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Sample Essay

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Although my experience in the United States has been challenging and rewarding, it is in Brazil that I aspire to make my greatest personal and professional contributions. Regretfully, the Brazilian political and economic situation has been characterized by a state of national crisis and disorder. The country's need for economic development and foreign investment is tremendous. While many attempts have been made to promote foreign investment in Brazil, the current volatile situation has been a strong deterrent. It is within this convoluted environment that I intend to apply my business skills and knowledge. My career goal is to create and run my own business consulting firm in Brazil, providing international firms and investors with the leadership, guidance, and partnership required to thrive in the Brazilian business environment. As a Brazilian, I do not see any other role I can play with more passion or desire. 

While Brazil offers opportunities in many industries, I intend to focus in the construction and real state development industry. Brazil already has many large and competitive construction companies, but there are still substantial opportunities for growth and development. With a population that exceeds 150 million people, Brazil represents the seventh largest market in the world and the largest economy in South America. Not surprisingly, Brazil's biggest business partner is the United States. Yet American companies have yet to recognize the country's full potential. The markets for automobiles, personal computers, and pharmaceuticals are far from saturated and benefit from an ever-growing demand for such goods. 

I plan to operate within this niche by extending the knowledge I have acquired in the United States -- leading projects and identifying opportunities -- to Brazil. My firm will guide international firms and investors from the initial stages of market identification through site selection, construction, and start-up with partnership, knowledge, and confidence. 

The broad and well-grounded knowledge of the engineering and construction industry I have acquired during my five years of experience with Fluor Daniel forms the foundation for my enterprise in Brazil. Through Columbia's MBA program, I plan to further build on this foundation by leveraging the experience in engineering and international management I have accumulated both in Brazil and in the United States. 

I have performed the design of several massive industrial and chemical process structures, such as a $430 MM chemical plant for Wellman in Mississippi and the rebuilding of a $350 MM Milliken carpet plant in Georgia. I have always been in the forefront of my profession, searching for innovative ways to solve engineering problems by integrating knowledge and technology, reducing cost, and increasing design serviceability. 

Over the past two and a half years, my passion for this industry has deepened substantially. I have been involved with the execution of several large construction projects. I have led the $410 MM General Motors project in Brazil and, currently, the $450 MM Aladdin Hotel and Casino project in Las Vegas. Brazil proved particularly exciting, since there I took on the dual role of lead contractor and cultural ombudsman. Decisions and discussions took on greater importance as I integrated opposing interests, developed common values, pushed cooperative continuity, and attained the objective -- project completion with collective success -- while interpreting language nuances and cultural disparities. Experiencing the first-hand impact that a project of that magnitude has on the local community was one of the most fascinating aspects of the experience. It was exciting to witness the changes that the new plant was already promoting in the area. 

New businesses were flourishing on a daily basis. This is precisely the type of impact that encourages me to further grow, develop in my career, and pursue my goals. 

The Aladdin Hotel and Casino Project in Las Vegas has also been a unique experience. Cost overruns, schedule delays, low morale, and management disrespect had been rampant over the previous year. It has been up to me to change the status quo, secure project stability, and achieve project success. Leading the changes on the Aladdin Project has served to reinforce my belief that values such as honesty, integrity, consistency of purpose and actions, accountability, and respect form the basis for one's position as a leader. These values have provided me with a strong and solid foundation to perform my work. The results to this point have been very encouraging: a 40-story hotel tower, completed on time, within budget, and exceeding the industry safety records. 

While I am certain that my professional experiences so far will prove extremely valuable in achieving my goal, I seek an MBA in order to acquire the knowledge of the commercial aspects of real estate business, develop acute marketing and finance skills, and refine my management abilities. I have selected Columbia's program for several reasons: curriculum, location, global environment, and reputation. Columbia's curriculum specifically addresses and focuses on the knowledge and skills that I need to acquire in order to achieve my goals in Brazil. The school's real state development track (which I intent to pursue) is second to none. I also plan to take electives in international business in order to obtain the skills I need to launch my business. Finally, I will take advantage of the numerous elective courses in finance and economics. 

Columbia's teaching method is equally important for me. I believe that, while certain subjects can be better illustrated utilizing case studies, other concepts are best mastered through lectures. At the same time, cross-discipline group projects are ideal in simulating an actual business environment. Columbia's program features all three of these methods. I believe this approach will provide me with a holistic perspective of business, maximize my learning experience, and allow me to contribute the most as a student, as a professional, and as an individual. 

Columbia's location plays a very important role in my program selection. New York City's plethora of resources is unparalleled, and the proximity to great firms and institutions offers unmatched opportunities for me to forge professional contacts. Having lived in Las Vegas for over a year, I am used to a complex, dynamic city, and I know from experience that I thrive in such environments. 

The international focus of Columbia's environment reflects the type of environment that I have worked in. Throughout my career, I have worked with an international and diverse group of brilliant individuals. Starting in college, at the Construction and Automation and Robotics Laboratory, I worked with individuals from China, Korea, India, Equator, Jordan, and Egypt. There I developed an appreciation for the synergy that a diverse group of individuals can generate. At Fluor Daniel, I continued to work with an international body of professionals. I have no doubt that Columbia will be a perfect match for my abilities and desires. 

My career aspirations are ambitious, but I am certain that I will attain them and thereby become a driving force in Brazil's business economy. I turn to Columbia not just for its reputed excellence, but also for the key qualities of its pivotal environment: global, strategic, driving, challenging, and interactive. This is precisely the type of environment in which I have worked and succeeded; it is in this type of environment that I will continue to thrive. 

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