Dual MS/ MBA Computer Engineering/ Business Administration
Statement of Purpose
By Folarin Osibodu
I remember the day like it was yesterday - the very first time I laid eyes on a computer in my mother’s office as a boy. It enthralled me so much that I spent countless hours going through its directories, exploring this plethora of possibilities and applications. I even became creative with making birthday cards in Microsoft Word and Paint. Luckily for me, there were two PCs in her office so I had all the time I wanted. I knew that I wanted to spend my entire adult career life in this field.
Fast forward about about 7 years later to my Sophomore year in college studying for a double B.Sc in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. That summer, I read a book written by one Bill Gates called, “Business @ the Speed of Thought”. I learned that even though he was very adept with Computer programming and software, he always had a business mind – The mind of an entrepreneur. He was able to sell his software to major corporations, businesses and hotels. Clearly, Gates’ ability to market his software was unparalleled. This combination of software and business made him the wealthiest man in the world. Observing Gates caused me to be interested in business so I signed up for classes in the College of Business Administration and found a natural inclination for this new found field and performed successfully in my business classes by making A’s.
During my undergraduate studies, subjects like C programming, Advanced C programming, Electronic Circuits, Digital Circuit Design, Matrix Computer Methods, Microprocessors interested me a lot. Therefore in my final year, my team used most of the knowledge from the classes mentioned above to design an Automatic Violin Tuner, which does exactly what its name suggests, tune a violin automatically using a small robot attached to the violin. We not only focused on the Engineering aspect of it but worked on its marketability side also.
I am lucky to have had internships in all three areas that interest me - namely Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Business. I worked in the utilities company of Memphis called Memphis, Light, Gas and Water in the Street Light Engineering department. I began work there a couple of weeks after a terrible storm/tornado swept through Memphis back in 2003 causing me to learn how a utilities company has to coordinate with all departments in replacing damaged electric wires, damaged transformers and communicating with customers.
My next internship was as an Engineering intern with Merrill Lynch in New York City and New Jersey. I worked in Global Technology and Infrastructure, an office that supports the global financial transactions and activities that Merrill Lynch undertakes.
This internship taught me not only the technical nature of what was required to keep the engines of the “Merrill Machine” moving, but also the business side of Wall Street by understanding how business needs were translated to technical requirements. In addition to the technical and business skills added on to me, I was able to hone my communication and leadership skills through weekly team update meetings where I was required to provide weekly status updates to Stakeholders within Merrill Lynch. I also led my team to give a live Web conference demo of a Wiki software package. A Wiki software package is the engine that runs a website that can be edited by anyone. An excellent example of that is Wikipedia.org. All interns at Merrill Lynch were tasked with a secondary project and the Wiki project was ours. We also had bi-weekly seminars that allowed me network and asked Wall Street executives questions about the industry.
I wish to earn a Dual MS/ MBA in both colleges of Computer & Electrical Engineering and Business Administration. I intend to follow this up with a Ph.D. after a good number of years working in the industry in order to pursue a career in research and teaching. I have chosen to apply to [University]. [University] isthe leading provider of education, research, and economic development, and [University] drives the state's economic, intellectual, social, and cultural advancements. Also, [University]is ranked among the top 40 public universities of America. Specialty rankings are:
- #1 [University]’s Physician Executive MBA program of the College of Business Administration according to Modern Physician.
- #1 [University] MBA program in alumni value (value for the money) three years after graduation, according to Financial Times Global Business School Rankings.
- #5 [University] MBA program overall among U.S. public universities according to Wall Street Journal 2005.
I bring along a strong grasp of fundamentals in Electronics and Computers, an aptitude for teaching and team work, a zest for challenges and an enthusiastic desire to learn all I can. I would like to take with me, in addition to knowledge of Business and Management in a world of Technology and Engineering, a network of strong and lasting relationships with my teachers and fellow-students. I hope that my background and qualifications are found suitable for a Dual MS/MBA in Computer Engineering and Business Administration at [University].
