London Business School MBA Essays

The London Business School (LBS) offers a comprehensive MBA program that is renowned worldwide for its rigorous curriculum, diverse student body, and strategic location in the heart of London. London Business School MBA Essays are a critical component of the application, enabling candidates to showcase their uniqueness, leadership qualities, and potential contributions to the LBS community.

Prospective students are required to submit essays as part of the admissions process, providing insights into their professional experiences, goals, and how they envision leveraging LBS's MBA program to achieve their ambitions. The school seeks applicants who demonstrate clear post-MBA goals, a strong understanding of the value of an LBS education, and the ability to contribute significantly to the vibrant, multicultural environment of the school.

LBS MBA Application Essays 2023-24

The London Business School (LBS) MBA application essays for 2023-24 are a vital part of the admissions process, designed to give insight into your career goals, personal achievements, and how you'll fit into the LBS community. Key essay topics include detailing your post-MBA aspirations and how an LBS MBA will help achieve them, the impact of your studies on family and friends, and any connections you have with LBS alumni or students.

The application also allows for an optional essay to share unique personal stories or additional information that could strengthen your application. These essays are an opportunity to showcase your professional experience, leadership capabilities, and how you align with LBS's values and culture. 

LBS MBA Essay 1

Question 1: What are your post-MBA goals, and how will your prior experience and the London Business School program contribute towards these? (500 words)

Tips & Guidelines:

• Start by clearly articulating your short-term and long-term career objectives. Be specific about the industry, role, and level you aim to achieve post-MBA.
• Highlight the relevant professional experiences that have shaped your career aspirations. Discuss specific projects, achievements, and skills acquired during your tenure. Emphasise how these experiences have prepared you for your post-MBA goals and demonstrate your commitment to your chosen career path.
• Show how the London Business School (LBS) MBA program aligns with your career objectives. Mention specific courses, faculty, or resources offered by LBS that will help you achieve your goals. Discuss how the LBS network and extracurricular activities will enhance your learning experience and contribute to your career development.
• Clearly outline your short-term career objectives immediately after completing the MBA program. Describe how achieving these short-term goals will set the stage for your long-term career aspirations. Explain how your post-MBA goals align with your personal values, passions, and long-term vision for your career.
• Showcase your ambition and eagerness to excel in your chosen field. Discuss the potential impact you aim to make in your industry or organisation and how your goals contribute to broader societal or organisational objectives.
• Showcase your understanding of current industry trends, challenges, and opportunities. Discuss how you plan to leverage your MBA education to stay ahead of industry developments and drive innovation in your chosen field.
• Write in a genuine and authentic tone, reflecting your true motivations, aspirations, and values. Avoid generic or cliché responses and instead provide unique insights into your career journey and goals.
• Review your response carefully for clarity, coherence, and grammar. Ensure that your answer is concise, focused, and free of errors before submitting your application.

LBS MBA Sample Answer

My professional journey as a management consultant at KPMG, which spans over two and half years, has provided me with an enriched exposure to many esteemed global financial organisations. During this tenure, I was deeply engaged in projects worth several million dollars, which granted me an advanced understanding of aspects such as business model enhancement, unique strategy formulation, business digitisation, and overall customer experience improvement. The variety of work assignments entrusted to me further reinforced my skills in managing large-scale product portfolios and ushering in major company-wide initiatives at an international level. 

In my interactions with various team members and stakeholders, I learned the importance of striving for professional excellence, nurturing business relationships and constantly learning from my fellow peers. These values not only helped me surpass my performance targets but also led to fast-paced career growth. In approximately a year, I rose from the position of an Analyst to an Associate Consultant and subsequently became a Consultant, notably one of the youngest in KPMG. 

In order to further improve my professional capabilities, I sought mentorship from some of the industry's seasoned leaders with whom I had the privilege to work. Their expertise made me understand the significance of learning distinct business aspects from established experts in the respective fields. This is where I encountered a match with the London Business School (LBS) business curriculum I was exploring.

Courses like Global Leadership Assessment, Microeconomics, Performance Driven Strategy Execution, Design Led Innovation, and Global Economic Analysis offered at LBS, are taught by some of the highly revered scholars in the industry. I am confident that these programs, combined with input from guest speakers and more than 80 electives, will offer the rigorous academic enhancement I am aspiring for. 

Beyond academics, I look forward to enriching my multicultural outlook by connecting with the diverse student community at LBS. Activities like the Tech & Media Club and Impact Consulting Club will provide platforms for vibrant interactions. My participation in forums, conferences, and events such as Tattoo and Sundowners will also enable me to add a unique perspective, bestowing my existing knowledge and viewpoints. 

My immediate career objective, built on my significant experience as a Management Consultant, is to gain a position within the esteemed Big 3 Management Consulting firms. I acknowledge the need for a wider understanding to ascend to advanced professional levels, which is why I am eager to delve more into subjects like analytics, management efficiency, corporate strategies, and global business dynamics. I am convinced that such subjects are vital for a successful management consultant, and I anticipate that LBS’s full-time MBA program will offer me comprehensive insights into a global context.

