My Post-Graduate Academic Plan at the Duke University

I am applying for a Master’s degree enrollment at the Duke University. My intended major is a Master’s in Management Information Systems (MISM), with balanced course work in technical and management systems. I took my undergraduate studies for the Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, India, but I currently work on database management systems in my employment area. Before my Graduation, I had worked as a project intern with DMG Mori India Private Limited from August 2016 to May 2017, working on current acquisition and voltage signals, analyzing and monitoring power quality of industrial equipment while displaying the results on simple Graphical User Interfaces and storing reports on memory cards. In this Duke supplemental application, I eagerly embraced the opportunity to share my academic experiences, intellectual pursuits, and future plans to study at Duke University.  

From my graduation to date, I have been working with CenturyLink Technologies, the U.S. third largest telecommunication company, as a Software Engineer. From the company, I received four months training on JAVA, SQL, DBMS and UI applications. I excelled both in my training assessments and project assignments. Following the training, I was assigned a Customer Data Service application project, from where I learned to store and manage data on customer details like addresses, contacts among other information relating to the business earning my interest in Database Management. It has been through my engagements that I have developed a passion for Management Information Systems and Business Analytics, having trained in the field of electrical engineering. In my employment at CenturyLink Technologies, I have learned the practical skills in computer application, as well as the programming languages for software development and currently engage in database management systems which have built my foundation in MIS. I, therefore want to advance this line.

In my post-graduate quest, I chose Duke University for it they give a strong business foundation and enhance soft skills that boost one’s job prospects anywhere in the world. The master’s programmes at the varsity are time and money economical and are taught by top-ranked faculty. They deliver in team-based learning that combines academic knowledge with practical skills for exploring new industries and opportunities with connections to international networks for career support. I fit the university’s set-up since I am ready to learn and have a passion and a self-drive to achieve competence in my specialization field. Further, I want to expand and enhance my knowledge and skills in MIS and make it my specialization in the pursuit of my career in business.

In my undergraduate studies, I majored in electrical and electronic engineering, but the demand of my current field in the business world prioritizes computer knowledge. I have also developed a background in computer and software engineering which I would want to take to a higher level. Computer science has become a necessity.

The first cause of my U-turn was the career placement that required me in more informatics than of engineering techniques. Secondly, I got the inspiration from the life stories of success by people like Jack Ma, the co-founder and chairman of Alibaba Group, and Sundar Pichai the CEO at Google, people who excelled in the business field which they did not study at their undergraduate. Watching them on TED talks brought inspiration in me to take up the challenge. Another mentor was Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft who took his Bachelor’s in electrical and masters in CS. I read HitRefresh, a book by Satya Nadella which motivated me further to take up the challenge of switching the branch from electrical to MIS with a Master’s. These CEOs have played role models to me in how they rule the business world with their business strategies.

I wish to take the lead for the expertise in the line of Management Information Systems as well as acquire technical knowledge by aligning my data analysis skills with technology to provide smart business solutions to my employers and to add value to their businesses. Further, I want to merge my domain experience in MIS with relevant modules in SAP to strengthen my technical skills as a business analyst. I want to go beyond being a professional in SAP, to be an analyst who understands a company’s complete IT infrastructure system. In this position, I will be more profitable to the business world and be handy to my employers.