NYU Stern, Personal Statement Example

Essay 1

The demand for digital content has never been greater. Never before has the rapid exchange of digital content been so frequent and so embedded within the daily functions of society. This creates a need within nearly every market for digital content savvy employees but also an even greater call for innovative ideas to propel digital media technology forward. I believe through attending New York University’s (NYU) Stern School, I can best equip myself to provide a valuable contribution to the world in this pivotal moment in time. My days consist of working with over twenty-five digital retailers who all need their respective encodes, transcodes, and renderings. At the same time digital content management is becoming more sophisticated as a field and while it would be expected for some of the more established names in the industry, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Veoh, to require their employees to have MBAs, it’s not uncommon for unknown startups rallying for entry into this marketplace to set the same standard. At more my core, I want to learn as much as possible within this field of study both in the classroom and outside of the classroom, while increasing my value in the eyes of potential corporate recruiters. This requires that I place myself in an environment where I will be exposed to as many paths as possible related to business, digital content management and media, as well as to surround myself with like minds through which I can collaborate and network. I believe New York University (NYU) Stern can provide that environment.

There is no better time than the Fall of 2015 for me to earn my MBA from New York University’s (NYU) Stern School, as I currently stand at the precipice of my abilities within my field. I believe I have accomplished as much as I can without the resources NYU Stern can offer, and in order for me to progress to the next level and achieve the goals I have set out for myself, I need to pursue an MBA at a reputable institution. During my time at NYU Stern I plan to study the growing digital entertainment market outside the United States investigate global consumer behavior and spending retail trends. I also want to assess the impact of launching into new markets and how this influences the United States home entertainment industry and connected world.

Wedged between Wall Street and Midtown, New York University’s (NYU) Stern School of business continues to draw my attention as a leading financial center in the world. Encouragingly, taking the master’s of business administration (MBA) from NYU will definitely give me the flexibility of designing my academic program in line with my unique needs and aspirations. Most important to note is that NYU Stern has invaluable resources that fall in line with the type of experience and exposure I need to build professional credibility in my field. Some of these resources include, the Sara Beth Virtual Tour, the Kaufman Management Center, and various clubs like the Media Club, the Entertainment Club and the Technology and New Media Group. I believe these groups will assist me in expanding my knowledge of management within the digital space. In addition, NYU’s diverse program has part-time and full-time offerings from which I can choose the most suitable to register. Furthermore, with its location in the hub of America’s business center, I will be able to draw greatly from the available city resources, including corporate recruiters and business leaders.

Upon graduation from NYU Stern, there are many professional paths I can take, but I think it would be best to enter a field that is related to my interest in film. My love of film started when I was 16 years old and my interest remained strong ever since. I was lucky enough acquire a job working for Lionsgate Company which allowed me the opportunity to nurture my love of film on many different levels. I believe the NYU Stern name will be able to provide me with similar industry experiences upon graduation through which I can propel myself into my ideal career through the use of Stern’s experienced faculty for mentorship in academic and professional matters. Furthermore, through the University’s diverse environment and cultural experience programs in countries like Singapore, Argentina, Hungary, Sweden, Germany and Japan, among other countries, I will be able better able to understand the requirements in doing business in different nations and possibly able to pursue international employment. Lastly, I believe that Stern’s professional clubs like entrepreneurs’ exchange and graduate marketing association, among others will provide me with the opportunity to network and potentially empower me to span out yo launch my own digital media startup. Another post graduate option for me would be to further my education by pursuing a doctorate in my field of study. This could position me as an authority in the field of digital content management and possibly lead to consulting opportunities down the road.

Part 2

While attending NYU Stern will exponentially increase the opportunities available to me upon graduation, there are two distinct paths I can envision myself pursuing. One clear path would be to pursue a career working with one of the major companies in the digital market space like Amazon, Netflix or Hulu. Through the resources available to me at NYU Stern, combined with my current knowledge, I am confident I will be an ideal candidate for one of these companies. The other possible path would entail launching my own digital media company. This would put me in the position of being able to partner with one of the larger operations in this market space. I believe that becoming a partner with a big Company rather than being a mere employee is essential in professional growth. Luckily, I have a good record of accomplishment in film having worked with a company like Lionsgate. Currently, I comprehend the subtleties of native digital advertising and ways of launching a successful digital media campaign. I am also proficient in video production and editing among other competencies listed in my curriculum vitae. I am also able to monitor the success of the initiatives using advanced web analytics, generate reports on the initiatives and implement solutions. In my second possible path, I envision myself developing experience in negotiating, as well setting up distribution deals on my own, whereby I will broker domestic and intercontinental deals for studio content. It is through establishing my sole proprietorship in film, that I will continue bringing the global community together and work with different people to produce important aspects of an effective media campaign. I hope that the sole proprietorship will provide a good platform for me to become a film consultant and manage my own staff.

My academic and professional aspirations parallel nicely with the core objectives of NYU’s Stern School of Business. As it states in their literature, the University places their business students at at the heart of the world’s financial centers. In my personal life I have placed an emphasis on surrounding myself with the top individuals competing in my fields of interest, and placing myself in the environment that would best optimize my full potential. In this respect I share the same value for educational and professional environment as the University. I suspect the location of the institution will also play a pivotal role in my future success on my path to attain employment within the digital media industry. Due largely to the fact that the school blends into its environment, creating a situation where one can barely distinguish the school from the rest of New York City, I believe my time at the school will adopt this same aesthetic in that my studies and professional pursuits in preparation for my employment after receiving my MBA will seamlessly integrate. It is in this way that I feel I will best be able to establish a solid foundation for my chosen path following the program.  NYU literature also emphasizes the University’s program diversity, the fact that I can take full-time or part-time offerings to balance time that I might have for work supplements my professional aspirations. Your institution places an importance on the experience of the staff, specifically that instructors have worked in the field of which they teach. I too take pride in the fact that I have experience in digital content management and have worked in the field prior to pursuing my MBA. I also don’t underestimate the impact the opportunity to learn from experts will have on the knowledge I gain from the program. Just knowing the University has professors cited in the Wall Street Journal adds an extra level of integrity and credibility to the school and makes me that much more enthusiastic about earning a degree from NYU Stern.

In particular, NYU’s mission entails the development of people and ideas, which transform 21st century challenges into opportunities in order to create great value for business, as well as society. Clearly, my two possible career paths will shape me as an independent manager and a leader capable of managing my own business. By being a self-reliant leader will enable me to use my power and influence to drive change in the world in line with NYU’s mission. Today, many educated individuals in different countries face the challenge of getting employment and stable income. However, if I establish my own film business, I will be able to employ others. Similarly, if I collaborate with a big Company, I will use my powers as a leader to advocate for the employment of more staff and create an income for many upcoming individuals particularly in the digital media industry. I think it is undeniable that attending NYU Stern will significantly improve my chances of achieving my long-term aspirations. It would be a thrilling honor to attend your unique and reputable academic institution and I look forward to your response to my application.