Dear Lisa
First of all thank you very much in advance for your invaluable feedback!
I am planning to apply to Jan 2011 INSEAD class - possibly in Round I. I would appreciate your views on overall INSEAD's suitability for a person with my background, as well as your general brief comments on my profile: overall chances, points I should flash out in my application essays, any other tips.
Are there any other MBA programmes that you think I should consider or does INSEAD indeed appear the best option, e.g. IE, IMD, accelerated Columbia programme (I would not be so keen on doing a 2-year programme)?
Below is my summary profile.
Thank you very much!
Lucas
+ + + +
28yo male from one of Central Eastern Europe (CEE) countries
GMAT: 710 (V:89%, Q: 83%)
Education:
Double master (Finance and Management) from a top CEE university - very good GPA (top 2% of the class)
CFA charterholder
Experience:
5 years full-time experience in a bulge-bracket investment bank in London, M&A / sector investment banking team (finished analyst programme, promoted to Associate, currently Associate 2, i.e. from today I need two more years until I am eligible for further promotion)
Earlier two internships with finance companies in the home country (Big 4, bank)
International experience:
* In my current IB role worked on M&A / capital markets projects for clients across all EMEA, visited on business: USA, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary
* Travelled for longer trips (leisure) to several Latin American countries + visited most of West European countries and several states in the US
* Studied for one term abroad in a West European country
* Foreign languages, other than native (fluent / advanced): English, German, Spanish
Extracurricular activities: active amateur tennis player, scuba diver and photographer; however no significant involvement in external organisations / societies or voluntary positions.
Why MBA / Why INSEAD:
I see MBA as a long-term investment and preparation for senior management positions in the farther future rather than a short term career-switch tool. I am considering the continuation of investment banking career (even with the same employer) for at least 2-3 years post MBA. Ultimate goal would be to work in a senior management position in the industry back in CEE (I would expect the companies from the region will be much more involved in international business in the future than currently). Intermediate step could be to switch to a PE role with a focus on the region in order to better develop local contacts.
INSEAD offers great strategy courses and, given my goals, I would like to strengthen that part of my business knowledge rather than finance where my credentials and experience is already quite strong.
First of all thank you very much in advance for your invaluable feedback!
I am planning to apply to Jan 2011 INSEAD class - possibly in Round I. I would appreciate your views on overall INSEAD's suitability for a person with my background, as well as your general brief comments on my profile: overall chances, points I should flash out in my application essays, any other tips.
Are there any other MBA programmes that you think I should consider or does INSEAD indeed appear the best option, e.g. IE, IMD, accelerated Columbia programme (I would not be so keen on doing a 2-year programme)?
Below is my summary profile.
Thank you very much!
Lucas
+ + + +
28yo male from one of Central Eastern Europe (CEE) countries
GMAT: 710 (V:89%, Q: 83%)
Education:
Double master (Finance and Management) from a top CEE university - very good GPA (top 2% of the class)
CFA charterholder
Experience:
5 years full-time experience in a bulge-bracket investment bank in London, M&A / sector investment banking team (finished analyst programme, promoted to Associate, currently Associate 2, i.e. from today I need two more years until I am eligible for further promotion)
Earlier two internships with finance companies in the home country (Big 4, bank)
International experience:
* In my current IB role worked on M&A / capital markets projects for clients across all EMEA, visited on business: USA, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary
* Travelled for longer trips (leisure) to several Latin American countries + visited most of West European countries and several states in the US
* Studied for one term abroad in a West European country
* Foreign languages, other than native (fluent / advanced): English, German, Spanish
Extracurricular activities: active amateur tennis player, scuba diver and photographer; however no significant involvement in external organisations / societies or voluntary positions.
Why MBA / Why INSEAD:
I see MBA as a long-term investment and preparation for senior management positions in the farther future rather than a short term career-switch tool. I am considering the continuation of investment banking career (even with the same employer) for at least 2-3 years post MBA. Ultimate goal would be to work in a senior management position in the industry back in CEE (I would expect the companies from the region will be much more involved in international business in the future than currently). Intermediate step could be to switch to a PE role with a focus on the region in order to better develop local contacts.
INSEAD offers great strategy courses and, given my goals, I would like to strengthen that part of my business knowledge rather than finance where my credentials and experience is already quite strong.
