Fraternal instincts - Harvard - Successful business application essay

Successful business application essay

Infrastructure projects in low- and middle-income countries are rarely an unqualified boon to the economy, free of negative externalities. The land used to build a power plant for an underserved segment of the population may displace another indigenous community. Efficiency improvements in a metropolitan water system may also raise the price of water for families that can barely afford to eat. Throughout my career, the decision of whether to invest in such projects will have to weigh what sacrifices should be made for the “greater good.”

As if this were not a significant enough challenge, it is likely that I will often be dealing with imperfect and contradictory information from fractionalized governments, poorly translated information, and stakeholders who have less than altruistic motives. While developing a cookie-cutter response to such complex moral dilemmas is inadequate, I can rely on some guiding principles learned from previous successes, failures, and mixed outcomes in challenging ethical situations.

First, I’ve learned the value of thoroughly evaluating the alternatives and potential compromises between two sides, rather than opting for an adversarial zero-sum decision. In the case of one Brazilian wastewater treatment project, I helped design a public-private partnership that spread the risks and rewards of the project between the state government and the private operator, utilizing the strengths of each. Carefully crafting an arrangement in which both sides can “win” if they collaborate has created a healthier environment for implementing the project.

Also, when weighing a difficult decision, I always try to separate passion for the immediate outcome from the broader consequences of a decision. This was the case when I implemented fundamental changes to my fraternity as president in order to curtail behavior that was detrimental to the organization. Though I knew the changes would cause some members to deactivate, I was willing to make that sacrifice for the long-term health of the fraternity.

Underlying these experiences, my Jewish upbringing has formalized a continuous process of ethical introspection, a sort of constant moral compass that has always helped me retain perspective when grappling with overwhelming and ethically challenging situations.

I’m looking forward to testing my guiding principles in the case environment at HBS, where the LEAD courses will play a key role in sharpening my ability to handle ambiguous ethical situations. Simulating difficult managerial decisions with classmates of widely varying backgrounds will help me learn how to assess information, weigh options quickly and effectively, and mitigate negative effects.

Analysis

Adam’s essay is successful because it is well-structured and revealing. Adam has clearly thought through the most important ethical dilemmas he is likely to face, given his desired career path, and subsequently offers two supporting anecdotes that provide insight into his personal values and how these have been tested in different formats. Importantly, he does not leave the reader on the purely theoretical plane laid out in the first two paragraphs. Adam provides the reader supporting vignettes—one from the workplace that had implications on his career and one from his personal life where friendships were at stake. These stories demonstrate to the reader how his moral code manifests itself on a practical level. Furthermore, Adam effectively uses each to demonstrate his ability to make difficult decisions when his career or personal responsibilities have been at odds with his ethical stance. On the other hand, these stories would have benefited immensely from additional detail such as shedding light on the contradictory emotions he likely faced during his attempt to find an ethically agreeable solution.

In relating personal stories, applicants should be certain to clearly highlight the situation’s core conflict. What made (or, if forward-looking, what will make) the ethical dilemmas such a profound test for you? In addition, while the focus of this essay topic is your future career, it is important to note that ethical dilemmas arise in many contexts, as Adam’s essay demonstrates. If a personal situation has profoundly shaped or tested your ethical stance, you should not shy away from sharing this with the admissions committee. 

Furthermore, in reflecting on your development plan, try not to focus exclusively on Harvard Business School. Consider your family, friends, mentors, industry leaders, daily practices, or other means that you believe will make you more adept at handling ethical dilemmas in the future. Incorporating HBS into your development plan is effective only if you directly tie the experience into the development needs discussed in your essay.

From 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays edited by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson. Copyright (c) 2009 by the authors and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group