MBA SOP Sample for International Business in the UK

Statement of Purpose

I stand at the cusp of my career today where I can sense the endless possibilities but also the need to enhance my experience with a sound understanding of management principles. A work experience of around 11 years spanning warehouse management, office administration, outbound logistics, vendor management, budget management, and transportation management, and my entrepreneurial experience has prepared me to take a leap to the next career level. I feel the need for an MBA as the last 11 years have given me an experience of how a subtle change in the process can have a huge impact on the overall growth of the organization. Inspired by this and backed by my experiences, I am fired by the zeal to expand my tourism business. However, being a pragmatic person, in order to pursue my interest in a larger setup, I not only need to augment my leadership skills but also need to bring about a deeper understanding of business management concepts such as operations, strategy, risk management, etc. and therefore my application to the MBA program at [UNIVERSITY_1].

I did my schooling in [STATE_1] and passed 10th standard with 86% and 12th grade with 78%. Post that, I completed a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication from [UNIVERSITY_2] with 62%. It was while working on the undergrad project "Traffic control system in [STATE_2]" that I got a chance to lead a team of 12 members. While this was my first leadership role, I did a splendid job and was appreciated for this. It was while leading this project that I realized my inherent leadership skills.

After completing my undergraduate program, I joined [SCHOOL_1] as an administrative assistant while simultaneously searching for a job in the core industry. My role at [SCHOOL_1] gave me the opportunity to develop my organizational and administrative skills. A year later, I got a job with the [ORGANIZATION_1]—a public sector undertaking under the Government of [STATE_1], India—and started my journey as Junior Operator. Being a quick thinker, my presence of mind helped save the lives of many workers at [ORGANIZATION_1] when I detected a circuit breaker failure. Rather than panicking, I kept my calm and thought of possible ways to avoid a huge accident. I pressed the alarm button to alert everyone at the power station, helped evacuate the electricity yard, and finally switched off the circuit breaker. I enjoyed operations, management, and administration jobs here and became convinced that my forte lay in management and not core electronics and communications.

After working here for 4 years, looking for better opportunities, I joined [ORGANIZATION_2] as a Warehouse Manager. My roles here involved generating the quarterly departmental budget and updating the management to obtain more funding as required, spearheading the overall operations of workers, assigning tasks as per individual's skillset, preparing maintenance and progress reports, and updating the same to the higher management. I was also responsible for problem-solving and providing suggestions and advice on specific transportation changes to facilitate the company's operations, reducing the company's carbon emissions, and performing inspections and audits on the physical condition of packages before they left the warehouse.

While working at [ORGANIZATION_2], I inherited a tourism business and was a silent partner. In 2019, once I had gained sufficient funds, I quit my job at [ORGANIZATION_2] and joined this tourism business full time. Working with my partners, I helped bring in more international and domestic tourists while also increasing the revenues being generated. While working here, I also proved my outstanding interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills, and became adept at managing staff, communicating efficiently, and establishing ongoing communications with various departments to facilitate decision making. The business was making profits when the Covid pandemic hit the world and the subsequent lockdowns almost put a full stop to this business for almost a year. Though things are looking brighter now and the tourism industry is seeing comparatively higher footfalls, I wish to be better prepared to tackle any business challenges that come my way in the future and therefore apply to the MBA program.

I envisage an MBA from [UNIVERSITY_1] as a very vital and crucial step that will accelerate my personal and professional growth and enrich my career progression. I am confident that this exceptional exposure and business learning culture will engender the leadership, business competence, and strong understanding of the intricacies of business management I need. This program, with its specialization in International MBA, will smoothen my journey as a business leader as I will be able to learn and enhance my decision-making skills, and gain knowledge of planning, implementing, managing, and improving the processes. Studying along with the best intellectual peer group and from the most eminent faculties and bringing real-time knowledge to the classrooms via student clubs will widen my horizons and give me a global outlook.

Post-MBA, I envision myself working as a manager in a leading tourism company in the UK and leveraging my experience and learning to make business decisions and help my organization to standardize its operating practices and create competitive differences. In the long term, I see myself returning to India, expanding my tourism business, and taking my organization to the pinnacle of success. I see this school as a perfect place to sharpen my skill set, acquire knowledge and global perspective, build a network, and have access to the professional opportunities which will prove imperative for me to further excel in my career.