Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA.

Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how: your professional experiences has shaped these goals; why this career option appeals to you' and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree.

We all live in a branded world. Although we might not always realize it, every product on the shelf and every advertisement on television represents a brand. Brands define our society, and I am determined to become an integral leader in brand management. My passion for analyzing consumer behavior and forecasting sales trends has led me to pursue a career in brand management post-MBA. This career path combines my interest in studying both national and international societies, and their behavioral and market consumer trends, with my zeal for remaining one step ahead of the competition. My short-term goal is to be an Assistant Brand Manager at a top consumer packaged goods firm, namely Proctor & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, or Clorox. In time, I will master the Assistant Brand Manager and Brand Manager duties, such as managing the marketing budget, forecasting demand, and working on company initiatives, progress to Marketing Director, and then become the president of one of the company’s major divisions, such as female beauty or homecare.

During my sociology courses at Tufts University, I discovered my interest in studying behavior and trends. Surrounded by diversity, I gained insight into the purchasing and behavioral trends that varied across cultures. My summer internship at ProfitLogic exposed me to the marketing research tools that companies utilize to make educated forecasting decisions, and how retailers or product manufacturers can use data to identify trends and make predictions. During my tenure at Stanley Korshak, my direct customer interaction led me to make well-informed purchasing decisions that marketed directly to the targeted customer base. Most recently at Fossil, I have had the ability to not only sharpen my analytical skills, but to also polish my communication and teamwork skills with my exposure to the executive team and company strategy. Because of my team’s mastery of delivering the right product to the target audience, we have experienced unparalleled market success, posting same store comparative sales of +33% in Q1 2010, +34% in Q2 2010, and +35% in Q3 2010 in the Fossil Watch category.

While I have learned a great deal about forecasting, brand strategy and consumer analysis, I lack the general management and formal marketing research skills that are necessary to be a successful Brand Manager. An MBA is the critical next step in my career development. A Kenan-Flagler MBA with a marketing concentration will provide the crucial framework and skill development to become a global leader in the consumer packaged goods industry. With Kenan-Flagler’s learning-by-doing educational approach and STAR projects, I will gain invaluable real world learning experiences that can be leveraged during the crucial internship and career interview process. With courses such as Global Marketing, Marketing Strategy and Retail and Channel Management, I will gain the essential skill set to develop and manage an effective brand and learn to utilize market research data to gain a competitive advantage. A Kenan-Flagler MBA will provide me with the fundamental business and leadership skills to successfully launch me on my new career path.