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1. Study grants, awards, and other recognition earned in scholastic, cultural, or social environments (420 characters) - Best Final Year Project for the year 2003 and was awarded an A+ grade.
- Was on the Principal’s Honours List for 2 consecutive years, 1999 & 2000, for an outstanding academic achievement in A’Levels.
- Awarded NUS Bursary and NUS Students Union Bursary for academic achievement during the 2nd year of the program. Character Count: 313
2. Long-term training courses or seminars attended after graduation (at least three months full-time): (420 characters) None.
3. Significant stays abroad (at least three consecutive months): (420 characters)
Leaving home at the age of 19 for Singapore to pursue my bachelors degree was a first towards an experience of living in a multiethnic society and has greatly enhanced my personality and increased my global outlook. After graduation working for a multinational company focused on business in the Asia Pac region provided the unique opportunity to successfully work with colleagues and customers from different countries. Character Count: 420
4. Describe your responsibilities, and career progress (give examples of experiences managing human and financial resources, indicating the level of responsibility): (900 characters)
Job Description:
- Service and Pre-Sales Consultant for Global IT View (GITV) Service.
- Delivery Manager for Wide Area Network (WAN) services provided for Boehler Uddeholm.
- Supervisor for Network Operations Team: Managing 2 member operations team.
- Project Consultant for the Voice Operations of the Toshiba Call Center service for the Asia-Pacific region. Career Evolution:
- Hired as Asst. Engineer for 1st Level Network Operations in 2003.
- Promoted to Network Engineer in 2004. Given additional responsibilities of Project Consultant for Voice Operations for Toshiba Call Center services, and involved in Pre-Sales activities.
- Promoted to Senior Network Engineer in 2005. Assigned as Supervisor for Network Operations Team, Service & Pre-Sales Consultant for the Global IT View Service, and Delivery Manager of Network services for Boehler Uddeholm for the Asia Pacific region. Character Count: 880
5. Write down, in order of importance, all possible past or present community or cultural responsibilities (Specifying the activity and period of time): (840 characters)
• Involved in voluntary work for the “Pertapis Children's Home” (1 year).
• Currently working towards establishing a Bursary Fund for Pakistani students at the National University of Singapore, which will be effective as of Jan 2007 (Since March 2006).
• Running a campaign for collecting funds for the victims of the recent Earthquake in Pakistan (Since October 2005).
• Executive member and campaigner for social work at “Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Cancer Hospital”. Mainly included self participation and recruitment of students to assist doctors and attend to cancer patients so as to ease the burden of hospital administration and management in the initial year of the hospital’s establishment (For 3 months in 1998). Character Count: 722
6. What interests and occupations do you pursue in your free time? (840 characters)
• Member of the Singapore Pakistan Association (SPA) Cricket Team playing in Singapore National Division 3 for the Season ’04. Appointed as Vice captain of the team, and led them to promotion to the Singapore National Cricket League Division 2 in the Season '05
• Involved in voluntary work for the “Pertapis Children's Home”.
• Executive member for the Singapore Pakistani Association, involved in organizing various social events for the association members
• I like listening to music during my free time. Especially Rock music, since it keeps my energy level high.
• I also go for Muay Thai classes once a week. Character Count: 611 7. What do you think you gained from your university studies? Conversely, what important things do you think your studies lacked? (1100 characters) My degree in Computing helped enhance my quantitative and analytical abilities through intensive programming courses. Knowledge of IT coupled with business knowledge gained through cross faculty modules at the business school provided an insight on the significance and benefits of technology integration in business. Studying in Singapore further provided the unique opportunity of experiencing a multi-racial society and meeting people from all over the world. Studying in diverse groups helped foster close relationships with people from different countries, thus, further helped to inculcate an appreciation of various cultures. Unfortunately what the studies lacked greatly were interactions with lecturers due to large class sizes of up to 500 students. Students were not allowed to interact with lecturers during lectures since tutorials were considered for that purpose only. And tutorials for important programming modules were conducted by tutors who lacked fluency in English and thus majority of the students found it difficult to cope with the difficult programming coursework initially. Character Count: 1100 8. Explain the most significant goals you think you have achieved so far and the reasons for their importance in your personal growth: (1200 characters) "Who could be more proud than I to have a son like you!"
