WRITE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The world of business encompasses different aspects of operations. To develop a business, it is indispensable to expand its horizon so that it can spread overseas. Working as a software engineer, I often had to interact with clients, marketing, product, and finance team. It was through this engagement that I got interested in learning more about the business side of things. I believe an MBA would help me move into the domain of product management and product marketing, and also my background as a software engineer would enable me to be a good fit for such roles. It would also help me to improve my soft skills and leadership qualities and demonstrate sharp professional qualities. Undertaking an MBA (Master of Business Administration) at the University of Sheffield will provide me with the environment to learn from diverse peer groups and the opportunity to gain international work experience. I have done my engineering at Uttarakhand Technical University (2010). My branch was Electronics and Communication. Apart from that, I have also done a two years Bachelors in Education from Kumaun University (2016-2018). Post engineering, I worked as an SAP ABAP Consultant for a leading European FMCG firm for four years (2010-14). There, I set up and implemented ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), improved end-to-end business processes ranging from the supply chain, inventory management, data management, and security all of which led to increased profitability for the client. I was also awarded a certificate of appreciation for the successful delivery of this project. I also worked as an SAP PI Consultant for a Fortune 500 FMCG firm where I designed, tested, documented, and deployed SAP interfaces, managed and built new and old solutions for smoother business processes, and prepared resource plans, status reports, schedules, and reviewed documents to support business requirements. While I enjoyed working as a software engineer, I always had a desire to work in the field of education and social work. I started to work with Lok Chetna Vikas Samiti(LCVS) from September 2014 onwards. Here I was tasked with mentoring women SHGs to become stakeholders in GOI schemes such as the Girl Child Prosperity Policy and Safe Motherhood Intervention Policy. I led a team of around 50 volunteers in conducting surveys and prepared monthly progress reports on health & nutritional outcomes. While working in the rural areas, I realized that I could better serve the NGO and the rural areas if I could help improve the quality of education. I, therefore, enrolled in a 2-year Bachelors of Education program and started my career as HoD of Robotics department at Aurum the Global School from May 2017 to Oct 2018. There, I mentored 300 students of different age groups in the field of Science & Robotics, organized a robotics fair during the annual school fest, managed end-to-end finances and operations, and prepared students for various state-level science Olympiads. Having gained confidence in my abilities as a teacher, I returned to the NGO LCVS to realize my aim of helping the rural people receive better education quality. Given most jobs in India require some knowledge of English and the rural students often lack access to basic English knowledge, I was given the responsibility of helping them with English, Mathematics, and Science. However, I was soon promoted to the post of Project Manager where in addition to teaching I was also required to work on the implementation of the flagship program Jal Jeevan Mission of the GOI, which aims to provide safe & adequate drinking water through household tap connections. My primary responsibility was to make the local community an active stakeholder across the entire project lifecycle. The project essentially had three stages namely identifying upstream water sources, laying effective water pipelines, and having systems and processes in place for maintenance and sustainable use of the developed infrastructure. I led a team of 8 people to conduct numerous meetings with the local community to leverage their indigenous knowledge across all the 3 stages of the project. Moreover, I also had to collaborate with the state and local government agencies in developing infrastructure to ensure the availability of quality water sustainably. Partnering with academia to sensitize the local community about the issue of groundwater depletion and educating the locals about optimal cropping patterns and effective rainwater harvesting techniques was another aspect of my job. Overall it has been a very fulfilling experience to be part of this mega campaign which has so far increased the tap water supply to 50% of households as of March 2022 from the existing 8. 32% coverage as of August 2019. My education and experience have equipped me with the relevant skills. I am a very ambitious and determined person. I am not scared of trying new things. I will bring a new perspective to class discussions. I am interested in pursuing a career in product management. I already have worked as a software engineer and therefore moving into product management would be the next logical step. Also, while working as a project manager in the NGO Lok Chetna Vikas Samiti, I developed the skill for stakeholder management and problem-solving. Given my skills and interest, in the short term, I want to start my career in the field of product management. I believe an MBA would allow me to break into this space. My long-term goal in life is to become a leader in the field of product management. I hope to pioneer some interesting products which can aid in the education and well-being of the less-privileged in this world. I want to develop a deep understanding of customer behavior and help deliver a high-quality customer experience through the products I work on. Some of the top companies in the world that I want to work and associate with are Boston Consulting Group, Microsoft, Deloitte, Google, and Apple. Associating with The University of Sheffield for obtaining my higher studies will be a unique learning experience. Understanding the challenges of the 21st century, this university has perfectly aligned all the basic requirements essential to strive in this domain. Further, this university has a top-notch teaching staff which, along with the dynamic environment, makes it even more intriguing for the learners. The modules entailed in this dynamic course, such as Marketing Consultancy Challenge, The Intelligent Organisation, Global Managerial Economy, and Operations Management, are perfectly formulated as per the scenario of this thriving field globally. The United Kingdom has set the benchmark across the globe in various evolving fields. Many students even today find this place much more acceptable for continuing their studies. The environment of the UK, along with the friendly civilization, makes it susceptible to evolve and educate in this place. Even the language barrier is the most important aspect of this country that becomes a barrier in other countries. I hope that your admission committee will consider giving me a chance. In this regard, I will be looking forward to your response. Megha Rawat.