KELLOGG MBA ESSAY 1: MICHAEL SCOTT

Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. 

Understanding the essay prompt - For a more detailed understanding Creator's commentary will be made available for these essays.

Couple of things that require understanding what Kellogg means by the question. First, start by understanding what a Kellogg Leader means. Now looking at the value statement, Kellogg suggests one powerful thing in these lines- "Showing up is the first half; how to show up after preparing yourself for it is the other half" . That is exactly what this essay wants!

The basic prompts are clear- Why MBA? What are your Short-term and Long-term Goals? Why now? Why Kellogg? How will you contribute to Kellogg Community?

All that fused into one simple question around intentionality! There are many ways to approach this question, it will depend on your personal writing style to see what you will make the essay around- Goals? Resources? Location? Curriculum? Up to you! But at MBA Conquerors, we are purpose driven and everything in your MBA application generally revolves around the purpose aka Goals and motivation. So, let's see what Michael Scott's Essay might look like!

Image of Kellogg School of Management (rights to image not owned by MBA Conquerors, parts of image are AI generated)

I was just headed to an art exhibition organized by Pam, a talented coworker, after speaking at a business school event that made me wonder what drove me so much towards the paper industry. When I got into that event, I saw Pam had drawn our office- as an indicator of a connection she shared with all of us. In that moment of reflection, I had my answer, I am drawn to this industry because it brings people together and connects people, a tradition that has endured throughout the history in some form. And while we embrace innovation, the way people communicate themselves with paper can evolve but not eliminate itself.

With this passion, I wish to draw on my previous experiences working in sales, managing a branch of a paper company and starting and successfully selling a paper company to create startup that embraces technology in the paper industry. As I believe that the diverse experiences I have had from leading cross-functional diverse teams to developing the best branch with the best client relationship Dunder-Mifflin has ever seen, I can bring the same energy to Kellogg where we treat everyday as a new opportunity to grow and step out of our comfort zone to learn from each other's experiences. Having worked through multiple mergers and acquisitions, I bring in perspectives not only from a corporate perspective but also from that of a startup which can actively stimulate the learning experience as I attempt to support collective growth of the cohort.

While I found this opportunity to innovate in the paper industry, I also realized that I lacked the necessary resources and the network to have an impact at the level I wish to. Upon discussing things with Joe Bennett, CEO and David Wallace, former- CFO, I realized that getting an MBA could fill the necessary gap while allowing me to gain formal business education. With Heizer Center and the Private Equity and Venture Capital Pathway, I can develop connections with future and current leaders in the industry to understand the intricate space of fundraising- something I previously struggled with. The Entrepreneurship and Growth & Scaling pathways are the perfect way for me to develop an understanding of establishing a business and how to grow as a leader as the organization evolves and scales.

Apart from the curriculum, student run clubs such as, EVC and ETA Club could be a great source of engagement for me. Just up my ally are some of the most immersive events that can transform the Entrepreneurship culture at Kellogg. I would love to actively contribute to the ETA Conference that happens in collaboration with Booth's Polsky center for Entrepreneurship and play my part in leading Kellogg students into a new world by providing my experiences leading the negotiations during the acquisition of Michael Scott Paper Company. As I anticipate support from multiple search funds while I grow my startup, this could be a great opportunity for me to grow.

With a great location enhancing the learning environment for my goals, I believe an MBA from Kellogg can help me become a Kellogg leader, which is a necessity to thrive in the relationship focused industry. From the curriculum to the clubs to the culture, Kellogg MBA would be a great fit in helping me continuously grow with my peers and my venture.

Creator's commentary coming soon!

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