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Study Objectives

International Business is a high-potentiality field of study and is particularly essential in todays world where globalization is aninevitable force. It covers a vast domain, ranging from the process of identifying issues being faced in a multicultural environment toformulating strategies tailored for the specific region of operations and ensuring that these strategies are aligned to and successfullyimplemented across all levels of the business. With my deep-rooted interest in learning about cultural diversity and my expertise inBusiness Administration, I plan to pursue a Masters degree in International Business, with concentration on International BusinessStrategy and Operations. The degree in International Business emphasizes on strategic thinking from an international and global

perspective and appropriately highlights the impact these strategies and operations have on functional areas of the business. It willalso build an understanding of the current policies governing global trade and investment systems.

During MBA, I got the general theoretical knowledge regarding the prevalent business practices from different functionalperspectives. Now, I plan to focus specifically on International Business as my area of specialization. I was greatly interested intaking the International Business course during MBA. However, due to very few students being interested in taking the cours e, itwas not offered. The next best alternative to this, in my opinion was Human Resource Management, which deals with ma nagingthe human resource of a business. Human resource is a starting point in developing multicultural policies and practices as anybusiness enters a new market. A significant part of the Human Resource Management curriculum dealt with fundamental humanresource practices from across the globe and managing as well as succeeding in organizations with highly diverse environments.Besides, my expertise in Human Resource Management would give me a better workforce and strategic perspective and wouldgreatly help me in customizing the globally-accepted work practices to the local job market.

My interest in International Business further elevated when I wrote a research paper for the Project Management course during MBAtitled Time and Budget-Related Issues for Multinational Construction Companies in their Projects in Pakistan. During the researchphase of the project, I realized how multinational businesses venturing in the Pakistani market bear a considerably high degree ofrisk. In the paper, I focused on the impact of time delays and budget overflows on the successful execution and completion of theconstruction projects started by multinational companies in Pakistan, followed by suggestions for minimizing the key problems.

Another project that significantly stimulated my interest in International Business as a prospective field of study was a case study Iwrote for the Consumer Behavior course titled MTV in Pakistan: New Market, New Challenges. At the time I wrote the case study,MTV had recently been launched in Pakistan. I thoroughly researched the steps taken by the MTV management to adapt to thePakistani market and was impressed to a great extent by its efforts. I realized that even the most prolific businesses can fa il in a newterritory. Succeeding is only possible if they manage to adapt their international practices according to the dynamics of the newmarket. This successful adaptation to a new market has made MTV Pakistan a widely-watched television channel by the Pakistaniaudience.

Although Pakistan is called a developing country, the living standards of a common Pakistani are gradually, but imminently,plummeting. Lack of financial stability is not leaving people with many choices. However, at the same time, Pakistan is also a vastuntapped market, and is luring enormous amount of international investment. According to the Government of Pakistans Board ofInvestment, the total foreign direct investment for the financial year 2007-2008 (July 1, 2007 to June, 30 2008) was $5.15 billion,marking a rise of $13.2 million as compared to previous fiscal year. For a country of Pakistans size and population, globalizatio n israpidly becoming a necessity to survive in todays escalating international competition, and many multinationals are venturing intoPakistan for business operations every passing day. A key geo-strategic location, a low-cost, but highly-trained workforce andextreme investor-friendly government policies are some of the factors that make Pakistan an attractive as well as a lucrative market.The foreign investment, in turn, is substantially helping the Pakistani economy to sustain in these complicated times by creatingjobs. The intense completion based on quality is also compelling Pakistani businesses to improve their operations, and as a result,their products and/or services, to cope with the international competition. Amid this activity, there is a considerable shortage of

human resource that is essential in consolidating the many dimensions of an international business to that of the Pakistani market. Alot of high-potential as well as high-cost projects are being shelved due to this shortage, resulting in tremendously high losses. It hasmade me realize that the cross-cultural differences between the Pakistani and other cultures need to be bridged so that theoperations of an international business can be smoothly started, and thus continued, here.

When I joined Habib Bank Limited (HBL) as a Management Trainee in late 2007, I went to Karachi for training, where, I had theexposure of interacting with a dynamic group of young individuals from all over Pakistan. It gave me an excellent opportunity to workin a highly-diverse environment and I deeply treasure the experience. One of my work responsibilities at HBL is to deal with adiverse clientele including local and international customers. I also monitor international market dynamics on daily basis in order toconduct and manage the international trade activities of the entire local region. This exposure has aptly made me realize theimportance of effective communication in a cross-cultural environment.

The United States is one of those very few nations across the globe where a rare and interesting amalgamation of people of allracial and religious backgrounds exists. What I great ly admire about the American social fabric is how all these people are living andworking together with mutual respect and in complete harmony and, as a result, are collectively contributing to the nationaldevelopment. Since my choice of study is International Business, it would be extremely valuable for me to study in this diverse aswell as amiable environment. Besides opting for the excellent environment, students from throughout the world also prefer theUnited States for the exceptionally high standard of education it has to offer in countless fields of study. It is further cemented by the

fact that according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2008, 58 out of the 200 top universities in theworld are located in the United States. Keeping all these dynamics in mind, the United States is the suitable choice for me tocommence my studies in the field of International Business.

After the completion of my studies, I hope to get a position in a diverse and dynamic organization. It can either be a multinational

organization, seeking to bring its business to Pakistan, or a Pakistani firm dealing with international clientele where I can adapt the

operational practices of International Business to the Pakistani market. In the long term, I plan on getting more involved in strategy

formulation and consultancy with the Government of Pakistan in terms of taking more useful measures to promote and encourage

foreign businesses by providing a more resilient investment infrastructure. This would facilitate international businesses to

successfully carry out the smooth transition in Pakistan and would eventually contribute to the growth of the economy. I would also

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endeavor to impart the knowledge and expertise regarding International Business by sharing my experience by joining a good

business school.

