Graduate program requirements and structures

¶ … Business and Entrepreneurship)

If I were to describe myself in a single word, it would be 'fluent.' I have striven to make myself fluent in a variety of languages and cultures so my skill set can be adaptable to my current workplace and to the workplace of the future. For example, in my role as a marketing assistant for Pepsi Co. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, I found myself working for an American company that was attempting to solidify its market base in the Middle East. I had to translate the all-American appeal of Pepsi to a foreign setting, and persuade consumers in a manner that was culturally comprehensible that Coca-Cola was not 'it,' and they should try the Pepsi brand.

As part of my work for Pepsi, I designed and crafted marketing materials, spanning from articles, brochures, projects, press releases, and event announcements, to company newsletters, trade-show passes, and reports, to thank you letters. All of these publications had to reinforce the same, core branding concepts. Because of my comfort in a diverse workplace setting, I was asked to be the mediator between Pepsi and the various advertising agencies representing the iconic soft drink company, as well as to organize and participate in the work of the research and planning committee. Marketing a well-known brand in a different country was a case study in learning how subtle changes in strategy are necessary when framing even an established international product. Wholly re-envisioning the core brand identity is not tenable or desirable, but no product can be transported 'as is' across national borders.

I have also served in the capacity of assistant manager to a very different, but equally internationally-focused company called the Basahel Geoconsult Establishment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As well as writing reports for company transactions and coordinating meetings with current and potential clients, and governmental agencies, I was responsible for writing reports for company transactions. Every responsibility in which I was invested required me to ensure that my communications would be persuasive and comprehensible to individuals of different backgrounds. Fluency in a variety of languages and cultures was demanded. In terms of my demeanor, I had to be both friendly yet professional, and subtly alter my meaning and the presentation of the company to suit the perceptions of individuals from every corner of the globe. I had to be a willing team player with the ability to multitask and prioritize.

As well as honing my communications, marketing, PR, and organizational skills, my previous occupations demanded that I have a high level of computer literacy. Every day of every occupation at which I have worked has required me to be an astute student of the modern, technologically-focused business community. I believe that these experiences have given me excellent preparation for pursuing an MBA. I seek a graduate degree to solidify the knowledge I have acquired from my personal experiences and to give me greater understanding of how to apply it.