Marshall's commitment and its position as a leader in creating Global business leaders gives me a lot of excitement in its program. The PRIME program seems to be a powerful way for not only teaching students the global issues but also will give students a lifetime experience and a huge deal of confidence solving present and future problems on a global scale. I also hope that my international exposure gleaned from living, studying and working on four different continents, would add to the diversity of the team which is a key ingredient in a global business School such as USC Marshall.
As a Petroleum Consulting Engineer for Fred Olsen, I provide technical consulting services to petroleum companies of different sizes and strengths in various countries. The difference in the way state-owned oil companies compared to Multinational corporations manage their business affairs fuels my desire to pursue an MBA and post MBA, to be an oil and gas management consultant in a distinguished consulting company.
Working with both types of companies I have observed how differences in business management practices between them compromise overall company performance. For example, even though state-owned oil corporations in Nigeria own larger assets than their United States counterparts, oil and gas companies in the United States thrive better. Hence as I see it, one of the key differences between American owned oil companies and Nigerian owned oil companies is the management of resources and the degree of efficacy with which these resources are utilized, rather than quantity of assets owned. Often, Nigerian state owned oil corporations invest significant human and intellectual capital in the technical aspects of extracting natural resources from the ground yet they invest relatively little in management and operational infrastructure which results in weaknesses in change management and corporate strategy. These weaknesses compromise the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of these corporations.
The Nigerian state corporations lack management professionals who are proficient in strategy formulation and are seeking professionals in foreign countries with oil industry management experience who can proffer solutions. I am ready to translate my technical skills towards improving the way these companies operate. In order to equip myself with the tools necessary for facing this challenge, it is essential that I acquire the necessary business skills from your MBA program. As a management consultant, I will be able to use my engineering experience and an MBA education to analyze existing business problems, generate creative and innovative solutions, and develop plans for improvement.
My current position entails working with teams of professionals in the field to identify solutions to challenges that hamper the effective exploration and production of natural oil resources. I graduated in 2002 with a Bachelors of Engineering Degree in Civil Engineering from University of Texas, Austin and in 2005, I received a Masters Degree in Oil and Gas Engineering from Robert Gordon University. The curriculum examined all aspects of the oil industry from drilling oil prospects to the economics of production. In addition, I have been trained in management, marketing and finance. I am now an invaluable knowledge resource for trouble shooting and resolving issues. Last year, my team was awarded the "Performed by Fred Olsen Award" for a cutting-edge solution that saved a client millions of dollars in project execution. I was the engineer in charge of implementing the solution and monitoring performance.
Although I have attained a lot of success and experience in my present job, I recognize that in order to transition from a consulting engineer to a management consultant, it is imperative that I learn much more about current techniques in Strategy, Organizational change management and decision making. An MBA from USC Marshall will provide this key foundation.
Furthermore, opportunities like PRIME program will give me insight into what drives organizational and leadership effectiveness on a global scale. As an African educated in the UK and now working in the United States, I have experience working in new environments with people of diverse backgrounds, attitudes and mindsets. Exposure to current and future global leaders through interaction with students, lecturers, faculty members, and alumni will broaden my network of resources and continue to enhance my education long after I complete my MBA.
During my tenure at USC Marshall, I will take the initiative to be active in any project assignments we work on. I also hope that my international experience can be an additional resource to my class members while also encouraging them to generate their own perspective. Post MBA, I hope to represent the Trojan family especially to females in the Middle East or other countries where women don't have the same opportunities as men. I hope to present an image to both men and women in those countries that with the right education, a women can do as much as a man even in a male-dominated field as oil and gas engineering.
Your SOP is good...I like the comparison you have made between the American and Nigerian handling of resources...It goes on to show your quality experience and your understanding of current problems.
However, I feel the first paragraph could be better...It would be better off as the last paragraph...Try to work on your first paragraph :)
Marshall's commitment and its position as a leader in creating Global business leaders gives me a lot of excitement in its program.
This is not a very interesting first sentence! It is too obvious. You should not waste any sentence telling the reader something obvious. Instead, tell the reader what is unique about your clear vision for the future. Make the reader feel that it is important to help you continue your well-designed plan.
to be active in any project assignments we work on. ---This is not specific either. You should show that YOU have specific intentions. I like the body paragraphs a lot... all the body paragraphs of the essay are very strong. However, the intro and conclusion to not distinguish you at all. You need a memorable theme, an unforgettable theme. :-)
