5. Valentin Sierra_HKS 2015 application package

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Sierra Arias, Valentin; DOB: 05/27/1987; Ref: 922012510

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CONFIDENTIAL 2016-2017 Academic Year

Personal Information

Valentin Sierra Arias

Name:____________________________________________________________________________ If any of your records are under another name, please specify: _______________________________

05/27/1987

Male

M

Date of Birth: _____________ Gender: ___________ Gender Identity: ________________________

Program Information MPP Program: ______________________________

HKS/HBS Joint Degree Program:  Yes Geneva Dual Degree Program:  Yes Dual Degree(s):  Columbia University JD  Dartmouth College MBA  Duke University JD  Georgetown University JD  Harvard Divinity School Mdiv or MTS  Harvard Graduate School of Design MUP  Harvard Medical School MD

✔ No 

 No

HKS/HLS Joint Degree Program:  Yes Current HLS Student?  Yes

 Harvard School of Dental Medicine  MIT MBA  New York University JD  Northwestern University JD  Stanford University JD  Stanford University MBA  UC Berkeley JD  UC San Francisco MD

✔ No 

 No  University of Michigan JD  University of Pennsylvania JD  University of Pennsylvania MBA  Yale University JD  Other approved medical school

Address/Residency Information

Calle 73 # 20-25

Street Address: ___________________________________________________________

Manizales

Caldas

City: ______________________ State: ________________ Postal Code: _____________

Republic of Colombia

Country: ______________________

[email protected]

E-mail Address: _________________________

Colombia

Primary Citizenship: ______________________

Colombia

Dual Citizenship: _______________________

19

Country of Residence: _____________________ Years? _______

U.S. Permanent Resident 

Colombia

Manizales

City of Birth: ______________ State of Birth: ______________ Country of Birth: ________________

Race/Ethnicity Are you Hispanic or Latino?

 Yes

 No

 American Indian or Alaska Native  Asian (including Indian subcontinent and Philippines)  Black or African American (including Africa and Caribbean)

 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander  White (including Middle Eastern)

Sponsorship Information If you will be sponsored by a government agency, a foundation, or a private agency please list the organization: _____________________________________

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Sierra Arias, Valentin; DOB: 05/27/1987; Ref: 922012510

Copy Background Details

HKS alum (name) What factor or event most inspired you to apply to Harvard Kennedy School? __________________________ Zach Neumann'08

Specify factor or event: _________________________ Have you previously applied to any degree program at Harvard Kennedy School or within Harvard University?  Yes  No

Master in Public Policy If so, which program? _________________________ 2013

Not accepted

What was the result? ____________________ Were you a PPIA or MLI participant?

When did you apply? ___________

 Yes

✔ No 

Were you ever a Public Policy and Leadership Conference participant?  Yes

✔ No 

Are you re-applying to Harvard Kennedy School?

 No

✔ Yes 

Year ________

Parent’s/Legal Guardian’s Occupation Mother Occupation

Father

(Deceased)

Owner and administrator, fast

Organization

Zurich Comidas Rápidas

Other Institutions Please list other schools and degree programs you are applying to. Institution Name

Degree Program

Military Information Have you ever been a member of the U.S. armed forces? Are you still serving or a veteran? _______________

 Yes

 ✔ No

Branch: _____________

If you are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. military, do you expect to continue in an active duty status during your enrollment at the Harvard Kennedy School?  Yes  No Honorable discharge:

 Yes

 No

U.S. Military start date: ____________ U.S. Military end date: ____________ Have you ever been a member of the non-U.S. armed forces?  Yes

 ✔ No

Are you still serving or a veteran? _______________ Honorable discharge:

 Yes

Non-U.S. Military start date: ____________

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 No Non-U.S. Military end date: ____________

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Sierra Arias, Valentin; DOB: 05/27/1987; Ref: 922012510

Copy Test Scores GRE Date

Verbal Raw (%)

10/2015 163 167

98 92

TOEFL Date Listening

MCAT Date

Verbal

Quant Raw (%)

164 157

87 68

Writing

Bio Sci

4

Date

Verbal Raw (%)

Quant Raw (%)

Writing Raw (%)

Raw

IR

(%)

56

Reading

Phys Sci

GMAT

Writing Raw (%)

