Master of International Management Statement, Essay Example

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I am not out to change the world but I do intend to do my part, dedicatedly, in helping make happen the changes that are much needed in this world, -and education will be my most valuable weapon. My name is First Surname and I am writing this letter as part of my application for graduate studies in leadership from your most prestigious educational institution.

It was in 2010 when I first came to the United States as an undergraduate student in second language speaking. During the course of my introductory education here in America, I got involved in many leadership events. Stirring an interest and desire within me, I took on several fellow classes in leadership following those. This undertaking is usually very challenging for international students, like me, owing primarily to language and other communication barriers. But I did not let this stop me one bit. Rather, I was fueled by my strong motivation and I was able to complete those classes successfully. So much so, my instructors for those classes have indicated this success on several recommendation letters they provided on my behalf.

Having withstood this challenge not only proves my interest in leadership as a field of study, but more so, it has proven that I am innately a leader. The road a leader takes is never an easy one. There will always be stumbling blocks and challenges and other things that are sure to either get him down or stop him on his tracks. That I overcame the challenges I faced should be a suggestion that leadership is not just something I would like to know about and learn; it is something I want to live out and become.

I have decided to pursue Master of International Management because we are living in a world that is increasingly being shaped by the forces of globalization. Factors of production including human resources have become more mobile and geographical barriers have become less relevant. We are finally witnessing the transformation of our world into one global village. Economic integration among different countries might have sped up but this doesn’t decrease the need of developing strong cross-cultural skills. Understanding of different cultures is important in today’s world because cultures exert huge influences on everything from consumers’ lifestyles and consumption habits to business practices and communication. A business cannot succeed in international markets unless it understands the culture of the markets it is targeting. Someone was wise enough to remind multinational companies to think global and act local. Not only more and more companies will be expanding their operations beyond national markets but even professional in both developed and developing countries are more likely to take international assignments as compared to the past.

Master of International Management Program will help me develop truly global perspective. It will not only introduce me to the business practices, national, and organizational cultures in other countries but will also help me become better aware of the biases I currently have and get rid of them. In addition, I will be interacting with fellow students from all over the world and nothing substitutes developing cross-cultural knowledge through actual interaction with cultural natives. I am also drawn to the program because I will have tremendous opportunities to interact with industry leaders and professionals with extensive international exposure. I admire the fact that the Master of International Management Program strikes a delicate balance between in-class and real world learning. I am convinced it is possible to develop strong cross-cultural skills through education, real world exposure, and an open mind and one cannot exceed in the international markets without effective cross-cultural skills.