My Harvard Business School essay

2005

My GMAT score was unspectacular.

My phone interview was so-so.

The application had six essays. The subject of the last one was “What do you wish the MBA Admissions Board had asked you?”

For context, I was applying to Harvard while working for Morgan Stanley, enjoying a very successful professional stretch and making lots of money, at only 24 years of age. I worked for Morgan Stanley’s London office and then they offered me to move to Moscow, where the bank was trying to grow its Russian business. The decision wasn’t straightforward but I ended up having a super successful professional stretch. Then the business school decision wasn’t straight-forwarded either. I really-really doubted it, even after getting accepted.

After my MBA, the bank was so interested in having me back that they flew me from Boston to London to meet the most senior executives! But that’s a different story. I’m just bragging.

I stand by what I tried to express in my admissions essay then, many years ago. I was playing with fire by saying that I wasn’t sure I wanted to do an MBA but I feel the admissions team at Harvard gave me credit for my honesty. For my vulnerability. Doubts, concerns, vulnerability, and uncertainty are part of life. It’s ok to admit them, even in situations when you are expected to appear bold and firm.

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2005