STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

One of the most admirable and invaluable lessons I learned from life is that if you put your
heart and soul into something you can achieve it, you keep at it and this is called tenacity.
My tenacious nature helped me to pull off feats that I could not have imagined to ever
accomplish. Just a couple of years ago, I was petrified of public speaking, I could not speak
English language, and my conversation skills were practically non-existent. However, I
managed to succeed with my passion and perseverance. Ever since I was a child I have had
this urge for expansion and growth. I have always wanted to excel and for people to notice
and praise me. I met with the praise destined for me when I first entered the classroom I
volunteered for English as a second language during my under-graduation days. The
moment I opened my mouth, I experienced a transcendent moment. Students listened to
me, they heeded to my advice and appreciated me. It was the first time I understood the
meaning of helping someone who is in dire need to change themselves. I continued
moonlighting as an English language instructor ever since.

It was in the midst of my under graduation in Information Technology commenced back in

2003, that I realized the significance of setting goals and objectives. It opened my eyes to an
entirely different dimension. I give credit to a handful of business subjects that I studied
during under graduation notably: Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Entrepreneurship
and E-business. I was not merely being trained just to write computer programs and
applications but also how to sell and promote them in the market with the aspiration to
become a successful entrepreneur one day. I was lucky enough to grasp and extract
whatever I could from my IT education. My fascination did not end there and off I went to
pursue a business degree in 2009 to delve into even deeper. I tried to assimilate the tricks of
the trade and understood the multi-faceted approaches to businesses.

Time flew like an arrow and I finished my business school with a cumulative CGPA of 3.37. I
shortlisted five of the most coveted organizations in FMCG capacity to work for, notably
Nestle, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Unilever and Proctor & Gamble. They are known as the Harvards
and MITs of companies and to get ones foot in the door, one needs to be equipped with an
adequate aptitude and qualification. My education vouched for excellence and promised me
to secure the best possible position in any of the aforementioned organizations.
Unfortunately, things did not quite work out as I anticipated and my job applications were
declined and refused and I was given the reasoning that I had no global perspective of
business processes and my qualification did not have the adequate kick to it. Of course I was
heartbroken but not enough to discourage me. My dream to work for the most sought after
organizations is still intact but I know that I need time, perseverance and an education with
an adequate kick to it. I joined a local distribution firm for FMCG products in 2011 which was
rather small in size. It occurred to me instantly that it was an opportunity to practice
whatever I learned. Since the companys size was small, I had to wear many hats. I was a
marketer, a sales person, a trainer and a software programmer. I considered myself as an
intrapreneur rather an employee. With the help of my employer I overhauled the firms
dynamics. I assisted in the making of firms distribution software that enhanced the
productivity to 20 to 25 percent. I put in place a training for distribution and channel
management. I provided them with the insight of supply chain management and its core
principles. My employer refers to me as a Godsend. With all the efforts and strides I put
forward along with my team, I can say that with certitude that our products have managed
to showcase at nearly every retail store in the entire district. This did not end here, the
products were sold like hot cakes and our vendors could not be happier. It was only possible
because I had the access to a great team and I was bestowed upon the opportunity to lead
and direct them to a greater path the path of excellence. With all the accolades and

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appreciation, there is a still a vacuum inside that needs to be filled. Everybody wish to work
for a top-ranked organization just to witness the grandeur of primeness. Had I only the right
aptitude and education like their top ivy-league, Asia Pacific graduates have, I would have
hoisted my flag in their territory.

Being a graduate from a fourth tier university the best you can get is a remuneration
between 30,000 to 35,000 PKR a month and that is a salary range for an individual with a
three or more years of work experience. The entry level position for a fresh graduate offers a
salary between 10,000 and 15,000 PKR a month. This is close to nothing in relative to
graduates from international universities. The competition could not be fiercer. Organizations
like Nestle, Pepsi Co, Package Limited are only in interested in graduates who possess the
adequate repertoire and a recognized international qualification to match their requirements
and one can expect a walloping salary between 300,000 and 500,000 Pak Rupees. To
broaden my horizon and become acceptable by top-tier organizations I decided to sink my
teeth into Master of Business Administration Advanced at University of Wollongong,
Sydney Campus. Not that any university in Pakistan does not offer a course in the same
capacity, they very much do. But the problem lies in how the course is being conducted.
Less focus on research and more on theory, this pattern does not compliment with my
needs. MBA has lost the identity that once it had in Pakistan. It was once a premium
education and now it is run-of-the-mill. I require education that is recognized because I want
my prospective employers not to get a second opinion on my recruitment.