Getting to hear these few words were an achievement for me that I have always been most proud of. Coming from a society where being a widow with a young child is literally a curse, my mother and I unfortunately experienced this situation first hand after my father's demise when I was 8 years old. Working two jobs and fighting a number of property cases for over a decade, is how my mother was able to provide me with a stable upbringing that culminated with my coming to Singapore to pursue a college education. This provided me with the opportunity to prove my own worth that I took advantage of by doing well in college and landing a placement in a multinational organization after graduation, where I've been climbing up the corporate ladder at a faster rate in comparison to other colleagues. It was a combination of all this that finally led to the above statement, which makes me proud because it provides me with a sense of achievement of being able to live up to my mother's expectations. This innate sense of responsibility has always made me strive to learn more, achieve more and succeed, for myself, my mother and my future family. Character Count: 1200 9. Describe your strong points, personal and professional, explaining why you see them as such: (1200 characters) The qualities of a true Libran: urbane, sociable, sincere, energetic, and ambitious, serve as the foundation of my character strengths and drive the choices I make to accomplish my goals. These are aptly described via the following examples: My leadership skills were recognized in being appointed as College Prefect at high school and Supervisor of the Network Operations team at work. Involvement in the dramatics club and various debating competitions, during college and university, provide evidence of my communication skills and confidence. The social responsibility aspect is shown in my involvement in volunteer work and in my effort, with a group of friends, to establish a Bursary Fund for Pakistani students at NUS. A common aspect evident in the above activities is that these were all very team oriented. My success in these aptly shows my ability to work in teams and build interpersonal relationships. My involvement and excellence in the activities mentioned can also be attributed to my ability to adapt to different situations. I have the ability to think through and assess difficult situations in a relaxed calculative manner and bring out the necessary skills required to excel. Character Count: 1201 10. Describe your weak points, personal and professional, explaining why you see them as such: (1200 characters) A major weak point that affects both my personal and professional life is that I tend to be direct and non-diplomatic, thereby, coming across as a bit aggressive at times. Although I get along very well with my colleagues and friends, but my direct approach has at times resulted in minor altercations. Considering the fact that organizational culture can be fairly political such personality traits may not be considered favourable and I believe the same applies to everyday life as well. Another weakness I see in my professional life is that I tend to be too detailed and a perfectionist when it comes to working on projects. At times I am not satisfied until I believe the outcome of a particular project I am working on is perfect. This can result in difficulties in managing time since I end up working long hours and create unnecessary pressure for myself.
Character Count: 862
11. What are the motives that lead you to ask to be admitted to the MBA programme at this point in your life? (1200 characters)
I'm attracted towards pursuing an international career, especially considering the concept of global markets in today’s world which requires the necessary international outlook, exposure and relevant know-how in order to succeed in such an environment. To achieve this, I am convinced that in times like this it is crucial to invest in one’s abilities, and I see an MBA as the best investment to provide me with the necessary tools I need to develop the knowledge, ability and personal skills required. I have thought of pursuing an MBA degree for several years but it is only last year that I truly began to appreciate its potential benefits and that I was ready and raring to pursue it as a development for my personal and professional life. I understand I'm currently at an early stage in my career but my decision is strategic considering my successive career goals. While my undergraduate major in Computing has served me well thus far in my IT Consultancy career, I want to get a strategic picture of how companies operate and to move from a technical environment to an international business environment, and by the end of the program make a transition towards a career in Strategy Consulting. Character Count: 1200 12. What do you hope to get from the MBA programme? (1200 characters) In managing globally, I realize that it is imperative to know the different social, economic, and political contexts of the countries involved, and how they affect business and the economy. It is also important to me that the diversity of the learning environment mirror the global and diverse business setting in which I plan to participate. The SDA Bocconi MBA aptly fits my objectives with its global repute and international focus towards understanding business, and with its highly diverse class that brings a unique mix of cultural perspectives to the classroom. My ultimate goal is to one day have a business of my own in the consulting industry itself and I feel joining a programme like this, with its General Management and Entrepreneurial focus, will equip me with the practical expertise to make that dream a reality. Character Count: 829 13. What arguments would you use to persuade someone that you were prepared to successfully undertake the MBA programme? (1200 characters) I have gained an insight on how a Technology business functions through my