Thomas SAOUMAApplication to IE Business SchoolMarch 2016

CITE AT LEAST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHEN YOUR LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN

SITUATION, AND JUSTIFY HOW AN IE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM

WOULD HELP YOU TO STRENGTHEN OR IMPROVE THIS COMPETENCE

25 years of war and an unthinkable genocide have left Cambodia weak and drained with deep wounds: a complete destruction of society, divis ion of famil ies and a loss of moral values and old sol idarity systems. The main

vict ims are chi ldren (high mortal ity rate, vio lence and malnutri t ion).

PSE was created to respond to this si tuation. Currently, PSE educates more than 4,000 toddlers and give vocational training to 1,500 youngsters. But i f school ing and vocational training are essential , many support programs

are central to the educational projects success: hygiene, nutr it ion, medical and psychological care protection, assistance to famil ies and kids

entertainment with summer camps.

While working for PSE during the summer camp as a monitor, one of my Chief instructors got the dengue and was thus not avai lable for the last

camp week. The head of the organization selected me to replace him.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN MY LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN SITUATION

Then, I designed the week: the number of chi ldren attending the week camp (about 1,000), the resources we needed, the faci l i t ies we might have used.

I a l located a team of kids to two Cambodian monitors. I divided the activit ies between the European animators. I planned the total amount of r ice needed for the chi ldren. Besides, I

organized the meals for everyone. I kept the cohesion of the supervisors’ body. I managed, lead and motivated the educators’ squad. I solved the language barrier. I adapted the program to the need of the young one and the country’s

culture. I implemented dai ly meetings.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN MY LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN SITUATION

First of all, before the week started, I organised and generated a realistic program for the next five days. This means I dealt with

suppliers to bring useful resources for activities – such as papers, footballs, buckets or pencils – at the cheapest price. Besides, I

forecasted the total amount of rice needed.

Then, I decided which monitor would take care of which team. The issue here was that the outfit of toddlers was the “most popular

team”. To take my decision, I created a table with the list of squads and supervisors already managing these squads. Then tallying with

this information, with the animators’ wishes and assessing the most motivated, I finally decided with impartiality and objectivity.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN MY LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN SITUATION

After allocating the teams and the activities, I clarified the common goals: the last week of the camp must be the funniest one for the youth. Even if the animators

were really tired, I motivated and led them on this path by welcoming the teens.

Another problem I've encountered is the language barrier. Hence I took the initiative to ask a list of useful

words for all Europeans supervisors. I delegated this task to a fellow Cambodian.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN MY LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN SITUATION

Then I adjusted my program to the cultural habits of the Cambodians and the kids. That is to say, I respected the nape time, introduced the flag ceremony and instituted

meditation time.

Cambodian monitors and children were unruly facing the flag ceremony and meditation time. Therefore, I lead by giving

the example of learning the Cambodian anthem and reciting it. They followed me and by the end of the week these times

were quite and respected.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN MY LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN SITUATION

Finally, I implemented daily meetings after the camp day. The purposes of these reunions were varied:

To improve the communication between the educators. The rendezvous were an occasion to share what worked or did not worked during the several activities with the children in order to retrieve only the best.

To develop people skills and receive feedbacks for my own. As I already have a background in handling groups of infants, I also helped the animators in need by telling them about my experience and showing them how to react in some situations to aspire them improving their proficiencies. Besides, I also introduced a communication in the opposite direction where monitors explained to me what went wrong in my program for me to fix it.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN MY LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN SITUATION

Daily meetings: To settle small disputes within the team. I became the mediator in

those situations. I encouraged my teammates to be opened in expressing their mind, so did I. Then, I actively l istened to the claims of my colleagues. I expressed and sometimes stood up for my ideas with calm and respect towards the monitors’ opinions. I stayed impartial and I considered myself as equal as them.

To motivate and keep a strong squad cohesion. By displaying and encouraging a positive attitude, I kept the good spirit of the unit for the week. Besides, my charisma help some people to feel confident even with the difficult teenagers. Finally, I succeeded in motivating several of my fel low partners, who wanted to stop the mission, by reminding them what was our actual task: “for two months, make the children forget about their poor conditions and have some fun: a normal child l i fe! For a Child Smile!”.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN MY LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN SITUATION

As a result, this week's camp was a great success and I was congratulated by my superiors. The summer camp ran smoothly without any

inconvenience, the chi ldren were so happy as well as the monitors.

I deem that my leadership ski l ls have benefited my organization as I managed to calmly and r ightly deal with small disputes and the al location

of teams. Besides, I motivated and boosted my t ired col leagues and helped them with my background by leading them. Moreover, I am actual ly a ful l -

year member of the organization. I even succeeded in recruit ing new members from the summer camp.

This experience taught me what real leadership is, different from management. Indeed, inspire, motivate and organizing the camp at the same t ime was a particularly interesting process. In addit ion, this ask

helped me to grow by taking my responsibi l i t ies. To conclude, this involvement and the gained maturity wi l l al low me to more effectively

oversee units that I would have in charge in the future.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN MY LEADERSHIP HAD AN IMPACT ON OR CHANGED CERTAIN SITUATION

Indeed, f rom a more humane po int o f v iew, I had the chance to meet amaz ing people and to bu i ld durab le connex ions w i th both Cambodians and Europeans. Th i s was enabled through the implemented communica t ion . Last ly , by demonst ra t ing asser t i veness , I was ab le to d i scover a new cu l ture and be l ie fs .

FINALLY, I DEVELOPED REALLY STRONG RELATIONS WITH BOTH MONITORS AND CHILDREN.

Master in Management with an International Business special ization

HOW WOULD AN IE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM HELP YOU TO STRENGTHEN OR IMPROVE THIS

COMPETENCE

The world global ization tends to erase borders between the countries to create a “Global Vi l lage” (McLuhan, 1967). Therefore, a good leader must adapt to this changing environment.

Not only does the students and the professors’ diversity would widen my approach to different culture, but also the Master in Management, especial ly the special ization in International Business, would prepare me to different situations; thus, as a leader, to lead mult icultural teams in mult icultural environments brought by the Global ization.

Besides, in the case of my volunteering mission in Cambodia, I supervised a relatively smal l team in a precise plan.

However, the aim of the Master of Management with International Business special ization is to shape global leader.

Therefore, I deem that a master’s degree in the IE inst itution wi l l enhance my leadership ski l ls at another scale, for instance to develop and manage mult inational projects or to learn how to structure and handle international companies.

HOW AN IE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM WOULD HELP YOU TO STRENGTHEN OR

IMPROVE THIS COMPETENCE

McLuhan, M. (1967) The Medium is the Massage. New York: Bantam Books.

Finally, with a more precise viewpoint of the Master in Management, some courses are specifically design to

strengthen my leadership ability.

Indeed, during the core period, the entrepreneurship course, the creative management thinking subject and especially the career strategy program will enhance my skills in leadershipnot only in my professional life, but also in my personal life.

As for the specialization period, the leader I am today will benefit from the Management & Control systems course and

the Project Management program.

HOW AN IE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM WOULD HELP YOU TO STRENGTHEN OR

IMPROVE THIS COMPETENCE

Thank you for your attention !