What are your strengths & weaknesses as a leader? - HBS/MBA Essay Sample.
November 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
****NOTE: This essay has been viewed more than 20,000 times and was originally written in 2004********
I am determined to succeed. Growing up in a humble family in which subsistence was a challenge, I learned early in life to work hard and be persistent. As I hawked food on the streets of Lagos after classes to subsidize the little my parents could afford, I painted the picture I desired for myself on the canvass of life. I worked hard to become the best performing student in my class whilst peddling petty items at night. This experience has certainly instilled in me confidence, tenacity and goal orientation.
I care about those around me. My mother died when I was eleven years old and I had to take care of my two younger siblings when father was at work. The lessons I learned playing this parental role has helped me become better at identifying peoples’ needs and taking actions to help them accomplish their goals. Further, with my sincere care and leadership abilities, four Nigerian students realized their dreams to study in USA.
I am an open-minded person, a good team player and an excellent communicator. With work experience spanning two continents, Africa and North America, seeing things from a broader perspective seems natural. In my career at two global accounting firms, working with a broad spectrum of people from all over the world is commonplace and this has taught me to easily blend with different people no matter their background.
One of my weaknesses as a leader is that I sometimes pay too much attention to details and while this skill set is crucial to projects with zero tolerance for errors, it can lead to analysis paralysis in cases of projects that require quick turnaround time. Consequently, I have made conscious efforts to address this weakness by applying Pareto’s “80/20″ rule to recognize the most important factors (”vital few”) in any given situation and spend little time on the less important issues (”trivial many”).
Fortunately, I have been able to overcome my weaknesses through effective coaching, mentoring and training programs. In addition, I believe my participation in the Harvard MBA program and exposure to the case study approach that seeks to solve real business problems will broaden my horizons and provide me with perspectives to new ways of doing things better and help me overcome my shortcomings.
NOTE: It was pretty difficult coming up with my weakness. I love to accentuate my strengths and not weaknesses. Hence, writing this essay was a little challenging. I wanted to use a disguised strength as my weakness, something more like a double-edged sword, so I picked attention to detail as a weakness. But as you can tell from reading the posts on this website, I am a strategic thinker and I think at the level of CFO of a Fortune 500 company….. I also sensationalized the essay, you know, you have to sell your story!!!- so go figure!
Other examples of strengths you can use in your essays:
- I am a leader
- I am a visionary
- I think in an unconventional way
- I am creative & innovative
- I am a man of honor & integrity
- I think big
- I am entrepreneurial
- I seek excellence in everything I do
- I will not settle for less
- I am eloquent & articulate
Other examples of weaknesses you can use in your essays (Always use disguised strengths as weaknesses in your essays) :
- I get bored easily and I am always seeking new challenges
- I take on multiple responsibilities (a good way of saying you multi-task
)
- I am a risk taker…..A leader must always take risk…calculated risk e.g start a new venture or get out of a comfort zone etc….if you do not take risk, you will not grow.
Click on our Graduate Education page for other sample MBA essays.
Vision for Change - Annual Fund Raising Dinner.
November 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Randallstown, Maryland - (November 17, 2007) - The Egbe Omo Obokun of Ijesaland, Inc - Washington/Baltimore Metropolitan Area held its Annual Fund Raising Dinner at the Mirage Hall, Randallstown, MD on November 17, 2007. The event which was co-hosted by Deji Adedoyin, a prominent comedian and Mr Solomon Ikotun was attended by dignitaries and guests from Nigeria, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.
In a telecasted message, the special guest of honor, Erelu Olusola Obada, Deputy Governor of Osun State, Nigeria, praised the organization for the role it plays in uplifting the living conditions of poor people in Nigeria and encourage the organization to continue in this stead. She was represented by Prince Seyi Lufadeju - a Nigerian based businessman and Mr. Femi Adefila, her media assistant. Money raised at the event will be used to provide housing, medical and educational supplies to children in Ijesaland, Nigeria and the United States.
