Statement of Motivation

I am applying to the Master's in Finance at a UK university, please review my essay and let me know what I can remove or improve. Your feedback is of utmost importance to me. ( I have removed the name of the university and company for privacy concerns.)

Growing up in a family of businessmen, who rose from humble beginnings to set up and run a successful Kraft paper and corrugated boxes manufacturing company has rooted the values of self-belief, hard work and determination in me from a young age. My earliest experience with finance and business comes from working at my family’s manufacturing company in India. During my tenure as an intern, my responsibilities involved gathering and reporting financial data, such as pricing, cash flow, balance sheet, and profit-and-loss statements, thus enabling me to gain invaluable insight into the finances involved in running a manufacturing business. Here, I realized Finance plays a significant role at the core of every organization and informs decision making at all levels of business. However, my experience in XYZ strengthened my conviction towards Finance. During the XYZ Q4 Rewards and recognition Event, in one of the most compelling presentations, I learned that with the increase in demand for innovation and agility from IT, the sector has to look beyond the usual funding approaches. It needs to adopt sustainable strategies and ensure that the assets and the financial plans align with the company’s business goals, reducing the TCO and enhancing the ROI. It also introduced me to forward-looking statements, EPS, GAAP gross margins, non-GAAP earnings and cash flow outlooks. Bewildered and amazed, I started to explore the internet and read about the different financial aspects of a corporate firm. Thus, in an effort to further enhance my knowledge of finance, I attended the online certification course “Finance Essentials” offered by Imperial College London. It gave me first-hand knowledge of financial topics such as, present value, IRR, capital budgeting, equity, bonds and the capital asset pricing model. However, to achieve my goals I require a more comprehensive knowledge of Finance which I believe I will be able to accomplish with this Finance MSc program at University ABC.

Understanding the vital role of technology and automation in business and how it can transform any business sector’s landscape was one of the primary reasons for choosing Electronics and Communication Engineering for my undergraduate studies. Studying engineering has not only taught me the practical skills required but also the analytical and quantitative skills necessary to understand the basics of financial problem-solving and financial modeling, preparing me for the MSc Finance degree.

While pursuing my engineering studies, I also interned at AESEC, an international student association that provides young people with leadership development, cross-cultural internships, and global volunteer exchange experiences. I worked to provide placement opportunities for international students by engaging with local companies and organisations to connect students with. My time with this association has taught me the power of unity and the importance of networking and learning through exchanging different cultures.

During college, seeing the contrast in living standards of the people in India, I joined an NGO, where I volunteer to teach the underprivileged school students during the weekend, as I believe education forms the base of every society as it moulds the future generations. Also, being the cultural convener of my college, I organized a blood donation drive and raised over 300 Units. I was further elected as the student representative for the next two years, during which I organized several events such as guest lectures, technical competitions and cultural functions and helped get sponsorship from the local business houses by various promotional events. These experiences gave me the exposure to handle a team, control finances, market events, and collaborate with valuable brands. Qualities and knowledge of which I not only want to contribute to the student community but also share the experience that I gained during my work with other students

After my graduation, although I had the opportunity to join my family business, I chose to join XYZ to get a first-hand experience of working in a corporate environment and to understand the workings of a global company. As a Storage Engineer at XYZ, I worked within the global team, where I interacted with customers from around the world on a daily basis. I also worked as part of a larger team to meet targets which enabled me to be resilient and work efficiently even under pressure.

As a prospective financial analyst intending to work in a competitive sector in a global market, a Master’s in Finance from ABC will give me a head start in the financial world. I am looking forward to this intense and unique MSc Finance program brought together by the Economics and Management School of ABC, as it will provide me with the necessary financial knowledge to make the transition from the STEM industry to finance. The amalgamation of core courses “Corporate Finance” and “Financial econometrics” with career-centric electives “Corporate Finance Practices” and “Big Data Analytics” will allow me to gain a deeper insight into these advanced concepts. The emphasis on the quantitative methods and programming was a very attractive part of the program, as it would allow me to further develop my technical abilities gained during my undergraduate study and apply them effectively within a financial context.

By studying Finance, I hope to get an in-depth understanding of the varied facets of the financial sector and take the learnings back to my home country to start my professional career in corporate finance at a multinational company. Furthermore, with Bengaluru being ranked as the world’s fastest-growing tech hub and a favorable destination for global investors, there is tremendous growth potential for core finance professionals. Therefore, I want to grab this opportunity to establish myself as a leading professional in this field. Learning the financial and business techniques required to manage a successful company will be an asset in launching my business, which is my long-term goal. Moreover, I believe living in a financial hub like London and studying in a multi-cultural environment will open doors to build a global network and exchange ideas in order to accomplish my goals. I plan to join the student-led “Women in Finance club” and the “Economics and Finance Society”, which will give me an opportunity to interact with industry experts, network and build on opportunities. I am confident that with my varied experiences along with my leadership and inter-personal skills, I will make a meaningful contribution to the student community at ABC.