Question)

When asked by your family, friends and colleagues why you want to go to
Duke, what do you tell them? Share the reasons that are most meaningful to
you.
Your answer should not exceed 2 pages, with a font size no less than 10point.

I feel honored to tell my family, friends and colleagues of my professional

experience with Samsung for close to 7 years in multiple roles thus far. The
overall experience has endowed me with valuable skills of adaptability, multi
tasking, working cohesively within teams and enhanced problem solving and
leadership skills. I worked in multiple assignments in 6 different countries
wherein I spearheaded product-development teams and lead multiple large,
cutting edge flagship products from planning till production including Galaxy
S4, S5, Note 3, Tab S and many more for South West Asia Market generating
revenues ranging from USD2M to USD360M.
Later, when my colleagues asked me why in spite of great career progression
I wanted to go to Duke, I replied now was an apt time to thrust my career
forward towards my quest for empowerment and also to equip me with
business acumen and resources to broaden the spectrum for bringing a
positive change. Also, I feel excited to tell my family, with my goals firmly
insight, that in 2013 I started researching on worlds top Business Schools,
by reaching out to friends, family members and multiple schools alumni.
Gradually identifying the differentiating points between schools, I realized
that DUKEs student bodys caliber, remarkable faculty and reputation was
comparable to the US Elite Eight Schools. Also, to find more about the culture
and learning opportunities at Duke I reached out to many current students
and alumni of different nationalities to find one-thing in common(unique)
that completely sold me off- the collaborative culture at Duke.

I distinctly remember how excitedly I called my spouse after my first

interaction with Duke Alum Sumit Khurana, Class of 2013 while I was in
South Korea for gathering requirements and designing product execution
roadmap of the first LTE Product for Indian Market. Back then he was working
with Samsungs Global Strategy Group (GSG). Knowing directly from him
about his experiences, the Dukes collaborative culture because of which he
called Duke to be the most friendly place, opportunities ahead in tech space

and more was quite re-assuring to me and my spouse. Being peoples man, I
found culture to be a great fit for me as it is more team based than of a cut
throat competition kind.
My father has been my biggest inspiration and a perfectionist too. And he
has been researching schools across the world in pursuit of my stellar
education since we first had a talk regarding my plans for an MBA.
Convincing him of my decision of Duke needed substantial reasoning. But I
was firm and confident about my decision. Firstly, I told him about how I felt
the connection and great camaradarie with each Duke student and Alum I
spoke to. Everybody's humility(down to earth nature) complemented with
high intellect spoke volumes about the culture at Duke. Knowing experiences
from each one of them reassured me the fact that spending/enriching two
years at Duke will not only help me leverage my own experiences but also
the expriences of a diverse intellectual peer community from across the
globe to prepare me as a global leader of tomorrow. I also got a glimpse into
the limitless networking opportunities I would have when I would become a
part of a school with an alumni base of over ## all across the world. In nut
shell I found myself to be a great fit.

To begin, I told him about all my interactions with current students and alums
of Duke Alexei Robsky ,Thomas Goellner, Somen Dawn, Ashish Chadola all
Class of 2015, Shantanu Joshi, Class of 2014 and more.
Secondly, I told him about how a rising need of an exposure of working in an
international team set up for a leader of tomorrow is fulfilled by Duke. Dukes
class comprises of over 40% internationals and diversity in global cases
studied in the classes adds more to the international flavor. Also I told him
about my interactions with the current students Somen Dawn and Ashish
Chadola from whom I got to know amazing learning opportunities by being a
part of an Elite team, which is formed in a way to make this team
experience as diverse and international as possible. Discussing cases, team
assignments, and more within a team of 6 members makes the entire
experience truly enriching and each person matures to a level where
everyone starts expressing even disinterest respectfully. Also knowing
about campout experience for coveted Blue Devils basketball tickets
by spending 36 hours together in which each group member takes
responsibility of all others is a great demonstration of collaborative
experience and is one of the many opportunities at Duke to build up lifelong
camaraderie.

Thirdly, I told my Dad how the pedagogies and a short 6 week terms at Duke
would provide the breadth and depth across different business function
areas. The schools teachings is not just limited to one style but a good mix
of cases, class lectures, and experiencial learning,all providing a great
balance by having best of different worlds. Also Knowing from Thomas
Goellner, class of 2014 about the fact that over 65% of entire curriculum and
over 80% term comprises of team based activity/performance gave a
glimpse of collaborative/team culture at Duke. So, majorly focused on team
based learnings(activities), pedagogies will enhance my learnings because of
participation/multiple views/inputs of diverse international mix of
people,providing great depth of concepts and bolstring the understanding by
simultaneously providing platform to build true relations/bonds(gelling ppl of
diff. countries/backgrouds). To get the practical experience, I am looking
forward to experience the breadth under the mentorship of the senior official
by enrolling in Mentored Study in traingle area in a local tech firm. Also 6week terms would enable me to cover wide variety of subjects, providing a
great
breadth
of
knowledge along
with
which
I
plan
to
pursue Marketing concentration (Product management),which would foster
learning and prepare me for internships in Product management.
Also because of a student driven culture at Duke I would soak myself in
innumerous opportunities to practice leadership ranging from fellowships in
academic, career, admissions, and COLE to other events including
conferences ,symposiums, student clubs and more. To contribute and
leverage experiences of my fellow mates,I am also looking forward to
join Dukes High Tech Club,which is an ideal platform for practicing the
leadership and management skills as it is associated with a large number of
leading companies. Interaction with these companies by participating in Tech
treks in winter and fall break and through symposiums will certainly help in
furthering my quest for a career in Product Management.
I grew up imbibing the values of committing service to others as opposed to
oneself and with the ideals of sharing. Continuing further in my endeavor as
a part of Net Impact I plan to organize a student trek to globally renowned
non- profits such as the Art of living to share its success mantra in order to
share best practices and strategy with local nonprofits to help them thrive
and bring out change in the society.

Lastly, I told my dad that Interacting further with more DUKE students and
alumni, I found out that Duke keeps updating the curriculum according to the
need in the business world and for the same reason amazing elective Big
data analytic would be introduced for the coming Class of 2017.Also, I am
looking forward to electives such as Marketing in Innovation and Marketing
strategy, which would shape me to kick start my career in Prod
management.Also, the DUKE student community was most enlightening
about its personal experiences and highlighted the multiple career
opportunities in product management with technology companies. It was
heartening
to
hear
that
the
worlds
top-most
renowned
technology companies recruit from the vast DUKE talent pool. Dukes global
reach is warranted not only by opportunity to study under the guidance of
the likes of PROFESSOR but also by the diversity in global cases studied in
the classes.
I am also super excited to share with my spouse my top choice as Duke for
some great personal reason too. As my spouse would be shifting to New
jersey from India starting November 2014, spending vacations, holidays and
Fuqua fridays together would be hassle free for us. Along with that climate in
Durham throughout the year is best of my liking that would make my stay lot
of fun.
Leading a life with sincerity, perseverance and integrity despite challenging
and excruciating circumstances is what propels me further to personal
growth and higher achievements. Now I look forward to the next phase of
my journey at DUKE, learning from the best in the industry and working
alongside an incredible diverse peer group to create memorable and
impactful collaborative experiences.