Essay for my MBA application @ Hult International Business School

Living in an environment where people have their own idiosyncrasies is not new to me.  I was born and raised in an archipelago where almost every island has its own language, its own culture, and its own attribute.  I must say that being engrossed in this kind of diverse society is already a prelude to the kind of environment that Hult has to offer given its worldwide presence.   Perhaps, this is an avenue for me to share innate or acquired skills that I personally possess.

For almost seven years, I have struggled juggling both work and studies at the same time.  It was a tedious lifestyle yet perfectly fulfilling which has brought great transformation in me.  Working at night in several Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies dealing with other nationalities and attending class discussion in the morning was my daily routine.  Conflict is inevitable in terms of which should I pour in more attention – food for the brain or my bread-and-butter.  Inherently resilient, I was able to master time management to cope with this challenging life.  Making compromises was common so as to augment the shortcomings every time I sacrifice one for the other. I set flexible schedule which I adhere to and if circumstance warrants, then necessary adjustment is done.   I employed the so-called ‘power of now’ and procrastination is taboo since it would definitely have repercussions.  Oftentimes, I prioritized things that are urgent and even did cost-benefit analysis. 

Doing a collaborative work with people of diverse profile is another salient concern.  Through the years of interaction with different nationalities at work or in school, I have developed the skill of building rapport and camaraderie.  I usually go beyond the extra mile of learning laconic expressions of different major languages just to bridge the gap.  I suppose it emanates from the strong inclination I have for learning different cultures across the globe.  On the other hand, my rich cultural background and knowledge of my own native land as well as its neighboring countries can deepen the understanding and appreciation of those people with the same passion.  It is also one way of promoting my homeland thereby educating people about its beauty and uniqueness.

Another valuable trait that I am proud of and I can impart to my colleagues would be the high motivation I have for success.  Since I was child, I consistently bring honor to my family and school by bagging numerous awards which I was able to do so even in the workplace may it be academics, sports, or dance competitions.  But I am cognizant that it would not be possible without the support and encouragement I get from others.  In return, I selflessly inspire people to strive harder or simply bring out the best in them.  The more I share myself to others, the more I appreciate my purpose and the skills God has bestowed upon me.

Having prominently highlighted the skills that I can contribute, I certainly believe that most of the people that I will be dealing with also have their own unique skills.  Coming from different countries, I envision myself being influenced in some way or another by these people.  In terms of how it will impact my life would really depend on how receptive I am of their influences.  To some extent, possible conflict of viewpoints may be imminent and sometimes it is healthy since it opens the door for discussion.  There has to be a continuous assimilation process to evade hostility due to clashing views.  As to how it can be done, I guess it is a matter of mutual respect and a give-and-take relationship.   Undoubtedly, taking up the MBA program at Hult with a collection of cultures will assist me in getting a better grasp of my own culture and the others.  It will develop a deeper sense of nationalism on one hand and bridging the gap amongst the students on the other. 

One remarkable influence which I would like to underscore is the idea that all classroom discussion will be an amalgamation of various perceptions peculiarly shaped by each other’s ingenuity and distinctiveness which will positively help me become more globally competitive.  Knowing first-hand experiences from people working in a totally different environment or personally running their own business is very helpful in terms of learning the peculiarity of the different markets.   Finally, being able to work in a multicultural-oriented environment will indubitably hone my skills and even develop further skills pertinent in running business in a global  scale.