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MBA INSIDER: SAMPLE APPLICATION ESSAYS Rice (Jones): Essay 1 QUESTION: Describe your most significant leadership experience.
My most significant experience in leadership comes from a different field than business. While pursuing my undergraduate degrees I worked as a strength and fitness trainer in Iceland, both for semi-professional teams in various sports as well as for individuals seeking a healthier lifestyle. I was fortunate enough to work with one of the most highly respected soccertrainers in Iceland who assigned me to the strength and conditioning aspect of the biggest team in the country. Together we worked with that team for 3 years, during which time the club won the cup championship every year, thereby halting an almost 30 year championship drought. Mr. [deleted] gave me almost complete freedom in conducting my aspect of the training process, and the team was virtually injury-free for those three years, something which is very rare in a physical sport such as soccer.
My main challenge was to bring together a group of 20 individuals, all top athletes with different needs (and egos, to be sure) and to focus on the individual as well as the team. Most of the players were older than me and that only added to the challenge of earning their respect. In a short time we managed to have the team running like a well oiled machine. Everyone knew their role, everyone became motivated to do their best and, most importantly, they saw personal gain in improving their fitness levels beyond what the sport required and into what they, as human beings, could benefit from. Many of the players went on to become professional players at the top level in Europe. I can honestly say that the experience of being a leader in sports has given me great confidence, taught me to amass knowledge and to share it and to teach it, and honed my skills in motivating and empowering people. In sports, you cannot force the athlete to complete a task, you have to inspire the athlete to be all he or she can be. Since my work with Mr. [deleted] I have been lucky enough to work with many teams and individuals in Iceland, even the national basketball teams for two years and I feel that the trust I was shown by the teams and coaches reflects the work I had previously done. I enjoyed working with motivated people, as did I enjoy the challenge of doing new things in my training and watching all these athletes reach new heights in their career and personal fitness. 
BW MALL
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