Business and Management Personal Statement

Growing up, dinner conversations were seasoned with stories of market trends and organisational behaviour when my dad came home from work. Being force-fed facts relating to business and management really piqued my interest from a young age.

Creating my own dropshipping company helped me to further explore my initial interest. With E-commerce being so prevalent today, particularly after the pandemic, I wanted to see how far I could take it under my own endeavours. This initiative has given me experience in setting up my own website, managing expenses, and gaining a following on popular online apps through social media marketing. The venture has whetted my appetite for learning more about the skills behind business generally, and management specifically.

Within Management, I find the area of entrepreneurship to be the most fascinating. Reading 'The Lean Startup' by Eric Ries informed me on what aims there are for an entrepreneur entering the world of business. This prompted me to further educate myself on what factors might determine the financial success of an entrepreneur. I took an Open University module on consumer behaviour as I thought it would be relevant. A distinct concept that I was drawn to was that there are only two stakeholders concerned when marketing your product: consumers and competitors. To me, this echoed the importance of target advertising, so that your consumers receive a unique level of personalisation and are subconsciously encouraged to purchase your service. This led to the implementation of tailored marketing campaigns within my own company, such as crafting attractive online advertisements specified towards my target market.

Leadership and management styles also intrigue me. One management style I have appreciation for is Elton Mayo's human relations theory, where I found practical application during my job at a holiday camp. I intended on actively fostering a more collaborative and communicative environment by stimulating more friendly interactions with colleagues. This not only boosted my morale but also enhanced the team dynamics, aligning with Mayo's principles.

In school, I am writing a dissertation on the unregulated influence multinationals can exert on a global scale. I found the multinational 'ByteDance' to be particularly notable, specifically the way their app 'TikTok' can influence generations so severely.

Studying Economics has equipped me with the ability to comprehend the origins and probable consequences of market occurrences, as well as their influence on sectors, companies, and the overarching business cycle.

Regularly reading the Financial Times deepened my interest into Global business. Columnist Brooke Masters consistently provides captivating articles surrounding current affairs regarding worldwide business. I am keen to study abroad as part of my university degree. In a world where organisations operate on a global scale, exposure to diverse cultures would enhance my understanding of international markets and business practices.

Investment management has been a future career desire. A degree involving management would be instrumental in pursuing this desire - especially the financial knowledge I could gain which would help towards the investment strategies and portfolios involved in investment management.

At school I was appointed as a prefect and a House Captain. My love of music (specifically guitar) has seen me become selected as a member of some of my school's most respected music groups and we play in venues such as The Usher Hall. The early morning rehearsals have helped my time management skills, particularly as I also attend morning rugby sessions. Furthermore, captaining my rugby team along with being a prefect has been influential in honing my commitment and leadership qualities.

Driven by entrepreneurial spirit, analytic aptitude, and a global outlook, I am excited to thrive within the diverse world of business and management at your university.