Traders: how do you demonstrate "leadership" in application?

I was recently watching a podcast interview of an admissions officer at Wharton MBA. She said that the most important criteria for admission is "career progression." They want a candidate who has assumed more responsibility and leadership throughout his career.

It seems like more than almost any other job, traders who apply to top MBA programs have the toughest hill to climb when it comes to passing the career progression criteria. Entrepreneurs, ex-military officers, consultants, etc., have all worked on tangible team projects and managed people in some capacity and can point to specific projects that demonstrate their leadership. In contrast, a trader's job is totally different from these more conventional pre-MBA careers. And many people have said that this is one of the reasons why it is so tough for traders to get into top MBA programs.

So how can traders demonstrate the leadership that business schools are looking for? Advice from traders who have successfully gained admission to top schools will be especially welcome.

Thanks.

7 Comments
 

Do most of these BB S&T traders go to b school to move up the ranks, for example become an MD. Otherwise I don't believe it adds any additional skill to trading.

"I wanna Thank the Good Lord for Making me a Capitalist"
 

The S&T folks that go to b-school go for the same reasons as most other applicants: to get out of their current career path and to pursue a new one. If you're already in S&T and want to stay, then there's little reason to go.

Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com
 
MBAApplyThe S&T folks that go to b-school go for the same reasons as most other applicants: to get out of their current career path and to pursue a new one. If you're already in S&T and want to stay, then there's little reason to go.

I agree in general that traders who are doing extremely well won't go to business school. But what about people who are working at a small shop and want to make the transition to a S&T desk at a BB? For those traders, the benefits of a top MBA (networking, campus recruiting, etc.) will be invaluable.

 

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