Speaking

Writing

IELTS Date

Total

Total

Listening

LSAT Date

Percentile

Writing

Reading

Speaking

Overall

Score

Education School

Degree

Year

BA

Saint Johns University

Major

05/2010 Political Science

GPA

3.88

Status

Full time

Language Information

Spanish Native language: ________________

If other, please specify. ____________

English Undergraduate language of instruction: ________________

If other, please specify. ____________

Language Abilities Language #1

English

Language #2

Language #3

Reading

Fluent

Reading

Reading

Speaking

Fluent

Speaking

Speaking

Writing

Fluent

Writing

Writing

Listening

Fluent

Listening

Listening

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Sierra Arias, Valentin; DOB: 05/27/1987; Ref: 922012510

Copy Professional Work Experience Employer #1

Employer #2

Title

Research Analyst

Title

Managing Editor

Organization

Washington Core

Organization

The Latin American and Caribbean

Sector

Private

Sector

Non-Profit

Start Date

07/2011

Start Date

01/2011

End Date

Present

End Date

12/2012

Status

Full time

Status

Part time

Employer #3

Employer #4

Title

Executive Assistant

Title

Student Manager and Researcher

Organization

Grayling USA (formerly Dutko Worlwide)

Organization

Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public

Sector

Private

Sector

Academic

Start Date

07/2010

Start Date

08/2007

End Date

07/2011

End Date

04/2010

Status

Full time

Status

Part time

04

Years of full time, professional work experience: _______

Recommendations Waive rights? Recommender #1

Matthew

Lindstrom

 Waive ✔  Do not waive

Recommender #2

Mauricio

Cárdenas Santamaría

 Waive ✔  Do not waive

Recommender #3

Kiyoshi

Nakasaka

✔ Waive   Do not waive

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HKS alumni?

0

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Sierra Arias, Valentin; DOB: 05/27/1987; Ref: 922012510

Copy Student Conduct

Have you ever engaged in conduct while in an official capacity that raised questions about your ethics and/or suitability to continue to hold your professional position?  Yes

✔ No 

If yes, please explain.

Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense?  Yes  ✔ No If yes, please explain.

Have you ever been disciplined for your conduct (academic or otherwise) while enrolled in college or university? ✔ No  Yes 

If yes, please explain.

Signature Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government expects that all information presented during the application process by an applicant or anyone acting on his or her behalf is accurate, complete, and honestly presented. Harvard Kennedy School reserves the right to rescind your admission (even after matriculation) or to revoke your degree, if at a later date it learns of any inaccurate, misleading or omitted information, or of any conduct that raises questions about your ethical integrity or suitability for participation in its programs. I certify that: •

The information presented in my application is accurate, complete and honestly presented. Any information submitted on my behalf, including letters of recommendation, is authentic. I understand and agree that any inaccurate information, misleading information or omission will be cause for the rescission of any offer of admission or revocation of degree, if discovered at a later date.

•

I have written the essays without them being rewritten or translated by anyone else.

Valentin Sierra Arias

12/01/2015

__________________________________________________________________ Signature Date

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application

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Sierra Arias, Valentin; DOB: 05/27/1987; Ref: 922012510

Copy Valentín Sierra

HKS Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program Application ID# 922012510

Résumé

Academic History Bachelor of Arts May 2010  St. John’s University, in conjunction with The College of St. Benedict (CSB/SJU), Collegeville, MN  Major: Political Science, Minor: Economics  GPA: 3.88  Achievements & Honors: magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, All-College Honors, Departmental Distinction in Political Science, St. John’s University Full-Tuition Scholarship Study Abroad  Southwest University (西南大学), Chongqing, China  Coursework: Chinese language, history, art and culture

