NAME

STATEMENT of PURPOSE

Dominican University Graduate School Application

MBA, Global Strategic Management

The Importance of Education and Community

First, I would like to say that education is, in itself, a worthwhile goal for me, and has been all of my life. At Smith College, I pushed myself academically to take a science major. There would have been easier majors for me. My science major helped me organize my thoughts and to accurately describe the natural world around me.

As my career evolved from computer programmer to a designer for software companies, to a technical writer, I have continually taken advantage of every class and conference that I could. When I started working as a writer, I took courses at SF State University, to better prepare me and to refresh my editing and writing skills.

Recently, I took a Project Management course through an e-learning company. It was part of a Management certificate program. It made me realize that I would much rather take the time to study and get an advanced degree and really know the field than do it half-way.

I try to live a life that includes participation in higher learning and an appreciation of education. My family background supports academic research and writing, teaching, mentoring, and community service. My parents are retired professors who have done considerable amounts of community work. My educational background supports an appreciation of diversity, and a drive to keep learning and contributing.

Immediate and Long-Term Goals

For my intermediate goal, I would like to be able to enter the world of financial writing. I believe the addition of an MBA would add to the other supporting skills that I believe would make me a fine writer in this field. I have a solid career in technical writing, and have gotten very good feedback and praise for it throughout the years. A business credential would make me ready to take on much more diverse and interesting topics, and would give me the credibility I need.

I am also considering the possibility of being a writer or analyst in a specific area of expertise. My background in software (fifteen+ years) is quite extensive and I could draw upon that. I have worked for a large number of start-ups in the software field, and that experience has given me an understanding of the issues of smaller companies. The company I am with is in the B to B (business to business) sector and I have an understanding of the technology and competition in this area. I have been with this company since before and during its Initial Public Offering, and that has provided a backdrop of learning about this business up close.

As for writing for a wider audience, I have read all the current popular writers in the personal finance/investing field, and see some ways I could have a unique contribution to that area. I am investigating magazines or journals that I could contribute to, while I am studying for a degree. Through studying for this degree, and getting to know the faculty and other students, I hope to uncover many other opportunities as well.

My long-term goals are more varied and cover a wider range. Some of the possibilities I see in the future could include investment advisor (in which case I would also need to explore getting a stockbroker license, and some of the other series licenses), teaching at the junior college or college level, and international work in banking.

Why Dominican University?

I attended a small, private liberal arts college and truly appreciated the personal attention and high quality I received there. I believe that Dominican University would also have that personal touch that other larger universities would lack. I am also interested in staying within the community where I live so that I can make both local contacts as well as national and international business connections.

I am especially impressed with the division of the program into different focuses, and I most interested in the Regional Focus on the European Union. I work for a company that has offices abroad, and we offer a product that integrates foreign currencies and calculates VAT and other fees. This has sparked my interest in exploring the Euro and its promised and actual place in the world economy. I would be very interested to follow this up by working in the banking field in Europe.

Supporting Skills for Graduate Study

In addition to highlighting the technical and communication skills I use in my career, I would also like to note the management and group leadership skills I use at my current company, and I would like to add some personal notes supporting my interest in going to graduate school in Business in this community.

I have had numerous experiences in leading, and creating groups and classes. I recently single-handedly started a women’s investment club of which I was the first president. president. It grew out of a my own personal interest in personal finances and also a financial seminar for women held by Charles Schwab in Marin County in November of 2000. The seminar was a pilot for a bigger program that will be rolled out across the U.S. While taking the seminars, I looked around at all the wise, experienced women in the room and thought, about how I want to hear more from these women. I announced my intention to start an investment club, and took the names of those interested. The next day, I went to the bookstore and bought books on how to start an investment club, having never done it before! And so, BWB (‘Babes with Bucks’) Investment Club was born. We have 15 women, a partnership agreement, speakers lined up, and four investments. I was also interviewed this summer on NPR for the CA Report on a piece about women’s investment clubs because of my involvement in this club.

I have also started and managed two other community groups in Marin County: a mother’s group and a parent’s support group.

I think an M.B.A. will be the credential I need to be effective in the business world and will open up new worlds of possibility.

Thank you for considering me for a place in the class in the Graduate School of Business.