My long term goal is to lead a major global FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods)
organization in Pakistan with unprecedented consumer goods to offer and become a leader
in retail capacity similar to the likes to $ billion 30.5 LOreal, $ billion 35 Mondelez
International and $ billion 99 Nestle. That sure seems like a hyper bole but a river was once
a droplet. I plan to achieve that position after acquiring the necessary tools and experience
require to manage a large-scale global business by completing my MBA Advanced from
University of Wollongong, kicking off as Product Specialist and working my way up. As the
proverb goes, He who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom. It is a two years
course that bears an incremental and augmentative value to my current qualification. It has
six different varieties of specialization to choose from that could support me to comprehend
different facets and aspects of businesses.

My fascination with business, direct interaction with clients, stakeholders and the
perspective of a company as provider of products that meet customer needs has intrigued
and motivated me. My current position as a Marketing manager and my desired post MBA
Advanced position as Product Specialist, presumably require leadership and team
management skills. Today, I resort to intuition and experience to guide my various activities.
I whole heartedly plan to augment my skillset by learning business methodologies and
acumen at University of Wollongong. I strongly feel that such insight will help me do my job
effectively and efficiently and achieve my long term objectives.

I can anticipate that I will be faced with numerous situations that require interpersonal skills:
interviewing, patting on the back of an employee and putting forward constructive criticism,
etc. I look forward to enhance my soft skills by taking classes and training on important
business disciplines like Leading Organization or Transformational leadership and
Organizational culture. I did, however, participated in numerous web-based training
workshops and seminars that enhanced my repertoire.

I could not be happier that I chose Australia and University of Wollongong for my business
education. My decision to select University of Wollongong for its MBA Advanced program was
purely based on active interaction. Two other universities that I shortlisted were, University

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of Canberra and University of New Castle. However, University of Wollongong gave me a
warm welcome that I already belong there. Speaking to their crew, sharing my reservation
that I had and answering my queries and finally resolving all of them made my decision even
easier to go with UoW. And besides University of Wollongong is ranked among the top ten
education providers in Australia. Its business school specifically for MBA is sought after by
many higher education aspirants. After all it had the kick that I needed for a lucrative career.
Similar courses are being offered by various educational institutions in Pakistan but they lack
an industrial relevance and based more on theory and less on case studies and research. In
fact case studies and researches are not encouraged for we lack the necessary tools and
active participation. The gap of collaboration between educational institutions and industry
is clearly depicted in the offerings of a university.

Australia is a worlds leader in quality education and a good place to be educated. I seek to
enhance my education that my prospective employers and my post-MBA role require from
me. Australian degrees are recognized by the Association of Pakistani Universities for the
purpose of government employment or an employment at any multi-national organization.
Furthermore, studying in Sydney will make my experience incredibly delightful with
gorgeous weather and plenty of experiences to live through. Sydney is a popular tourist
destination which means it always will offer something that would worth my while. Studying
MBA in the economic hub of Australia means that I will be taught by the seasoned industry
practitioners and prolific professors. University of Wollongong has an excellent student
support system and I was amazed to see that there is an entire section dedicated to
Pakistani students only for their help and assistance. That aspect brought me even closer to
UoW and instantly I fell in love with the university. I am thrilled with UoWs opportunities to
amplify my education in a technologically-oriented environment through programs like
UoWs Advanced MBA. The opportunity to enlighten my education through classes in
consumer behavior, organizational behavior, marketing and sales management is something
I look forward to. I cannot wait to take on a multi-disciplinary approach that will provide me
with a better platform to achieve my goals.

Upon completion, I intend to work for a multi-national FMCG organization in Pakistan. With
necessary experience acquired, I whereupon would head for an entrepreneurial venture in
FMCG or in retail capacity. Retail business in Pakistan is booming with international players
like Hyperstar from Middle-East and Metro from Germany already playing in the field. The
business has not saturated yet and new players with top-notch ideas are always welcome to
try their luck in this capacity. I strongly believe that after acquiring this degree there would
be ample aptitude for me to get my foot in the doors of perpetual success.

I could not thank my mother enough for she dedicated approximately six million Pak Rupees
for my education in Australia. The education expense alone cost me around 60,000 AUD and
I already paid for my first semester that begins next year 2015 in February. Sixty thousand
Dollars is a lot of money but compares to my dreams and aspirations it holds a trivial
importance and that is what my mother told me when she supported me to take this
decision. My mother also told me one thing and that is one of the best quotes that I ever
heard and it goes like it, Most of the doors in the world are closed but if you find one that
you really want to get into. You better have an incredible knock. And if you knock like you
drum, youll be fine. So I am knocking on your door and with your favorable reception I
could get an opportunity to materialize my dreams for real.

In retrospect, I feel that Australia and University of Wollongong will be a great place to study
and provide me with necessary experience and teaching to broaden my horizon. I have great
hope that I will be given an opportunity to study in Australia.

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Kaleemullah

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