Aug-Dec 2008

Professional Experience Washington Core Jul 2011-Present Full-time Research Analyst Bethesda, MD (Jul 2011 – Sep 2014) Freelance Researcher Manizales, Colombia (Oct 2014 – Present)  Conduct research studies for Japanese public and private sector clients and multilateral organizations.  Implement innovative logistics, data collection and communications methods while supporting research projects in various industries, including energy and information and communication technologies (ICT).  Lead information collection efforts via desk research, interviews, industry events, online surveys and email.  Develop case studies on effective industry and policy practices in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Topics include: industry-academia partnerships for development of ICT workforce; policies to promote use of ICT by small- and medium-sized enterprises; e-government innovations; government incentives for renewable energy; technical assistance to developing countries to strengthen intellectual property systems.  Design innovative business proposals to assist Co-CEOs in acquiring new international clients. International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF), Colombia Chapter Oct 2014-Dec 2014 Senior Advisor Bogotá, Colombia  Assisted ICCF Colombia President Connie Mack IV in expanding the membership of the Colombian Conservation Caucus (CCC) in the Congress of Colombia.  Organized two year-end seminars and workshops bringing together U.S. and Colombian lawmakers and company executives to discuss environmental protection issues. Grayling USA (formerly Dutko Worldwide) Jul 2010-Jul 2011 Executive Assistant Washington, D.C.  Provided research and administrative support to the CEO and senior government relations specialists in the Energy & Environment and Tax & Trade policy teams.  Monitored congressional hearings, policy meetings and industry events on behalf of corporate clients and developed memoranda in both English and Spanish.  Managed the logistics of over one hundred policy meetings with corporate clients and congressional staff.  Produced background briefings and legislative reports for senior-level executives and government officials.

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Resume / CV

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HKS Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program Application ID# 922012510

Résumé

Freelance and Internship Work The Latin American & Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA) Jan 2011-Dec 2012 Vox.LACEA.org Managing Editor Washington, D.C.  Coordinated web development and marketing efforts for the launch and ongoing operation of Vox.LACEA.org, a forum and resource center for research-based analysis on economic issues relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean.  Coordinated the production of articles and tools for the portal under the guidance of former chief editor Dr. Mauricio Cárdenas Santamaría, in collaboration with numerous economists around the world.  Developed a diverse network of 137 contributing authors, traffic of almost 2,500 visits per month, and nearly 1,000 followers on social media. The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic Engagement Aug 2007-Apr 2010 Student Manager and Researcher Collegeville, MN  Assisted director and political science professor Dr. Matt Lindstrom with data gathering and analysis relevant to his research on urban development, environmental stewardship and public health.  Worked closely with professors, administrators and students to implement academic activities relevant to the mission of the McCarthy Center and coordinated the production of effective marketing materials.  Designed and coordinated a successful biweekly lecture and discussion series raising awareness among members of the local community about a wide range of economic, political and social issues. Dutko Worldwide May-Aug 2009 Legislative Affairs Intern Washington, D.C.  Developed detailed background memoranda in English and Spanish for clients in the energy, agriculture, transportation and education industries.  Reported on highlights of congressional hearings and legislative markups on energy policy. Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) Sep-Dec 2007 Public Affairs Intern Minneapolis, MN  Coordinated various communications and marketing projects, including a weekly subscription-based newsletter on technology and policy issues distributed to more than 1,500 technology leaders in Minnesota.  Researched legislative developments in the fields of technology and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education.  Provided event logistics support for the Tekne Awards, an awards ceremony with over 1,000 attendees.

Research Interests and Experience   

Presenter, “Del dicho al hecho hay mucho TIC,” 2014: Keynote presenter of a webinar for more than 50 small business experts from 13 different countries hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)’s PymesPrácTICas initiative on the status of ICT adoption by SMEs in Latin America. Author, “Creating a public policy ecosystem for the digitization of Latin America’s Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises,” 2014: Article published in Revista Perspectiva, a Colombian public policy magazine. Author, “Information and Communication Technologies for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Empowering 99% of Businesses in Latin America,” 2013: Paper published in Connexio Magazine, an annual publication of the IDB.

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HKS Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program Application ID# 922012510

Résumé       

Author, “Research Study of the Main Benefits of Investing in the use of ICT in Selected Economies,” 2012: Study conducted by Washington Core on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Honors Thesis Author, “The U.S. Federal Reserve’s Mission Conflicts & Regulatory Failures: The Case of the Subprime Crisis,” 2010: Two-semester project overseen by three CSB/SJU faculty advisors. Research Assistant, “Encyclopedia of the U.S. Government and the Environment: History, Policy, and Politics,” 2010: Book edited by Dr. Matt Lindstrom and published by ABC-CLIO. Research Assistant, “Central Minnesota’s Region 7W Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2011‐2015,” 2010: Report developed by the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership. Translator, “Effective Education for Employment: A Global Perspective,” 2009: Wrote the Latin America version of this sixty-page report commissioned by Edexcel Intl. and promoted by Dutko Worldwide. Founder, “Global Awareness Series,” 2009: Weekly column in The Record, CSB/SJU’s newspaper. Rooney Grant Researcher (2008): Recipient of a summer research grant to study with Dr. Lindstrom the impact of economic globalization on food systems and diet-related chronic disease in Colombia.