three years of experience in a Technical Operations Management role. During my short career I have proven my leadership skills and potential along with my maturity and drive to succeed. I believe I have reached a stage where an in depth knowledge and understanding on the various aspects of businesses is essential for my personal and professional development, as compared to staying in a technical role. I would bring a unique perspective to the classroom because of my background. I was born and raised in Pakistan and shifted to Singapore at the age of 19 to pursue an undergraduate degree. Living and working in a multi-ethnic society I learnt to appreciate the different cultures and gained a global outlook towards managing business. My experience in the IT Consulting industry provides evidence of exceptional analytical, problem solving and leadership skills. Furthermore, my innate sense of responsibility drives me to learn and achieve more. My interpersonal and team skills help to keep trust and caring in my personal relations. Altogether these provide the right formula for success in pursuing an MBA programme. Character Count: 1199 14. What other possibilities have you seriously considered, apart from the MBA programme, for reaching your goals of personal and professional growth? (1200 characters) I have considered several alternatives to pursuing an MBA degree. One of the most obvious choices for me would be to opt for a Masters of Science in Management programme. This would provide me with the necessary business knowledge that I aim to achieve, but would of course not match the learning experience and opportunities provided by an MBA programme. Another viable option would be to register for a Project Management course, as that would impart the knowledge of handling major projects with a more business perspective. Lastly, joining a start-up would give me the insight and practical experience into different areas of a business, which would also be a strong option. Character Count: 676 15. Where do you wish to pursue your profession after receiving the MBA degree? * Italy
Elsewhere (other than home country) Why? For pursuing a profession post-MBA, Italy would be the first and foremost choice. Milan being at the heart of the Italian Consulting, Financial, and Fashion industry would provide challenging and exceptional career opportunities. Furthermore, the opportunity to work in a diverse international environment is what I would like to avail, as this would provide me with a practical learning experience towards a more global outlook in managing business. The second choice for pursuing my profession would be in London, as it would also provide excellent career opportunities in a diverse and multi-cultural environment, with the global outlook and exposure towards managing business that I am aiming for. As a last choice, I would pursue my post-MBA career in Singapore, where I am currently residing. Character Count: 796 16. What are your short-term professional goals (within the next four years)? (1200 characters) Upon completion of my MBA, I see myself working for a leading Strategy Consulting firm like McKinsey in the capacity of an Associate Consultant. This would provide me with the opportunity of working with different clients on various topics, and in turn help in providing a practical learning experience towards understanding the intricacies involved in managing and running a company successfully. It would contribute a great deal towards developing my skill set and knowledge required for the International management position I plan to take in the future. Over the next four years I would strive to build on the knowledge and experience provided during my career as a consultant and aim to achieve the status of Senior Consultant. The Bocconi MBA program will help in developing the business foundation necessary for me to achieve my career goals with its commitment towards producing global business leaders through courses like “Strategic Design of the Multinational Firm”. Furthermore, the fact that the school recognises the importance of the Summer Internship is extremely important to me because it will provide me with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in my industry of choice. Character Count: 1196 17. What are your long-term professional goals? (1200 characters) In the long term, I would envision myself working in the capacity of a Senior Manager in a leading Strategy Consulting firm and gearing up towards an entrepreneurial venture in the Consulting industry itself. I believe the knowledge and experience gained and the network established during my placement as a Consultant would definitely help towards providing the necessary know-how and expertise for establishing my own company within the same market. Furthermore, the Entrepreneurial Focus provided during the Bocconi MBA program would lay a good foundation for my long term career goal. Specifically with its third-phase Entrepreneurial Project, which would provide the opportunity and experience to develop a business plans, organize a start-up or take part in a company business development project. Character Count: 611 18. All students must demonstrate the ability to support themselves during the entire programme. Describe how you intend to support yourself during the MBA programme: (1200 characters) I intend financing all relevant program expenses through various sources. I'll firstly be applying for the maximum amount possible for the following scholarships:
- SDA Bocconi Scholarship, and
- Lloyd Adriatico Scholarship.
The balance after the scholarships awarded, if any, I would fund via a loan from the options available through the university. If the maximum loan and scholarship amount does not cover the complete cost of the programme, I would then source for loans from my home country. Additionally, my personal savings of approximately Euro 2000 would help cover any emergency requirements. Character Count: 600 |
