

360-degree tryst with business models has been my journey’s highlight. Be it leading 200 workmen amidst on-site vagaries in AAA_city or be it driving infrastructure evaluations and negotiations with 20 international vendors, I have lived and driven end-to-end business spectrums. But real soul-searching experience has been at Bottom of Pyramid- rainwater harvesting in 3 villages near AAA_city. Motivating 17 villagers amidst harsh ground realities was both a test of communication skills and realization of dynamics of socially inclusive growth. My experience of business models across pyramid shall foster new vistas of constructive growth for ISB peer groups.

Conflict resolution and people alignment adds further strength to my character. From driving LTA with 25 Labor Union members, under suspicious IR environment to resolving dichotomy between senior and middle management for XYZ crore-investment strategies in AAA_city, my maturity to forge common vision has gone from strength to strength. Be it board room dilemmas while formulating BBB_city plant’s business plan with 15-member cross-functional team or unifying fractions of 40 member cultural team amidst fund scarcity to stage successful PREMIER_COLLEGE fest, each experience has been an eye-opener. This facet shall be pivotal to ISB’s philosophy of collaborative learning among diverse community.

Of course, ISB provides opportunities beyond academics, wherein versatility can make lasting impact. Be it topping academically and simultaneously working through nights to lead PREMIER_COLLEGE Hall team of 300 to Illumination Golds or be it being PREMIER_COLLEGE’s cultural face interacting with musicians and quizmasters, while fostering innovation competition spanning 70 workmen, I have excelled in diverse profiles of varying complexity. In a dynamic ISB curriculum, such versatility would be synergistic to ISB’s goal of developing leaders for evolving economies.

My all-encompassing experiences and adaptability, with propensity to align visions would certainly make me that one student to be admitted.

Essay 2:

My first role as Projects Engineer at BBB_city factory was a hands-on experience in leadership and conflict resolution. Working with Labor Union in an acerbic industrial environment and leading a diverse team of 30 to execute huge automation projects was a challenge in transforming people mindsets. As “Quality and Change Management” enhanced my operations repertoire, I teamed with workers and field specialists to drive quality improvement and innovation worth INR X crore. Further expanding horizons as Project Manager for factory in AAA_city, I led conceptualization to implementation of infrastructure and processes, through nuts and bolts of a YYY Crore, 150 people business model.

My TOP_COMPANY journey has inspired me for Change Management on a wider socio-economic canvass. Post MBA, I aim to work for a global management-consulting firm with a vision to create impact in emerging economies like India. If one industry could teach me principles so myriad, I am deeply inspired to understand business dynamics across cultures, while being at the epicenter- INDIA. In long term, my knowledge of business best practices and consulting expertise would drive thought leadership to rural infrastructure development based on rainwater harvesting, power generation and education.

And I envision ISB as the foundation for my vision. Firstly, as a team player - be it on student council or factory work team, I identify with ISB’s integral concept of “collaborative” learning- critical to drive multi-faceted infrastructure development. Secondly, ISB stands for leadership skills and global outlook –indispensable for business impact in diverse socio-cultural economies. I foresee Experiential Learning Program and Emerging Markets Club as ideal platforms, with dynamic ISB curriculum as catalyst. Thirdly, ‘an ISB year’ epitomizes decisive thinking under time constraints while forums like Net Impact Club inculcate judgement skills for social impact. Indeed, the ISB experience is what I aspire for!

Essay 3 :

Knowledge enhancement of peers has always been my passion. And when creativity and collective enthusiasm add more dimensions, the journey is an experience in itself.

The foremost thing I noticed when I joined the team for AAA_city factory was the plethora of knowledge available within team of 25 and related stakeholders. Apart from volumes of techno-commercial data being generated, it was the very nuances of brainstorming sessions with implicit learning which needed a platform for capturing. I envisaged an online Knowledge Management Portal which would not only be a repository of information but also a vibrant forum. But real revelation came when I bounced off ideas to team members through demos from IT team. Free from any professional obligation to the initiative but inspired by the novel idea unprecedented in TOP_COMPANY, myriad ideas emerged. Knowing fully well that I had to pioneer its usage to generate enthusiasm, I modeled my core team’s working and knowledge base around the Portal. Drawing from experience of quizzing and library management during PREMIER_COLLEGE days, I led a visibility drive by promoting KM Portal through publicity galleries, newsletters and online quiz contests. Harnessing the team’s motivating skills and interpersonal dynamics, I drove broad basing of KM activities across middle management with 70 members in year 1. What started as outlet for information sharing gradually became breeding ground for Knowledge deliberations with recognition for best contributions.

The KM Portal is indeed based on foundation of zeal to drive new initiatives beyond professional boundaries. And I have realized that change management for knowledge is more about creating positive energy through constant motivation and stakeholdership, and not just with brilliant ideas. Total KM members is fast approaching 100 and with annual quiz competition “Versus” becoming a hit, stage is set for a new launchpad for KM Portal.