Leadership and Volunteer Experience  

 

  

Félix Sierra’s Political Campaign for the Manizales City Council (Colombia), Grassroots Organizer (Jan-Oct 2015): Carried out voter recruitment initiative for Green Party candidate appealing to small business owners and struggling entrepreneurs in impoverished neighborhoods. St. John’s University Washington, D.C. Alumni Chapter, President (Aug 2010-Sep 2014): Coordinated community service, mentoring and social activities for alumni in the area. Coordinated chapter engagement with the Capital Area Food Bank and the Hands on DC Work-a-Thon program to improve public schools. Washington, D.C. Area Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Association, Mentorship Program Co-Chair (Jul 2013-July 2014): Worked on the development of the first PBK mentorship program in Washington in order to create personalized career support networking opportunities for younger alumni. Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN), Head Delegate - Belgium and Peru delegations (2010), Delegate (2008, 2009): As president of the CSB/SJU International Affairs Club, successfully lobbied for funding from the student government to lead a delegation of 32 students to the 56th session of HMUN. West Point U.S. Military Academy’s 61st Annual Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA), St. John’s University Representative (Nov 2009). Knights of Columbus, weekend teacher assistant (Jan-Apr 2007): Provided homework tutoring and facilitated recreational activities for high-risk youth at Ames Elementary School in St. Paul, MN. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), community mentor: Helped disadvantaged individuals acquire financial literacy and professional development skills (2006). Selected to be part of the competitive team presenting the results of CSB/SJU’s community service projects at the SIFE Midwest Regional Contest (Apr 2007).

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HKS Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program Application ID# 922012510

Analytic/Quantitative Résumé

Coursework  

Completed at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB/SJU), MN (United States). Academic performance was assessed primarily through daily textbook exercises, weekly quizzes, bimonthly exams and in-class presentations. Course

Calculus I (Fall 2006) Grade Earned: A

Probability and Statistical Inference (Spring 2007) Grade Earned: A

Microeconomic Theory (Fall 2007) Grade Earned: A

Macroeconomic Theory (Spring 2008) Grade Earned: A

Financial Accounting (Spring 2008) Grade Earned: A

Description Concepts covered:  Review of linear, exponential, logarithmic, power, and inverse functions.  Application and analysis of limits, continuity, extrema, derivatives, concavity, inflection points, integrals, and polynomial algebraic and trigonometric functions. Texbook: Stewart, James. Multivariable Calculus: Concepts and Contexts, 3rd ed. Brooks/Cole, 2005. Concepts covered:  Descriptive statistics: computation, visualization and analysis of categorical and quantitative variables (including estimation of mean, standard deviation and proportions); variable comparison methods (scatterplots, correlations, linear regressions, least-squares).  Terminology and rules of elementary probability and statistical inference: normal distribution, random spelling, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, significance testing. Textbook: McCabe, George, and Moore, David. Introduction to the Practice of Statistics, 5th ed. W. H. Freeman, 2005. Concepts covered:  Application of models of consumer theory, theory of the firm, and theory of welfare economics; supply and demand in input and output markets.  Calculation of price elasticity, effect of taxes/subsidies, social welfare function, Nash equilibrium.  Analysis of production, costs and market structure in determination of supply. Textbook: Perloff, Jeffrey. Microeconomics, 4th ed. Pearson Addison-Wesley, 2007.

Concepts covered:  Study how national income, productivity, inflation rates, unemployment rates, interest rates, and exchange rates are determined in both the short run and the long run.  Analysis of macroeconomic relationships and growth via the IS-LM, IS-MP, SolowSwan, Romer, Phillips, and AD/AS models.  Quantitative evaluations of monetary and fiscal policies directed to problems of unemployment, inflation, growth and macroeconomic stability. Textbook: Jones, Charles. Macroeconomics, 1st ed. W. W. Norton, 2008.

Concepts covered:  Asset and liability accounting and valuation under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).  Preparation and analysis of financial reporting tools including the income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows, and statement of retained earnings. Major Assignment: Financial statement preparation and financial performance assessment for a large hypothetical corporation. Textbook: Stickney, Clyde and Weil, Roman. Financial Accounting: An Introduction to Concepts, Methods and Uses, 12th ed. South-Western Publishing, 2007.