In the long run, my ultimate vision is to channel the knowledge and expertise gained from LBS and subsequent professional engagements to embark on my own entrepreneurial adventure. I aspire to form an enterprise with the like-minded individuals I expect to meet that encapsulates all aspects of my forthcoming expansive education and experience. I am confident that this MBA program will serve as the crucial bridge between my professional dreams and their realisation.

LBS MBA Essay 2

Question 2: Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School?  (500 words)

Tips & Guidelines:

• Begin by summarising your significant achievements and milestones during your tenure as a management consultant at KPMG. Focus on specific projects, challenges faced, and how you overcame them to deliver exceptional results.
• Emphasise how you navigated the transition from an engineering undergraduate to a professional consulting role and how you quickly adapted to the corporate environment. Discuss the strategies you employed to overcome initial challenges and how you continuously strive for personal and professional growth.
• Highlight instances where you demonstrated leadership, initiative, and the ability to make a positive impact. Discuss how you mentored and guided junior colleagues, contributed to team success, and earned recognition from clients and senior management.
• Offer specific examples, anecdotes, and instances that illustrate your skills, competencies, and character traits. Use quantitative data or testimonials whenever possible to substantiate your claims and reinforce your credibility.
• Explain how your experiences at KPMG have prepared you for success in the London Business School MBA program. Discuss how you plan to leverage your past experiences, skills, and knowledge to contribute to the MBA community and excel in your academic and professional pursuits.
• Convey your enthusiasm for pursuing an MBA at London Business School and your aspirations for the future. Articulate how the MBA program will be instrumental in helping you achieve your long-term goals and aspirations.
• Keep your response concise and focused, avoiding unnecessary details or tangents. Ensure clarity in your writing and structure your response in a logical and organised manner.
• Before submitting your response, carefully proofread it for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Make any necessary revisions to improve the clarity, coherence, and overall effectiveness of your message.

LBS MBA Sample Answer

Transitioning from the realm of an engineering graduate to a full-fledged management consultant at KPMG was a stark and initially forbidding contrast. However, this challenging shift was concomitant with phenomenal growth and a series of pivotal achievements that forged both my professional and personal identity. At first, the prospect of diving headfirst into a multinational corporate environment devoid of prior experience was daunting; however, adversity only acted as a spur to my journey rather than a deterrent.

The ability to learn rapidly, adapt flexibly and take proactive initiatives were the key tools I utilised to navigate the maze of my new professional life. With a keen learner's perspective, I rapidly gleaned insights from my experienced colleagues, received feedback from diverse business sectors, and gradually broadened my knowledge base of the professional domain at a remarkable pace. Within a year, I had developed a keen understanding of the company's culture and gained substantial expertise in my role, a far cry from my initial novice status.

Recognising the challenges I overcame in my initial stage, I always strive to share my experience and expertise with the new professionals joining KPMG. This conscious effort not only helps them mitigate the turbulence during the initial phase but also prevents them from committing common and avoidable mistakes.

Within a short span after my joining, I was entrusted with leading KPMG's flagship project – facilitating an acquisition of a major Indian Asset Management Company by an international client. An endeavour of such great significance promptly taught me the ropes of my trade – swift, sweeping acquisition of new domains, management of various facets of the project, and gaining deep-rooted expertise in the process.

In undertaking this project, I encountered several challenges; these included the acquisition of deeper knowledge about a particular business sector, resolution of disputes among the client, and maintaining a balance of the client's expectations. However, each obstacle was surmounted, the knowledge was deepened, a stronger bond with the client was formed, and realistic expectations were set.

Further, I was commended extensively by the client for these efforts, particularly for the quality and timeliness of my deliverables. In fact, my work received praise from the CEO of the Multinational Asset Management Company during a town hall meeting, which enhanced the standing of KPMG amongst the client base. My significant contributions did not go unnoticed within the organisation either. My firm partners, impressed by my consistent performance and my role in enhancing client relationships, awarded me a rare and coveted double promotion that propelled me from the position of the analyst to consultant.

These interim promotions, which are scarcely given and only to stellar performers, further fortified the recognition and appreciation I received from my peers and senior management. This opened up a new professional path for me, paving the way for a potential promotion to the role of an Assistant Manager.

Emboldened by my journey so far, I am eager to embrace a new phase of my life. I envisage that pursuing a full-time MBA at the London Business School extends my professional and academic journey, armed with my dynamic and relentless approach of honing my skills.

Program Deadlines

The London Business School MBA program offers a comprehensive and structured admissions process, with deadlines spread across several rounds to accommodate applicants from various backgrounds and schedules. For the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, the program operates on a staged admissions basis, ensuring a diverse class composition by holding back places for candidates in the final rounds.

The key London Business School MBA deadlines for the 2023-2024 MBA program are as follows:

You can check the Application Process- How to Apply LBS MBA School page to get more information.

Conclusion

The London Business School MBA essays provide participants with a unique opportunity to showcase their achievements, ambitions, and capabilities for the program. It is essential to harmonize these responses with those of the institution while providing insightful answers that demand attention. By opting for this option, students can distinguish themselves within an increasingly competitive admission process in one of the best MBA colleges in Europe.