Personal Statement

The majority in this world works to make a living; many are compelled by various circumstances and events to concede to anordinary life, and consequently, to abandon their personal or professional aspirations. What motivates me is the fear of beingordinary. That is why I want to enter a career that I love, and, accordingly, have an extraordinary life. With my expertise inBusiness Management and my innate passion for traveling and to learn and discover cultural diversity, the field of InternationalBusiness, with a focus on International Business Strategy and Operations, is the best-suited area of study for me to pursue. Being adynamic field of continuous learning, it will allow me to explore various challenges faced while working in an internationalenvironment with the prospects of designing and developing their solutions, at the same time further broadening my knowledge andcomprehension of Business Management and its concepts.

I was born and raised in a middle-class, but a well-educated family. As a child, I had been endlessly fascinated by traveling andobserving diversity between different cultures. As my father was in the Army, I got to travel to and live in various cities along thelength and breadth of Pakistan. The variance of places, where I have lived, range from the highly cosmopolitan and commercial hubKarachi, to the characteristically underdeveloped town of Chaman on the Pak-Afghan border. Before starting my university studies, Imoved through 9 different schools, each in a different city. The opportunity to explore the extensive variety of cultures acrossPakistan has greatly kindled in me a deep-rooted interest of learning other languages, their respective customs, festivals andcuisines. It has also helped me in developing the ability to communicate effectively and blend well in a myriad of cultures. Thisfascination of other cultures was further accentuated when, last year, I went on a trip to Malaysia. There, I witnessed the true blendof three very different cultures; the Malay, the Chinese and the Indian. These very diverse groups not only look different, but alsofollow different religions and customs; yet despite all these differences, they have been working together to transform Malaysia intoone of the Asian Tigers. It has cultivated in me a sense of tolerance and even great appreciation for people from other rac ial andreligious backgrounds. Besides, Malaysia, like Pakistan, although to a much greater degree, has attracted attention of variousmultinationals and, as a consequence, has witnessed enormous foreign investment in the last few decades. The leap that thesemultinationals have to make to adapt to the local Malaysian market is subtly transparent; yet for the most part of the process, thetransition is carried out fairly effortlessly. However, at present, Pakistan significantly lacks the human capital and infrastructureessential in supporting such transitions.

Coming from literate family backgrounds, my parents aptly understand and appreciate the perennial importance of education intodays world and have always encouraged me and my siblings to seek it from some of the best educational institutes in Pakist an.My parents, hence, wholly encouraged me when I was fortunate enough to get admitted in the National University of Sciences &Technology (NUST), after securing 17th position among approximately 1000 candidates. However, at times, they had to make somesacrifices, to succeed in their endeavor of getting us educated from one of the best institutes. I remember how my father had to sellour house in our hometown of Jhelum to pay my fees during the last semester of MBA. It was a difficult decision for him because hehad spent his entire childhood there and it was built by his late father, however, my father sold the house and paid my fees.Situations like these have made me realize how utterly important family support is to accomplish anything positive in life and howextremely blessed I am to have it. It has strengthened my determination to achieve the aspirations for a unique life path, thusenabling me to positively make a difference for my family as well as for my homeland.

My stay at NUST Business School (NBS) during MBA had been challenging and rewarding at the same time, during which, I had theprivilege of studying with a highly varied but extremely competitive class. NUST is one of the very few Pakistani universities thatenjoy a very strong linkage to the industry as well as to the academia from across the globe. NBS also prides itself to promote aresearch oriented environment and culture that has helped me strengthen my analytical skills while engaging in various researchactivities. It also holds the distinction of being the only Pakistani university to be listed amongst the top 400 world universities in theTHE - QS World University Rankings 2008 list, rising steadily from 470 (in 2007) to 376 (in 2008) in ranking. Studying at NUST hadafforded me a number of opportunities to engage in extra-curricular activities relevant to Business Administration, like launching theNBS Marketing Club and organizing the NBS Job Fair 2006, thus further polishing my management and communication skills.

Joining Habib Bank Limited, as a Management Trainee, provided me the exposure I needed to further polish the concepts I hadgained during my studies, with opportunities to implement them practically. Dealing with a variety of clientele, in all kinds ofsituations, has also helped boost my confidence to steadfastly face, and effectively overcome, various challenges at work. Timemanagement had never been my forte during my academic years, although, I have always been able to grasp even the mostcomplex concepts with ease. The lack of ability to manage time effectively has had a negative effect on my grades at times.However, the compulsion to meet deadlines on time in professional responsibilities, while maintaining appropriate quality of work,has compelled, and even necessitated, me to learn effective time management skills. I feel confident that these skills will greatly aidme in embarking a successful career in the highly challenging area of International Business.

I adamantly believe that it is not a matter of choice, but utmost responsibility for all of us to give back to the society in our ownhumble capacity. So I feel modestly satisfied in writing that I have always been eager in playing my part in this regard. During mystay at NUST, I had arranged and participated in blood donation drives organized specifically for the countless wounded casualtiesof the earthquake that hit Northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005. I, along with some other students, had also arranged for themedical and other supplies for the victims.

I strongly believe that I am well-suited for the Fulbright Scholarship program because of my passion for diversity and travelling and

the severe scarcity of International Business professionals in Pakistan. As the scholarship program is deeply dedicated to promote

cultural exchange between Pakistan and the United States, having seen and lived almost all over Pakistan, I feel that I would be in a

position to appropriately represent Pakistani culture in the United States.