About the Organization:
Egbe Omo Obokun of Ijesaland, Inc. is a recipient of the 2007 MoneyGram Global Giving Grant and it subscribes to the Donor Bill of Rights endorsed by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). All donations to the organization are tax-deductible to the fullest extent possible under Internal Revenue Code. For further inquiries, please contact, Dr Oyebanjo A. Lajubutu, Ph.D. - President, EEOI, Inc. at lajubutu@yahoo.com .
Sultan of Sokoto delivered a lecture on Muslim-Christian Relations in Nigeria at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
November 14, 2007 | 1 Comment
Washington, DC - (November 13, 2007) - The recently chosen Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abukakar, spoke about “Muslim-Christian Relations in Nigeria” in Washington, DC today in an event co-sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Africa Program at Johns Hopkins SAIS.
Abukakar understands the business of keeping peace and according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), commanded a battalion of African peacekeepers in Chad during the early 1980s as part of the Organisation of African Unity’s force and was military liaison officer for the West African regional body ECOWAS in the mid 1990s. Later he served in Ecowas’ peacekeeping force when it intervened in Sierra Leone’s bloody civil war, leading a tank battalion. It was therefore not a surprise that he spoke eloquently about the religious strife in Nigeria and what can be done to stem the tide of violence in the country.
The Sultan attributed many of the violence occurring in Nigeria to economic disenfranchisement and asserted that whenever young and able bodied men cannot find meaningful economic engagement they resort to violence. He however, agrees that there are some level of religious intolerance in the country and said that efforts are been made by the caliphate to educate Muslim and Christian communities alike to peacefully co-exist.
Abukakar reiterates that one of his goal in office is to promote religious peace in the country and that he is reaching out to different leaders to promote religious tolerance. He also denounced the current genocide happening in Darfur, Sudan and encouraged people to give Sharia Law the opportunity to thrive.
He was accompanied on the trip by eminent members of the Muslim community including Mallam Danladi Bako (formerly of NTA News and Morning Ride on NTA Channel 5), Mallam Ahmed Dasuki, a member of the Board of Directors of MTN telecommunications company, Alhaji Sardauna Habib and Alhaji Kabir Tafida amongst other important dignitaries. We wish him well as promotes peace in Nigeria.
The event was moderated by David Smock, Associate Vice President for Religion and Peacemaking, U.S. Institute of Peace.
Africa International Modelling Competition (AIMC) 2007 Results.
November 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Sierah Crowned AIMC Champion, Ade First Runner-Up and Maude Second Runner-Up.
Silver Spring, Maryland - (November 10, 2007) - Sierah emerged the AIMC 2007 champion in a keenly contested modelling competition that took place at the NOAA Center in Silver Spring, Maryland beating 10 other contestants to win the coveted crown. For emerging the winner of the competition, Sierah, will be joined by Ade (first runner-up) from Nigeria and Maude from Ghana (second runner-up) to represent Africa in the New Silk Road Model International Competition, the largest modelling competition in China.
The beautiful contestants were judged on different criteria including style, stage presence, elegance, grace and looks. The show was laced with performances by Diamond, little Janet Baindu Lagah-Bona and Anna Mwalagho.
According to Junda Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer/Founder of the US based Africa Pearls AIMC LLC, “Our amazing contestants have worked so hard and we are very proud of them. Each and every one of them is a winner! and it takes courage and commitment for these ladies to follow their dreams of becoming top models”. Black Herald totally agrees with Ms Junda and we applaud these women of courage for showcasing their beauty and making Africa proud. They are indeed winners. Black Herald is pleased to bring you beautiful pictures from the event.
Please note that the pictures are still being updated, so check back soon for more images. For best user experience, click on the first (#1) image and double click to navigate to the next pictures.
Top 25 Under 25 (Africans) - Deborah Umunnabuike, 23 and Jessica Ummnnabuike, 21
November 9, 2007 | 2 Comments
“I’m looking to learn how to create a more socially responsible business,” says Deborah Umunnabuike, a political science major at the University of Chicago and co-founder of Avant Gaudy, an online vintage clothing shop she started with her sister, Jessica, an undergraduate at Hofstra University, in the summer of 2005. The daughters of Nigerian immigrants started the three-employee business because they were passionate about clothes and saw a growing demand among their peers for vintage clothing. And they soon realized that there was a growing demand abroad as well, specifically in parts of Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia, based on analyzing Web traffic to their site, almost 26,000 visitors from more than 30 countries. The sisters recruited Hong Kong native Vincent Choi to bring a global perspective to the business and better reach shoppers in Asia.