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Quantitative Resume

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HKS Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program Application ID# 922012510

Analytic/Quantitative Résumé Course

International Economic Theory (Spring 2009) Grade Earned: AB

Description Concepts covered:  General equilibrium analysis of gains from trade and specialization; considering domestic endowments and prices of labor, capital and land.  Analyzed impact of trade on national finances and income distribution. Major Assignment: Country case study - “Colombia’s Trading Patterns and Current Account Balance as Explained by the Heckscher-Ohlin, Gravity, and Ricardian Models of Trade.” Textbook: Krugman, Paul and Obsfelt, Maurice. International Economics: Theory and Policy, 8th ed. Addison-Wesley, 2009.

Professional Experience Organization/Title

Application of Quantitative Skills

Washington Core Research Analyst (Jul 2011-Present)

 Design, execute and analyze surveys via email, phone and Google Drive to identify key practices, correlations and trends within a given industry or market.  Analyze government and corporate funding for research and development initiatives to identify technological priorities.  Manipulate and filter large public data sets to construct elaborate graphical representations and trend analyses in Microsoft Excel.  Calculate the proposed project price for business proposals based on estimated employee hours, expenses, and overall level of difficulty.

The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association Managing Editor (Jan 2011-Dec 2012)

 Performed programming operations utilizing the C++ programming language and web development applications such as HTML, HTTP, XML and CSS.  Pre-screened all papers submitted to the professional blog Vox.LACEA.org in order to evaluate the soundness of the data and economic analysis.

Grayling USA Executive Assistant (Jul 2010-Jul 2011)

 Tracked appropriations to federal programs and analyzed funding changes over time for clients interested in doing business with the U.S. government.  Aided the collection and organization of business operation data for preparation of federally-mandated quarterly lobbying activity reports.

Extracurricular Experience Organization/Title

Application of Quantitative Skills

The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic Engagement Student Manager & Researcher (Aug 2007-May 2010)

 Collected, graphed and analyzed datasets from government statistical bureaus and independent think tanks in support of Director Matt Lindstrom’s policy research on urban development, environmental sustainability and public health.  Managed annual budget for a campus-wide biweekly discussion series.  Analyzed event statistics and other participation metrics when writing interim and final progress reports for the school’s administration.

CSB/SJU International Affairs Club President (Apr 2009-Apr 2010)

 Negotiated with the CSB and SJU student senates a joint appropriation of $9,000 to sponsor a CSB/SJU delegation to attend Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN) 2010.  Administered an annual budget of $11,000 to cover the club’s on-campus activities and HMUN-related expenses.

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HKS Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program Application ID# 922012510

First Essay

The Harvard Kennedy School motto, echoing the President for whom the School is named, is “Ask what you can do.” Please share with the Admissions Committee your plans to create positive change through your leadership and service. (600 word limit) There are few things in life more heart-wrenching than seeing a father or a mother cry because of desperation. I remember vividly the only two times I have seen my father sob because they marked critical turning points in my life: when my mother passed away at home nearly two decades ago, and a few years later when he and my stepmother cried together because they could not afford to buy infant formula for my neonate half-brother. While my mother’s death forced me to mature faster than the average child, my father’s financial maladies as a “necessity entrepreneur” encouraged me to excel as a student in order to achieve through education a better future for my family. While I was fortunate to obtain a full liberal arts scholarship and a coveted work visa sponsorship in the United States, my father’s struggles — shared by millions of Colombians — always kept alive in me a keen desire to work on private sector development issues in my home country, with a particular focus on struggling entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). My interest in private sector development as a tool for poverty alleviation grew at Harvard Model United Nations conferences and at The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy while leading and partaking in collaborative research, discussion and mentoring programs to tackle current societal problems. Through my editing work for the research-based forum Vox.LACEA.org and while gathering the opinions of hundreds of Latin American SMEs on behalf of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), it became evident to me that the most pressing challenges for SMEs are access to finance and the development of technical and managerial skills. The Harvard Kennedy School will prepare me to lead the creation and promotion of cutting-edge support mechanisms for Colombian SMEs. I will learn actionable insights from the Entrepreneurial Finance Lab Research Initiative (EFLRI), which has conducted economic impact assessments of entrepreneurial training and carried out pilot tests in Latin America. I am profoundly interested in EFLRI’s work on psychometric tools to change loan applicant screenings and increase bank lending to small entrepreneurs. Through involvement in other HKS initiatives, I will explore the latest best practices on how to empower SMEs in corporate value chains and how to tackle major problems in bank lending to SMEs using “big data” — two issues recently explored by senior fellows Beth Jenkins and Karen Gordon Mills. Outside of the classroom, I look forward to advancing civic engagement activities such as the Student Public Service Collaborative and the Latin America Conference. Furthermore, I will become an active participant of student-run publications such as The Harvard Latin America Policy Journal in order to build upon my previous research on the technological and growth challenges of SMEs in Latin America. Colombia is on the verge of a historic peace agreement which will give rise to a new era of opportunity for SMEs. Empowered with a world-class Master in Public Policy degree from HKS, I plan to work at Bancóldex — the Colombian government agency promoting SME modernization — to implement innovative policy solutions aimed at improving SME access to finance, technology, value chains and technical assistance in the context of a freer, safer society. In the long term, I aspire to follow in the footsteps of Colombia’s current Finance Minister Dr. Mauricio Cárdenas, whose fiscal policies aim to change Colombia’s status as the seventh most unequal country in the world in terms of income distribution. From public office I will one day complement the tax and spending reforms Cárdenas has successfully designed in order to secure a positive impact on entrepreneurial and SME development.

