Description of the Scholarship:

 

The ESADE Master in International Management for Global Leaders Scholarship is meant to support qualified individuals characterized by their strong leadership skills,  a desire for providing the best possible solutions and for having a global, collaborative and committed spirit. 

 

In my below essay I had to explain what being a good leader means and why I felt that this Master programme would help me develop as a better global leader in my professional future.

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My Essay

(written on January 25th, 2016)

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Current organizations operate in an incredibly interconnected, complex, and dynamic global environment, which poses numerous challenges for their leaders – financial pressures, pressures from the competition, the board, the media, the customers, global markets, politics, and more. These challenges put enormous strain on our leaders, and in my opinion, at times, even prompt those with genuinely good intentions to redirect their emphasis from putting people first to focusing mainly on economic outcomes. I believe that the environment humans are exposed to tremendously shapes them and their behaviour. This is the reason why, in my opinion, leadership matters – the leaders help to establish the culture within their organizations and their mentees behave in accordance with that culture, regardless of its nature.

 

My sense of leadership has been developing since my childhood thanks to the environments I have been exposed to through my personal, academic, athletic, and professional lives. Leadership, to me personally, is an inner drive, coupled with people-centric traits, to influence and support others in order to achieve a common purpose. It does not represent a hierarchical rank or a position that one holds in an organization. A great leader does not need a title or a feeling of authority to lead effectively because true leadership is about giving, not taking. Hence, in my eyes, a great leader is a genuine giver; it is someone who is willing to sacrifice personal gain to help others thrive. Although the traditional leadership qualities such as intelligence, vision, resilience, and determination are certainly highly valuable for any great leader, I am strongly convinced that they are insufficient on their own and must be reinforced by a number of other crucial attributes. Great leaders possess emotional intelligence, which helps them guide their thinking, behaviour, and decision-making with empathy for others. They truly care about the lives of their mentees as if they were family. Their purpose is to inspire others and foster personal growth and development, ultimately helping their mentees become their best selves. Great leaders are devoted to creating a corporate culture in which each individual, from the most junior to the C-level executive, feels valued and supported. I strongly believe that the responsibility of great leaders surpasses business performance; it is focused on a deep and authentic commitment to the lives of those they support – the very people whose talent, time, and energy help the business prosper. The willingness to listen and acknowledge the voice of each individual is a crucial component of a great corporate culture, as each of them brings a valuable set of skills that can be further nurtured. Pronounced listening skills of great leaders are reinforced by insightful communication with the main goal to empower individuals along their journey to success. Extension of trust to their mentees, coupled with recognition and appreciation of their talents, is a pivotal characteristic of great leaders, as it allows individuals and teams to directly relate their contributions to the realization of organization’s purpose – this builds a sense of trust, belonging, pride, and loyalty within the organization. Great leaders recognize that when people feel valued, they give their best, and when people give their best, the business naturally thrives. This is why I believe that leadership excellence, not simply managerial acumen, is the key ingredient that distinguishes great organizations from good ones.

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In my opinion, becoming a great leader is a learning process that begins early in our lives and is shaped by all the environments, experiences, and individuals we are exposed to. To me, ESADE represents a crucial part of this process, as it will help me develop a humanistic approach to global leadership through its unparalleled trademarks – superior vision, core values, and ethical approach. Its unique multicultural environment will expose me to classmates from different nationalities and backgrounds, high calibre faculty, and righteous business leaders, all of whom will help me expand my global mindset, cultural awareness, and ability to work within multicultural teams. The programme will expose me to challenges that best mimic the environment today’s global leaders face – one of high pressure, controversy, cultural diversity, and great impact on numerous stakeholders. This will truly test my leadership characteristics, as it will reveal both my strengths and weaknesses. Along my personal journey, some of the most difficult challenges have also been some of the most rewarding, as they have sparked a sense of leadership deep inside of me. I believe that, through my drive and determination to always perform at my best, the willingness to choose a challenging road to success, and the passion to foster learning and personal development, I have showcased my leadership qualities not only in academic setting, but also in athletic, and professional one. Becoming a great leader is a timely process that requires a continuous effort to learn and grow. To do so, one must be exposed to new, challenging, and stimulating environments. In my heart, I know that ESADE and its rigorous Master in International Management is exactly that environment for me – it will expose me to a highly dynamic international environment, open my mind and broaden my horizons, and ultimately force me to become my best self as a future global leader.