Deborah says running the business has made her want to become a serial entrepreneur, but until she graduates in 2009, she will continue to run it conservatively. She is also involved with the Forte Foundation, a group dedicated to creating young women business leaders, and is interested in continuing community work in the spirit of Avant Gaudy’s DIY/Smashup Chicago, a daylong networking and trade-show event she organized in 2006 for craftspeople and entrepreneurs.
Story culled from www.businessweek.com
Top 25 Under 25 (Africans) - Ubong Attah, 23
November 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Ubong Attah describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. She ran a tutoring business in high school, taught herself Web design in college, then started a Web design firm her senior year called Studio10Fourteen, which she says is profitable and continues to operate. Ubong recently sold another business, an online jewelry shop, for around $55,000. She founded both Studio10Fourteen and Prolete Medical Billing Inc.
Because she was recently diagnosed with systemic lupus, she has turned her attention to starting a home-based business. Her new company, Prolete Medical Billing, makes use of her health-information management degree from Saint Louis University in St. Louis and her experience doing administrative work for her mother’s two home health agencies. Ubong expects Prolete to have revenues of around $4 million in 2008.
Story culled from www.businessweek.com
Miss Africa United States 2007 Results
November 5, 2007 | 1 Comment
Mfonobong Essiet, Nigerian, Miss Africa United States 2007, Yordanos Gidey, Eritrean, Miss Photogenic, Elizabeth Mbalu Conteh, -Sierra Leonean, First Runner-up at the superlative Miss Africa United States in Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta, Georgia - (November 3, 2007) - Africans and the international community gathered at the Ashok International Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate and honour the continent’s finest and most talented women in the 3rd edition of Miss Africa United States beauty pageant presented by the US based Shrine of Africa.
A total of 17 contestants participated in the event which was co-hosted by supermodel Noella Coursaris (from Congo) and actor/model Digol Deng (from Sudan). The pageant kicked off with the introduction category, a phase when the contestants took turn to introduce themselves and their countries of origin. The second category featured the contestants showcasing their talents in dance, poetry, singing amongst others. The third and fourth categories were the African beach wear and African fashion phases.
After the fourth phase, a distinguished panel of judges consisting of eminent personalities such as Ms. Clarissa Aban -Executive Producer of Runaway AFRICA, Ms. Sonjia Burks - Director of Miss America Queen Pageant of Georgia and Mr. Anthony Greene - President of Greene Investments selected the top five finalist. This was followed by the interview of the top 5 winners and the eventual selection and crowning of Miss Nigeria as the 2007 - 2008 Queen. All in all, the event was not about winning but rather showcasing African beauty and empowering African women to aspire and achieve their maximum potential. Black Herald is pleased to bring you beautiful pictures from the event.
Please note that the pictures are still being updated, so check back soon for more images. For best user experience, click on the first (#1) image and double click to navigate to the next pictures.
Akon
November 5, 2007 | 1 Comment
After winning music fans over with his 2003 multi-platinum debut Trouble, Senegalese singer Akon returns with more stories from his personal journey via his sophmore CD Konvicted. If Trouble was Akon’s ode to redemption (before his music career took off he served time for car theft), Konvicted picks up at rebirth. His mission now is to reinvent himself through his salvation - music.
The son of accomplished jazz musician Mor Thiam, Akon was introduced to varied musical styles early on. “I grew-up listening to all kinds of music. Obviously I love soul songs, but I also like mixing in other types of music,” Akon confesses. “For every Stevie Wonder track I’ve listed to, there is another by Steely Don that helped shape me as an artist.”
Although the hit single “Locked Up” earned him street credibility, the artist’s multifaceted sensibilities are evident on his second album. Akon produced and wrote all but one song on Konvicted. The album features tracks recorded with Eminem (the first single, “Smack That”), Snoop Dogg (”I Want to Love You”) and Styles P. (who laced Akon’s debut hit single, “Locked Up”). Konvicted balances streetwise swagger, studio originality and common sense to create one of the most honest releases of 2006.
