“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". - Eleanor Roosevelt
My dream is to pioneer a business which solves the “information overload” problem. I aspire to create a web based software product that will help people find information quickly and efficiently. This goal can be attained through recommendation systems, which have led to the emergence of many successful businesses like Amazon and Netflix.
In pursuit of my long term goal, I specialized in Cyber Security & Information Systems during my graduate study, thus exposing myself to the nuances of computing in this field. This, coupled with the knowledge gained executing various technical endeavors; has instilled in me the ability to choose the best fit technology. But becoming an entrepreneur is more than just technical expertise. A comprehensive course in business management is a must to cultivate the business acumen and leadership skills required to secure the market. With this in mind, I have chosen to pursue an MBA program that is a blend of both technology and management. My short-term goal is to work as a Product Manager in a technology company. I believe that the marketing exposure gained can be leveraged when I move on to achieving my long term goal.
College of Business and Economics in the California State University - East Bay, Hayward is a reputed school with a good MBA program in Information Technology Management. Furthermore, the College of Business and Economics has related business centers like Center for Entrepreneurship and Masters of Business Administration Association which will help me develop strong networking and entrepreneurial skills. In particular, I am interested in the research work of Prof. Hongwei Du on Information Management. His research on “eCollaboration and Its Effects on Business Communications” is very much aligned to my research interest. Additionally, the College of Business and Economics has a large alumni network with eminent advisers.
Perseverance and hard work has always been the recipe for my success. I recollect those high school days when I performed well in every subject, except Mathematics. After several below par performances, I devoted more time to understanding the fundamentals. My effort paid when I rose to the top 5% of the class in the senior year. Subsequently, my performance in academics consistently soared high. I was the first- rank holder in the department in my undergraduate program and came second in my master’s program.
My strong performance during the undergraduate coursework in Information Technology at AWH Engineering College, Calicut is testimony to my outstanding analytical and problem solving skills. Alongside academics, I participated in extracurricular activities with full zeal and fervor. I founded the IT Association of the college and conducted various events such as seminars and programming contests. I was an Executive Committee Member of the Radio Club of the college and took the initiative to organize and participate in various events, including performing in the English radio show. My interest in community services motivated me to actively contribute in the National Service Scheme activities. I was blessed to teach two orphan students and also helped them clear their high school exams.
During my graduate study at Amrita University, Coimbatore, I co-founded the Cyber Security Research Forum, a platform to share computer security related information. Even with my compelling academic schedule, I took the onus of organizing the National Workshop on Cryptology, 6-8 September 2007, wherein I presented a paper on “Study of Identity Management Systems”. As a program committee member, I was in charge of scheduling and hosting the program. Active participation in panel discussions during such conferences not only transformed me into a quick thinker, but also strengthened my communication and people skills.
For my master’s thesis, I worked as a Security Intern in Corporate R&D at Sasken Communication Technologies, Bangalore. I conducted a security analysis of the design of Mobile Trusted Module and evaluated issues in its implementation. It was an independent project and I worked in tandem with my supervisor and peers in related technologies.
The internship thus earned me substantial exposure to product development. While I have been instrumental in launching various initiatives and executing them through fruition in the past, this practical industry experience furthered my confidence in my abilities to take on challenges and function as a team player.
Due to my continuous involvement in numerous research projects, I did not receive a high GMAT score. Even though my verbal score reduced the overall percentile, my AWA score reflects a good command over English. My successes thus far speak for my ability to take on any challenge.
I am confident that given an opportunity, I will not only be able to achieve my goals but also make my professors and peers proud. I look forward to bringing diversity, commitment and energy to your program and am confident that the program in turn will not just mold me into a top notch entrepreneur, but will pave my way to becoming a successful, innovative and influential leader.