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JFK Essay

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HKS Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program Application ID# 922012510

Second Essay

Describe an event or episode that either gave you a chance to use a personal strength, or revealed a personal weakness. Then explain specifically how the MPP (or overall curriculum for Non-Degree applicants) at HKS would leverage your distinctive abilities and/or fill gaps in your skill set as you equip yourself for your career goals. (600 word limit) Despite living in crime-ridden neighborhoods in Manizales, Colombia, I realized at a young age that selfmotivation, perseverance and collaboration were going to be the key drivers to improve my life. My family’s precarious financial situation and stories of life-changing mistakes and regrets instilled in me a strong mindset to strive for superior academic and leadership goals. After winning highly-competitive full scholarships to study in the United States, my confidence grew as I excelled in every facet of university life. Never had I imagined that years later my resolve would be tested when faced with the biggest professional struggle up to that point: adaptation to the Japanese working culture as a Colombian living in North America. Japanese consultants embrace thoroughly methodical approaches to execute a research project in order to provide their clients nuanced insights on any particular industry trend. Lacking a solid grasp of major regulatory and technological issues, I was unable to add much value during my initial months of employment with a Japanese consulting firm in Greater Washington DC. I came under strong pressure from management to improve the quality of my reports and on various occasions I feared being stripped of my U.S. work visa for poor performance. I was able to overcome this impasse by educating myself about the firm’s previous projects, studying each of our major client’s priority industries, and brainstorming with coworkers possible solutions to current client problems. I was vindicated when my contributions to the firm’s research portfolio on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) made me the lead analyst for milestone contracts with the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. I returned to Colombia one year ago and worked with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation to learn how the legislature engages the private sector on economic development issues. Additionally, I volunteered with a political campaign in my hometown to bring to the forefront the challenges faced by local entrepreneurs. Community engagement and SME-oriented consulting projects have indeed provided humbling opportunities to learn firsthand about the difficulties faced by SMEs, and how governments are stimulating SME growth. Ultimately, in order to positively influence change in Colombia’s SMEs I realize that I must acquire the analytical tools that only HKS can offer. An MPP degree from Harvard will allow me to attain the quantitative and policy analysis training necessary to frame the issue of SME support into rapidly changing economic, financial and political realities. Through the MPP concentration in International Trade and Finance I will master the lessons necessary to effectively guide Colombian SMEs on how to grow their operations according to the needs of the global marketplace. Free trade agreements between Colombia and the United States, the European Union, Canada and South Korea have all gone into effect just in the past three years. Since SMEs constitute 96% of the Colombia’s businesses and 63% of total employment, the country’s social progress depends largely on SME participation in emerging trade opportunities. Moreover, I can learn through Dr. Jane Nelson how to leverage corporate social responsibility to advance business linkages to SMEs. Large corporations are increasing their operations in Colombia and it is critical to understand what role they can play in the process of SME development. Wellinformed policy support for Colombia’s SMEs is of particular importance now that the country is entering an era of longawaited peace and increased trade opportunities. Effective SME support mechanisms can certainly contribute to the alleviation of unemployment, crime, and income inequality. I am confident that an MPP degree from Harvard will empower me to work for a more prosperous Colombia by bolstering our feeble SMEs.

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MPP Essay

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