“Smack That”, is a delirously energetic song that has all the ingredients of a masterful club banher and features the aggressive rhymes of eight-mile wordsmith Eminem. Having met Em soon after working with Obie Trice on “Snith” ( the song which was used on the hit series CSI; an episode Akon also appeared in), the two became fast friends. “I knew I wanted Eminem to be on the track, but he is very careful about appearing on too many other people’s songs. When he called and said he was ready to go into the studio, I knew it was a blessing. I was on the first flight to Detroit,” says Akon.
Another stand-out song on Konvicted is the anti-gangsta track “Runnin’,” Recalling the sincerity of soul legeng Curtis Mayfield’s timeless Super Fly soundtrack, Akon neo-blues recalls the struggle of stepping away from the game when he sings, “I’m tired of running from the law.” Ironically, the melodic piece was written while Akon was still doing jail time. “This is a song you can feel, because it’s that real,” Akon shares. “And, I meant every word of it.”
Working in the tradition of pioneer R.Kelly, Akon moves deftly from hard-knock stories to the dance-floor to inspirational ballads; the verses are full of nimble singing and rapping; with Akon multi-tracking his voice to sing his own backing vocals. ” “The Song “Gangsta Bop” on Konvicted is a track that could definitely be in a movie,” says Akon. With its cinematic appeal and blaxploitation thrills, “Gangsta Bop” is captivating. “My goal is not to glorify street life, but gangstas are people too. They have failies and children, and I’m trying to shed some light on that. I can’t tell people what not to do, but I can be a role model.” Akon also teams up with his homeboy T-Pain on the breezy “I Can’t Wait” the singer has crafted a finger snapping funky love song that blends jazz and big beats.
Still, while Akon’s lyrics are tight, he proves to be innovative on a production level as well. Unafraid of lacing pop music elements like live piano and the zigzag of violins, the haunting ballad “Never Took the Time” is a winner. “When I’m composing songd, I try to be more to the left musically,” Akon reveals. “There is a love and passion I have for trying to create different sounds. In music right now, it’s up to the producers to push for diverse styles.”
Working out of his own Koncast Studios in Atlanta, perhaps the crowning jewel on Konvicted is the powerful “Africa”. A percussion heavy anthem are on point as he discusses various issues from slavery to skin color. One of my goals with the song “Africa” is to make people more aware of the continent.”
Everything fell into place for Akon when Devyne Stephens, connoisseur of artist development and CEO of Upfront Entertainment began shopping Akon’s demo and immediately received several offers from major labels. “We decided to go with Steve Rifkind and SRC/Universal MOtown because Steve had the best understanding of what we were trying to achieve. Together we achieved everything we wanted and more,” says Stephens.
The deal was signed in 2003 and Trouble sold more than three million units worldwide. Impressing both music critics and the disc buying public with his well-crafted R&B and unique voice, Akon has proven himself as both a brilliant storyteller and gifted musician. His unique style was a shock to the system. In a 2004 New York Times article praised him as a “groundbreaking artist.”
In addition to his break-out single “Locked Up,” which became the barbeque jam during the summer of 2004, Akon has established himself as an in-demand guest artist and record producer (Young Jeezy, R.Kelly, Obie Trice, Elton John, Daddy Yankee, Gwn Stafani). Nomonated for “Hottest Hook” at the 2005 Vibe Awards, the singer’s voice on “Soul Survivor” was a shining moment for both Jeezy and Akon. “I love collaborating with other artists. There are times when I’m in the studio with someone and the chemistry just clicks” says Akon.
Since his debut release, Akon has traveled the world and collaborated with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Ladysmith Black Mambazo His Konvict Music imprint, which will be distributed by Interscope Records, boasts a roster that includes T-Pain and former TLC member Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.
With the brilliance of Konvicted, label owner, singer, songwriter and producer Akon breaks down musical barriers while also validating his importance as a soul man for the new millennium. Like fine wine, Konvicted proved that AKon only gets better with time.
Story culled from www.akononline.com
